All posts tagged: Francesca

Francesca And Michaela’s Bridgerton Season 5 Storyline Will Celebrate ‘Queer Joy’

Francesca And Michaela’s Bridgerton Season 5 Storyline Will Celebrate ‘Queer Joy’

Published by Sam Flores

Bridgerton boss Jess Brownell has lifted the lid on what fans should expect from the show’s upcoming fifth season. On Tuesday, Netflix announced that the next season of the hit period drama would focus on the romance between Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Stirling, marking the first time the show has had a same-sex love story at its centre. Speaking to the Netflix outlet Tudum following the announcement, Jess said: “What is most exciting about season five is that it is going to be a season about queer joy. It is not going to be a season about queer trauma. “There are going to be difficulties for the characters and conflict in the same way there is for every Bridgerton character. But we are still always grounding our love stories in the fact that this series is about joy. It’s about humour.” “If there’s anything really specific about this season, it is the yearning,” she added. “It’s big-time yearning. “Those of us who know what it’s like to be in a sapphic relationship or have a …

Bridgerton showrunner reveals why season 4 part 2 isn’t about Francesca and Michaela’s romance

Bridgerton showrunner reveals why season 4 part 2 isn’t about Francesca and Michaela’s romance

Published by Daniella Wilson

*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Bridgerton season 4 part 2.* With the surprise arrival of Michaela (Masali Baduza) at the end of Bridgerton season 4 part 1, many fans have been anticipating a second half of episodes filled with lingering stares, yearning and a blossoming connection between Michaela and Francesca (Hannah Dodd). However, with the tragic loss of John (Victor Alli) in this latter half of the season, the focus of Michaela and Francesca’s connection isn’t one that’s concerned with romance, but rather a more profound connection, according to Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell. When asked how she went about depicting Francesca and Michaela’s dynamic in season 4 part 2 – despite many fans expecting some romance – Brownell told Radio Times: “Yeah, something I love in When He Was Wicked, the book that Fran’s story is based on, is the friendship between – in the case of the book – Michael and Francesca.” She continued: “Obviously, there’s this little moment of frisson when Michaela and Fran first meet but I think for Fran, she …

Italian speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida wins gold at home on 35th birthday

Italian speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida wins gold at home on 35th birthday

Published by Sam Flores

It was a very happy birthday for Francesca Lollobrigida. Lollobrigida, competing today on her 35th birthday, brought home the gold for Team Italy in the women’s speed skating 3000m — and set an Olympic record in the process. The Italian crowd went wild as the hometown hero raced to the finish. Lollobrigida fought for her lead after trailing Team Canada’s Valerie Maltais, who finished with a bronze medal, for most of the race. She overtook her competitor in the final moments of the neck-and-neck race as her young son Tommaso watched from the sidelines. Follow along for live updates Afterward, the speedskater told reporters that it was a “perfect day.” “My family was here watching me and it’s incredible because we’re in Italy, and it’s the dream of my dream,” she said. Lollobrigida is the first Italian woman to ever win a speedskating gold and the first Italian athlete to win gold at the 2026 Olympics. She had previously earned a silver and bronze medal in 2022 at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Lollobrigida finished with …

Bridgerton star teases season 4 dynamic between Francesca and Michaela

Bridgerton star teases season 4 dynamic between Francesca and Michaela

Published by Daniella Wilson

In among the romantic story of Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) at the end of Bridgerton season 3, fans of the period drama were also left on a bit of a cliffhanger as it related to Francesca (Hannah Dodd). She may have had an intimate marriage ceremony and wed Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli), but there was a clear spark between Francesca and John’s cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) once they met. Their season 3 meeting only led fans into overdrive about what the future could hold and seeing as we now know that Francesca is set to be one of the leads of an upcoming season, many will be waiting to see what becomes of her connection with Michaela. Teasing what’s to come between them in season 4, series star Hannah Dodd teased: “What can I say? I think Michaela is a character that challenges Francesca whereas John is a character that makes space for Francesca. They’re both really important for Francesca to move forward.” Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling in Bridgerton season …