Yerin Ha Navigates ‘Bridgerton’ Lead Role Amid Season 4 Debut

NEW YORK (Azat TV) – Actress Yerin Ha is navigating a significant career milestone as she steps into the romantic lead role of Sophie Baek in the highly anticipated fourth season of Netflix’s global hit series, “Bridgerton.” The first part of Season 4, which premiered on Thursday, January 29, 2026, officially launches the “Benophie” era, pairing Ha with series veteran Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, and has already begun to captivate audiences with its unique take on a classic Cinderella narrative. Ha, alongside Thompson, recently shared insights into the pressures and joys of becoming the focal point of the popular Regency-era drama, revealing a mix of disbelief, excitement, and a deep connection to her character’s journey, according to an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Yerin Ha on Stepping into the Spotlight

For Yerin Ha, the reality of being a central figure in a “Bridgerton” season remains surreal. In an interview conducted in early December during her first press day at Netflix’s New York offices, Ha confessed, “It doesn’t feel real. Because for a very long time, I didn’t think that it was possible for me — maybe I should have dreamed bigger. To keep saying that I’m the lead of a season feels really bizarre.” Luke Thompson, who portrays Benedict Bridgerton, echoed the sentiment of the overwhelming scale of the show’s viewership, recalling a moment in Season 1 when the realization of “millions of people” watching hit him. Despite the immense pressure, both actors expressed appreciation for the fervent fan base, with Ha noting the “amazing” influx of AI-generated images, including those of their characters’ future children, shared by her own mother. Thompson added that seeing the “energy and thought that people put into it is kind of amazing,” highlighting the creative artistry of fans who draw and sketch.

The crucial chemistry between Ha and Thompson was evident even during their initial Zoom audition. Ha, participating from Korea at 11 p.m., recalled managing her nerves before logging on to see Thompson in a striped shirt. Thompson, despite the inherent awkwardness of a virtual chemistry read, remembered feeling “very relaxed” while reading scenes with Ha. Executive producer and director Tom Verica was reportedly moved to tears by their performance, immediately confirming Ha’s suitability for the role of Sophie. Ha emphasized her focus on being present and authentic during the audition, which she believes contributed to their natural dynamic.

Crafting Sophie Baek’s ‘Cinderella’ Arc

Yerin Ha’s character, Sophie Baek, introduces a fresh take on the Cinderella trope, as an illegitimate daughter of an earl forced into servitude by her abusive stepmother. She meets Benedict Bridgerton at a masquerade ball, igniting a romance that challenges societal norms. Ha found the iconic masquerade scene particularly demanding due to her character’s oversized mask. She recounted director Tom Verica urging her to “express more with your eyes and your lips” since her cheekbones were hidden. Despite the challenge, Ha noted that the mask paradoxically made Sophie feel “a little bit invincible,” empowering her to be brave and courageous before she metaphorically sheds her walls later in the story.

Discussing Sophie’s character, Ha highlighted her resilience and compassion. “Despite all the obstacles and the challenges, she’s still able to lead and live the world with a really caring heart. She’s still witty and she still has a bit of humor to her,” Ha stated. A profound personal connection for Ha was Sophie’s journey of self-love and the realization that she is deserving of affection. Ha shared that this theme resonates deeply with her own conversations with friends about what self-love truly entails, learning through Sophie that “love is not just in someone, it’s about the people in the community that you created.” This exploration of inner strength and self-worth forms a significant part of Sophie’s character development throughout the season.

The Bridgerton ‘Benophie’ Dynamic

The “Benophie” storyline takes a pivotal turn at the end of Part 1 of Season 4, particularly with Benedict’s “misguided declaration of love” where he proposes Sophie become his mistress. Yerin Ha described her genuine disappointment and anger during the filming of this scene. She felt Sophie, “getting drunk on his words,” was momentarily allowing herself to dream of a proposal despite knowing its impossibility in the era. However, Benedict’s offer served as a harsh awakening, bringing Sophie “back to a place of her childhood and how she feels as a kid,” triggering past trauma and causing her to rebuild her emotional walls. Thompson contextualized Benedict’s actions as a reflection of his character’s main flaw: a fear of true commitment, perhaps stemming from his father’s early death, and a desire to “have his cake and eat it too” by blending fantasy with reality. He acknowledged Benedict’s “blindness” to Sophie’s feelings and the implications of his proposal.

The intimate scenes between Benedict and Sophie were carefully choreographed with the help of an intimacy coordinator, Lizzie, whom Ha described as “incredible.” Both actors emphasized the importance of having Lizzie on set, creating a safe and vulnerable space for filming. Thompson referred to the coordinator as a “security blanket,” ensuring trust and facilitating the portrayal of intimacy authentically. The first half of Season 4 concludes with Benedict and Sophie at a significant crossroads. Thompson noted that their initial encounters occurred in “dream scenarios” – the masquerade ball and Benedict’s cottage. Now, as they must return to the “ton and the real world,” the challenge lies in how they will navigate the complexities of their relationship beyond the honeymoon period, and “how they find each other again.”

The launch of “Bridgerton” Season 4, with Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson at its core, underscores the series’ ongoing success in adapting beloved romance novels while also subtly challenging their underlying tropes. By centering Sophie Baek’s narrative on self-love and confronting the limitations of a “Cinderella” fantasy, the show continues to evolve, offering a modern sensibility within its historical setting and prompting audiences to consider the deeper emotional journeys of its characters.