Tega Alexander as Lord Anderson’s son

“Bridgerton” has added three new cast members for the upcoming fifth season of the Shonda Rhimes-produced period drama, which will center on the love story of Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza), including playing the adult son of Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis).

“The Sandman” actor Tega Alexander will play Christopher Anderson, described as “A Regency-era Casanova who could give the Bridgerton bachelors a run for their money. But behind his brash facade lies a tide of self-doubt that threatens to unravel him. Lord Anderson’s son will somehow make his mark on society…”

“Carnival Row” actress Jacqueline Boatswain has been cast as Helen Stirling. According to the character description, she is “Michaela’s mother and the source of her spirit. Like any mother, she tries to guide (and sometimes push) her daughter through London’s social season with equal parts spirit and tough love.”

“Mobland” actress Gemma Knight Jones will star in season 5 of “Bridgerton” as Lady Elizabeth Ashworth, “an old friend of Michaela who serves as her confidante and London guide.” According to Netflix: “Underneath Elizabeth’s playful charm lies a grounded realist who is wise to society’s unspoken rules.”

Last month, Netflix unveiled a first-look teaser for the fifth season of the series, which is based on Julia Quinn’s novels about the love lives of the eight siblings in the titular Bridgerton family, and announced that production had begun in Britain on the eight-episode season. At that time, it was revealed that Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza) would be the new leading couple.

Here’s the official logline for Bridgerton season 5: “The fifth season of Bridgerton puts introverted middle daughter Francesca (Hannah Dodd) in the spotlight. Two years after the loss of her beloved husband John, Fran decides to re-enter the marriage market for practical reasons. But when John’s cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) returns to London to care for the Kilmartin estate, Fran’s complicated feelings will leave her wondering if she can live up to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner desires.”

Season 4 of “Bridgerton,” which was released in two parts on Netflix between January and February, focused on the love story between Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).

In May 2025, Netflix renewed “Bridgerton” for a fifth and sixth season, but took care not to reveal which Bridgerton sibling would star in each of those episodes. Although it wasn’t officially revealed to be Francesca Bridgerton until March 24, the season 5 lead was teased during the season 4 airing, positioning Francesca as the likely frontrunner despite Eloise (Claudia Jessie) being the book-accurate next contender.

After season 5, the remaining Bridgerton siblings left to tell their love stories will include Eloise Bridgerton, Gregory (Will Tilston), and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt).