IN CONVERSATION WITH HANNAH DODD

interview by JANA LETONJA

Hannah Dodd is quickly establishing herself as one of Britain’s most compelling young talents. From stepping into the world of Regency romance as Francesca Bridgerton in the third season of Netflix’s global phenomenon Bridgerton to holding her own opposite Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes 2, she has built a career defined by versatility, restraint, and quiet magnetism. With a body of work that spans prestige television, major studio films, and breakout leading roles, she continues to navigate each new chapter with an assuredness that signals a star very much on the rise.

Joining Bridgerton in its third season introduced you to an enormous global audience. What was it like stepping into such a beloved world?

It’s pretty intimidating but magic too. It’s been so lovely getting to be on the welcoming committee for our new cast members this season and seeing that newness is actually a really normal part of the show and something that we celebrate. It is mad though, especially walking around the sets for the first time when you’ve watched them on your TV. It’s literally like stepping into your screen. I don’t know that that will fully ever leave me. 

Francesca Bridgerton is quieter and more reserved than some of the other siblings. How did you approach finding her inner life? 

I think that’s an element of the character that I really relate to actually. I have a thousand thoughts in a second and can really live inside my head a bit. So, I think I naturally adopted that with her. Sometimes it can be nice when you’re on set, it can take so much concentration, sometimes, in those magic moments, it can be quite a meditative experience when your brain is quiet of all your own thoughts. I just have to keep it full of hers. Luckily with Frannie, she’s such a rich character and a lot of her isn’t actually necessarily being said. So that inner world is naturally so full. The subtext is important to me as an actress anyway, but hers is so so important. There’s so much there to play with. But I think that all of us really, a lot of what makes us us is our context and our feelings not just what we say. 

full look CHANEL

Did you feel any pressure stepping into a role that fans were already deeply invested in?

There is a pressure, Fran’s book is very loved. I love it myself. 

I think that pressure can sometimes begin to eat away at you if you let it. It’s also a huge privilege to join a world with such support already. It’s interesting as well because character wise, we’re only just getting started with what you get to see in her book. There has been a lot of imagining what Fran’s season on the mart may have looked like and what she was like younger than where you meet her in chapter one. Working out where to start her so you can plot her journey and make sure there’s room for learning and growth. So that was an interesting exercise. 

It’s always starts with the scripts, but I do love having source material. It’s just about marrying the two together. 

shirt, corset, tie and trousers HARRIS REED
earrings and rings ANNOUSHKA
shoes JENNIFER CHAMANDI

Bridgerton is known for its scale, romance, and spectacle. What surprised you most about working on the show?

Just how normal everyone is. It’s a really grounded place to work. We have returning crew and creatives every year, so it really does have the sense of going home each season in a way. It’s so lovely, I really do feel so grateful. I do still sometimes think as if I’m part of Bridgerton. 

bra MOVELLE
skirt VIKTOR & ROLF
earrings, bracelets and rings BOODLES
shoes MANOLO BLAHNIK

You began your career almost immediately after leaving dance college with Find Me in Paris. How did starting so young shape your relationship with acting?

I’m grateful for the path that I’ve had. There’s “ladder” to this industry, but I always say if there was one, I’ve kind of taken baby steps at a time, which I’m grateful for as this can be overwhelming anyway. I can’t imagine what it’s like for your first job to be of Bridgerton scale. 

It’s an interesting journey really. I started working when I was 15. I think I have genuinely just always loved to work, being part of a team and creating something. But I think what’s maybe different is acting wasn’t really the plan, dance was. So, I think my dance training, if anything, is what shaped my relationship to acting. It can be in a really positive way. I know what hard work looks like and I think dancers are some of the most disciplined people. My degree gave me a lot of transferable skills for sure, but I definitely have those thoughts regularly of “someone’s going to find you out. You’re not supposed to be doing this.” I know how many hours I spent training in something so I’m acutely aware of those around me who spent those hours training in this. With dance, I’m also trained to look for fault and look for where to fix things. So, it’s quite difficult accepting a finished product going out to the world. 

