Ahead of the release of Bridgerton season two on Friday (March 25), Adjoa Andoh, who plays the straight-talking Lady Danbury, has spoken about how much the fan response to her character means to her.
Speaking to The Mirror, Andoh said: "I can't tell you how touched I have been to see the little Black girls posting photos of themselves in a Regency dress, dressed up like princesses.
"I get pictures from little girls AND boys dressed as Lady Danbury. I think it's lovely. You kind of go, 'Oh, these children are going to grow up feeling like they have a place – not like they are being tolerated.'"
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She went on to explain that the response is particularly touching for her, as she moved to Gloucestershire from Leeds as a child, which, alongside having a Ghanaian father and a British mother, led to her feeling ostracised.
"I sometimes felt as though I wasn't seen for myself, although that also meant I was more resilient. In a small West Country farming village, to be mixed race with a strong Leeds accent meant I was already a different order of gravy," she recalled.
"There were levels of familiarity, and people getting to know us. Having a strong Yorkshire accent was as much a part of that as my race. Some people were like, 'We can’t have that coloured girl in here – what would the neighbours think?!' But, similarly, there were other houses where I was enormously welcomed."
Despite having roles in huge TV hits including Doctor Who, The Witcher and Casualty, Andoh exclusively told Digital Spy last year about the pressure she feels from fans, saying: "I think you'd be foolish not to feel pressure, because that's the nature of any creative offering. When you do the second go-around, there's always that pressure.
"But I think pressure is also preparation, and it's a challenge. And challenge is good. So it's like, 'You thought that was good? Wait until you see this.' So there's that sort of quality to it."
Bridgerton season 1 is now available to watch on Netflix. Season 2 will premiere on March 25. Secret Cinema with Fever Present Bridgerton is open now in a secret outer London location. To purchase tickets, head here.
The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton: Lady Whistledown's Official Guide by Julia Quinn
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