What We Know About The Actor Who Plays Edmund On Bridgerton

What was once Netflix's biggest show ever, "Bridgerton" took almost no time at all to garner a massive fanbase when it was released in December 2020. Based on Julia Quinn's nine-part book series, the show created by Shonda Rhimes became something that anyone would enjoy. Bela Bajaria, head of global TV at Netflix, told Vanity Fair that part of the show's success is due, in part, to the "extraordinary times we live in." She continued, "The show arrived at the end of a very tough year, offering a lush and soapy escape to a touch-starved, isolated audience that, thanks to stay-at-home orders, was watching more TV than ever."

Since its Christmas 2020 premiere, fans have been clamoring for the long-anticipated Season 2. Although fans were all over the place when they learned Rege-Jean Page won't be returning as the Duke of Hastings for Season 2, that hasn't quelled fans' excitement for the next installment. After all, the first season was just supposed to encapsulate Quinn's first book in the series — they can't all be the same story!

Now, with the Season 2 premiere right around the corner — the show drops on Netflix on March 25 — we've got the details on a much-anticipated character introduction. While he was absent in the first season, patriarch Edmund Bridgerton should have a storyline of his own in the new season. So, who is playing this father of eight?

Known for both his long stint as Harry Greenwood on the "Charmed" reboot and Frank Frink in "The Man in High Castle," Rupert Evans is an experienced British actor. According to Bustle, Evans has done work on stage and screen, with a background in acting from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Deadline made the casting announcement in May 2021, which Evans then confirmed on his Twitter feed.

In addition to his work as an actor on "Charmed," Evans has also directed two episodes of the show. He directed "No Hablo Brujeria" and "Don't Look Back in Anger." When he spoke to Square Mile about being recognized for his work on "High Castle" in 2018, Evans said getting stopped in public is more frequent whenever a show drops. "It's the weirdest times that people stop you, invariably when you are looking at your worst," he told the outlet. "I have a baby and I'm just sort of pushing a pram somewhere desperately trying to find some nappies — that's when it happens when I'm in my [pajamas] in Sainsbury's or something."

When he played John Myers in Guillermo Del Toro's 2004 "Hellboy," people didn't know who Rupert Evans was. He told Nuit Magazine that he had just finished his schooling and was suddenly in this movie where he recognized that Del Toro "took a gamble" hiring him. Even so, he found himself learning a lot from acclaimed actor John Hurt. "He particularly took me under his wing and I [learned] a huge amount just watching him on set," he told the magazine.

Hurt died in January 2017 and Evans took to Twitter to give a sweet tribute to a man he so admired. Along with a photo of Hurt as Trevor "Broom" Bruttenholm from "Hellboy," Evans wrote, "Speechless with sadness at the news of the departure one of the greatest actors and dearest friend." We hope that a spirit of camaraderie will continue for Evans as he makes his way in this new role as Edmund Bridgerton. As a father himself, as well as a mentee of Hurt, we are sure he's got the gumption to make it in high society. To paraphrase Eloise Bridgerton, we hope you want to fly!