But equally, I’m so grateful this was my path. I love the actual “job” of acting as well as the craft. I learnt that quite quickly on Find Me In Paris. And I’m glad, sometimes, I have that dancers strive for perfection as difficult as that can be at times. I’ll never get bored that’s for sure. 

jacket, belt, trousers and neckpiece NINA RICCI
earrings BY PARIAH
shoes CASADEI

top RAHUL MISHRA
earrings DAVID MORRIS

Looking back, how has your confidence as a performer evolved since those early years?

I think I’m learning to say how I’m feeling more. And express an opinion. It’s funny though, sometimes I look back at my younger self and think she was way more ballsy than me now. But I do think just with experience I’m at least learning how to look after myself a bit better and maybe what doesn’t work for me. 

jacket and trousers ROKSANDA
earrings CARTIER
shoes JIMMY CHOO

You’ve played characters across very different periods and genres, from Harlots to Anatomy of a Scandal. How do you adapt your performance for such varied worlds?

I think so much comes from script and director and you can then sort of gauge where it is you want to go. I think with a show like Bridgerton with such amazing costumes, sets and props, you kind of do step into a whole world and just get to play. I’ve worked on different sets, and some require really different things from you. And as nerve wracking as it is at first, it is cool to experience different ways of working. I do love a bit of prep though. I think it’s really cool to have a job that sort of forces you to learn about something new constantly. Time periods, places, laws or whatever. I also know that I’m very lucky to say this because I’ve worked with some really incredible people, but just reacting to people’s great work. Some of the actors I’ve worked with really set the tone and it’s fun to follow and see if that pulls something new out. But prep, prep to try and convince myself I’m ok to stand on that set and then hopefully you absorb enough before you start so you a forget all about it.

hat HARRY SANTOS
necklace MISHO

Your performances often rely on restraint rather than overt emotion. Is that an instinctive approach for you?

I think it’s definitely something that interests me. But weirdly, I’m quite an emotional person and actually those scenes where after Fran had been stoic for so long and I really finally got to let go, I probably enjoyed the most. Those scenes are a bit of a gift as an actor to really let rip. But I suppose you need the restraint first to get the pay off. I think it definitely creates an interesting tension maybe when you’re not sharing the whole story or you think about what story they want to project and what they want to protect. Many of us are carrying something and trying to hold it together. It’s a really normal thing. 

Are there themes or types of characters you find yourself particularly drawn to at this stage in your career?

There are more creatives I would love to work with or experience being on their sets than particular themes and characters. I would love to do a movie musical though. But other than that, I don’t get too specific because I still pinch myself I get to do this, so I’m like any job is amazing and I do think there’s an opportunity to learn everywhere. 

shirt, skirt and shoes VALENTINO
earrings ROXANNE FIRST

How do you balance the fast pace of this industry with staying grounded in your personal life?

Right now, we’re doing press, so life looks a little different. But very soon, we just go back to work same as anyone. And I’m very aware people are doing far more important and harder work than me. I don’t know really, my actual day to day life hasn’t changed at all. Same friends, same family. My work brings me a lot of joy, but so do they. 

What kind of roles do you hope to explore next that audiences haven’t seen from you yet?

I’d love to use my dance training. I recently did Cabaret in London and would love to do some kind of musical on film. I’d love to maybe use that training within stunt work too. Some kind of action project, but also a rom-com. The lot. I think I’m always looking to just simply make something cool with nice people who love what they do.

dress BURBERRY
bracelet & ring LYLIE
shoes TOM FORD

TEAM CREDITS

talent HANNAH DODD
photography BARTEK SZMIGULSKI
styling HARRIET NICOLSON at STELLA CREATIVE ARTISTS
makeup SARA HILL at THE WALL GROUP
hair JOSH KNIGHT at A-FRAME AGENCY
styling assistant CARLA GROTTOLA
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN