Ruby Stokes Addresses Her ‘Bridgerton’ Character’s Disappearance

News from the Ton! Actress Ruby Stokes is lastly sharing her ideas about followers’ reactions to her Bridgerton season two absence.

Upon the Netflix interval romance’s second season launch in March 2022, followers had been fast to level out that Francesca Bridgerton was noticeably lacking from a lot of the episodes, regardless of being a member of the present’s titular household. While Stokes, 22, exited Bridgerton to star within the streamer’s new supernatural collection Lockwood & Co., she admitted that she liked seeing folks poke enjoyable at Francesca’s whereabouts on-line.

She advised Variety in an interview printed Tuesday, February 14, “I did see the memes people were creating, and they tickled me! They were funny and very joyous.”

But for as humorous as she discovered all of the memes and posts, Stokes famous, “I didn’t want to delve too deep sometimes, because you can read a lot of stuff and start overthinking things. I like to end my scrolling somewhere.”

The star additionally shared that the selection to go away the hit collection “wasn’t an easy decision,” as Francesca’s love story is prone to be the topic of one of many present’s upcoming seasons, simply as it’s within the Bridgerton guide collection by creator Julia Quinn.

“It was incredible being part of a cultural moment like Bridgerton,” the star —who performs Lucy on Lockwood & Co. — stated of her expertise on the present. “The versatility in acting is so joyous, and there was something about Lucy that just drew me to her. I found her very exciting and being presented with that opportunity, I wanted to take it and explore it.”

While followers could have stated goodbye to Stokes, Francesca will proceed to stay round. It was introduced in May 2022 that Hannah Dodd will take over the position for Bridgerton’s upcoming third season.

“The only thing the Ton loves more than a scandal is a celebration,” the present’s official Twitter web page wrote announcing the news. “Do joyously welcome the newest member to the Bridgerton family.”

Bridgerton showrunner Chris Van Dusen had beforehand opened up about Stokes’ departure in a March 2022 interview with TVLine, noting, “I love Francesca, but we lost her midway through season 2.”

He continued, “After exhausting all other options, she, unfortunately, had to come out due to reasons beyond our control. Perhaps season 3 will be the charm.”

Before becoming a member of the Bridgerton universe, Dodd, 27, appeared in a handful of TV reveals, together with the miniseries Anatomy of a Scandal and Flowers within the Attic: The Origin. She has already made her Netflix debut, as she starred alongside Millie Bobby Brown within the 2022 sequel movie Enola Holmes 2.