Golda Rosheuvel, Queen Charlotte of Bridgerton

The English actress, known in Italy for her role as Queen Carlotta in Bridgerton, returns to Netflix on May 4 with a prequel to the series. She knows something about aristocracy: her mother had dinner with Princess Margaret. But don’t tell her about the royal scandals…

golda Rosheuvel must have somehow always known that one day she would become the Queen of England (at least on TV). Effectively she didn’t have to put any effort into auditioning Queen Charlotte, the haughty and impatient ruler of the Bridgerton series who manipulates the lords and ladies of the time to single out “the diamond of the season”, her new favourite. She made it in half an hour, in her home studio. And then she sent the video file to the production

The actress, 53, English on her mother’s side and Guyanese from father’s side, she actually showed up at the Netflix saga audition for another character: Lady Danbury, lady and friend of the sovereign. Instead, the role went to my colleague Adjoa Andoh

She was predestined to the throne evidently. “When they asked me if I wanted to show up for the Queen’s as well, they sent me two small scenes to shoot. A few days later I received three calls. One to let me know that the video had ended up in the hands of producer Shonda Rhimes, another to tell me that I liked it and the third to confirm the part for me» she says

Golda Rosheuvel, destiny as queen

«Yet it was the most natural thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t have to ask myself “who he was and what he did” the character: the role suited me right away, I knew him, it was in my destiny. It’s only happened to me a couple of times in my career.” Who knows, maybe the fact that his mother Judith, who grew up in a family of London high society, visiting an uncle, a bishop in Barbados, had found herself as a girl at dinner with Princess Margaret, the sister of Elizabeth II. The fact is that the actress now fits perfectly in these shoes. Even if on the royal (the real ones) is rather reticent

Since May 4, Golda Rosheuvel has been the star of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, always on the giant streaming. This is the prequel to the saga, six episodes in all dedicated to the rise and power of Queen Charlottefrom her marriage in 1761 to King George, the “mad king” (actress India Amarteifio gives her a girl face), until the birth of the English high society in which the characters of the first two series of Bridgerton live. The spin-off of the saga takes up, in particular, the background of the courtthe sovereign as wife, mother and queen before becoming the most avid reader of Lady Whistledown’s chronicles of the secrets of English aristocratic society

Shakespeare is female with Golda Rosheuvel

In Italy, the name of Golda Rosheuvel perhaps (still) says little. In England, however, she is known for having played a female Othello in the theatre and for having lent the face to the series Coronation Street (a British soap opera aired since 1960), East Enders and to several theatrical productions, from Porgy and Bess, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet (a female Mercutio). The actress is now part of the Royal Shakespeare Company and, on a personal level, he is openly homosexual (for years he has been in a relationship with the playwright Shireen Mula, ed). When we meet she is witty and down to earth, in total black, the opposite of the colourful, distant and inaccessible ruler who says to young Daphne Bridgerton: «Flawless, my dear»

So, Golda, how does it feel to be a queen?
Obviously there are many advantages (laughs). I was able to play at Wilton House in Salisbury where Carlotta and George actually stayed at the time. Quite a privilege. But then there are also the daily problems

For example?
The fact that you always have to wear a double corset every day, the costumes that are very tight, the heavy wigs. How did women do it at the time? I wonder that every time my back hurts and my head is on fire

The wigs of Bridgerton they are the “signature”, the signature of the serial. They are maxi and inclusive, some with white dreadlocks or Afro streaks. Others are also inspired by Beyoncé’s looks. We will also see in Queen Charlotte?
Of course. They are works of art. Erika (Okvist, ed), our hair designer, now sews them for me and fixes them directly on my head to wear them on set all day long. We discuss it together. When I wear them I feel like a queen to all intents and purposes

Elizabeth II had confessed to the BBC that during the coronation (in 1953) her only thought was the crown, so heavy as to “break your neck”. She now she will be the turn of Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6th. Will she follow them?
It may seem incredible, but I don’t follow the royal news. I think, however, that for kings and queens, myself included, it is important to have very strong neck muscles…

Queen Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz really existed: she reigned for 57 years and 70 days. From 1761 to 1818. she And she had 15 children. Did you read up on her?
I did some research, without going into depth. We’re talking about a TV show after all, let’s not forget that. Bridgerton is not a documentary or a biopic. It is based on the novels of Julia Quinn and moves between glamour, costumes and intrigue. The series escapes

What do you like about your character in the prequel?
I love the complexity of it. There is everything, femininity, power, gossip. At the same time, Queen Charlotte moves within a series that is attentive to inclusion. All the characters, each in their own way, promote women’s empowerment

Historians say that she was a descendant of an African American branch of the Portuguese rulers of the sovereign. She was the first “biracial” royal in history, just like Meghan Markle today. Do you like the Duchess of Sussex?
I don’t know Markle personally, but she seems to have personality. He gets busy, that’s okay, he carries on with his life. I only believe in personal relationships, though. I don’t know the truth about her

When did you realize you wanted to act in your life?
Right away, as a child. I was brought up in a creative family. At home we sang and played. Dad was a Guyanese priest and my mother a teacher. A mixed couple, perfect, where there have never been any limits or prejudices. We moved to London when I was five. With my brother we were brought up with great freedom and we were never told that we couldn’t do something or achieve a goal. I was lucky to grow up in such an environment

She stressed that this role was a sign of destiny and that only one other time had the same experience happened to her.
It’s the only explanation I can give myself. Things happen in life that you don’t know how to immediately frame. It just happens that everything suddenly comes to life, like when the stars align in the universe. And you are there. And you know you have that connection that will never happen again

What was the other role?
that ofOthello at the Liverpool Everyman in 2018. I told the theater director (Gemma Bodinetz, ed) that I would only play it in the role of a woman. And she worked. She was my vision and she married her. For me it was a necessity. I needed to reshuffle the cards, project them into the present, and the audience understood the meaning of my interpretation

All it took was a gender shift…
Some viewers have told me that a female Othello made Shakespeare more accessible to them. He often played with gender. We actors always face different roles. Some, however, we feel them viscerally inside

She is an activist of LGBT issues.
The parts I choose always have something to say to the outside world, but I wouldn’t call myself “political” by any means

If I say female empowerment, what do you think about instead?
I grew up with strong, tough women. I disagree when they observe that brave girls scare men. My father married one and this was the atmosphere in which I grew up. In reality a powerful woman can come in many shapes and sizes. And be an inspiration in any way. A strong woman to me today means my aunt, who is recovering from a stroke she had on Christmas Eve. She is a generous, thoughtful and kind person. Or my makeup artist, who is about to become a mother for the first time. She proud and proud.

What is your daily mantra?
I wake up and say: “Today I will have an open heart. My heart is open to receive whatever is to come”

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