Where Was Francesca Throughout Bridgerton Season 1?

Francesca Bridgerton, played by Ruby Stokes, is the only Bridgerton sibling who is inexplicably missing from most of Bridgerton. Here's why.

Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 regularly featured all the Bridgerton siblings except Francesca, who is noticeably absent. Francesca Bridgerton is the second youngest of the Bridgerton siblings, so many find it odd that she's not at home more often with the rest of the younger ones. Not many explanations are offered in the wake of Francesca's absence, other than that she is simply "away." She is around a lot more in the books, with the sixth being her own story, though most of her minor storylines aren't present in Bridgerton. This occurs through seasons 1 and 2, prompting people to ask where exactly is Francesca when she's "away?"

The Bridgerton series on Netflix is based on a set of romance novels by Julia Quinn. Each book tells the love story of a different Bridgerton sibling. Francesca is the sixth Bridgerton child. Though Daphne is the fourth Bridgerton child, her story is told in the first book of the series, The Duke and I. Unsurprisingly, the Netflix show changed several details from the source material with Bridgerton, including the order. The show followed the order of the books with Bridgerton season 2 centering on Anthony, but will shake up season 3 by focusing on Colin instead of Benedict. Francesca would star in season 6, but that’s potentially a long time to wait before getting to know Francesca on-screen since she hardly appears in seasons 1 and 2.

Where Was Francesca During Bridgerton Season 1?

In the Bridgerton season 1 finale, “After the Rain,” it’s noted that Francesca Bridgerton has spent most of her time that year in Bath. Lady Bridgerton receives a letter from Aunt Winnie saying that Francesca will return home soon. Francesca was likely spending time with extended family, possibly for educational purposes, not unlike Marina Thompson. The latter has been sent into town by her own family to live with the Featheringtons (though for entirely different reasons). Francesca appears only briefly in season 1, but the showrunners may have had other (more practical) reasons for keeping Francesca out of the spotlight.

Is Francesca Bridgerton In Season 2?

Despite being at home with the family, Francesca Bridgerton is largely absent from Bridgerton season 2. Rather than explain the character's absence, showrunners decided it best to place her in scenes where the whole family is gathered and nowhere else. She only appeared in 3 episodes of Bridgerton season 2, a scant one more than her previous season run. In her final episode, she traveled to Aubrey Hall with her family, and then promptly disappeared. Given that she's a much more present figure in the Bridgerton books, her storylines being scrapped for the series don't make much sense. In reality, it has little to do with the show itself, but instead, with actress Ruby Stokes.

Ruby Stokes had to pull out of Bridgerton season 2 due to previous acting engagements with another Netflix series. While she's a recurring actor for Bridgerton, she was a lead in Lockwood & Company, which was filmed at the same time. Francesca Bridgerton has been recast with Anatomy of a Scandal's Hannah Dodd. Some had previously speculated that Francesca’s absence could be explained by the possibility that she would be recast in future seasons. Considering that the stories of the Bridgerton children as told in Julia Quinn’s novels occur when they are adults, it’s reasonable to expect that several of the younger Bridgertons would be recast. Ruby Stokes, the actress who plays Francesca, is not much younger than Phoebe Dynevor (the actress who plays Daphne Bridgerton). However, she was recast due to outside commitments.

Who Does Francesca Bridgerton Marry In The Books?

Francesca Bridgerton's story should occur during Bridgerton season 6, just after Eloise's. In the series, Francesca eventually marries a man named Michael Stirling. Stirling is the 9th Earl of Kilmartin, and the couple end up having two children together. Michael is said to be a sly playboy, but his cool unravels once he lays eyes upon Francesca Bridgerton. The snag is that they meet at a dinner celebrating her upcoming marriage to his cousin. He tries to keep his feelings for her a secret but ultimately fails.

Francesca has been described as a more mysterious and enigmatic Bridgerton than her other siblings, so it’s also fitting that Bridgerton would maintain some mystery around her character. Still, it's surprising that Francesca wasn't included in season 1 and was jarringly absent from season 2. However, with her recast, more of Francesca's story should be revealed in Bridgerton season 3. Fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels are eager to see Francesca’s story told and hope to see more of her in the future.

What The New Francesca Thinks About Joining The Bridgerton Cast

Bridgerton surpassed all expectations and has become a cultural phenomenon, and one of the strongest offerings in Netflix's original content. As such, there are big shoes to fill for actors joining the show, such as Hannah Dodd, the new Francesca Bridgerton. After being recast as Francesca Bridgerton for the Netflix series, Hannah Dodd has told interviewers she read six of the Bridgerton novels by Julia Quinn to better prepare to take on the role. Dodd has reportedly said that she understands how much Bridgerton novel fans love Francesca and that she’ll “do her best” with the role.

Dodd also, however, has admitted in interviews that, “I didn’t know what I’d got myself in for” with regard to the Regency-era soap. The series is known for its explicit depictions of romance among its main characters, but if the show follows its current timeline, it could still be a few seasons before Francesca’s romance is brought to the forefront of the storylines. Dodd has called Francesca Bridgerton’s storyline “beautiful,” and she’s eager for the chance to bring the sixth Bridgerton child to life in the Netflix series.