The most recent, third season of Bridgerton has given its gay fans many gifts: The series’ first queer love triangle, the rumblings of a new sapphic affair, and, well, any time the hunky Jonathan Bailey is on screen.
However, this time around, Bailey wasn’t the only LGBTQ+ star of the ‘Ton who had our knickers in a twist…
Season three of the Regency era romance introduced viewers to harmless himbo Harry Dankworth, the dashing yet doltish new husband of Prudence Featherington (Bessie Carter), played by rising queer star James Phoon.
The role represents a real breakthrough moment for the Brighton-born actor, who was previously best known for his work in the London theater scene and his recurring role on BBC Three’s darkly comedic whodunit Wreck.
But being part of one of Netflix‘s most popular series ever brings with it a whole new level of fame. It’s certainly been an adjustment for Phoon, though it sounds like he’s making the most of his spotlight:
“There is so much work to do,” he recently told The Bay Area Reporter, reflecting on the precarious sociopolitical climate for the worldwide LGBTQ+ community. “Things can regress so quickly. I welcome any platform that can be used to prevent that.”
For one, merely being visible as an out, queer performer of East-Asian heritage can make all the difference—especially when you’re showing up in a TV series as massive as Bridgerton.
“Just because we haven’t heard about them before, and because the story and the spotlight hasn’t been on them, it doesn’t mean they didn’t exist,” Phoon shared, speaking broadly of underrepresented stories in media. “It just means we didn’t know about them, and I think it’s really important to show that.”
The 30-year-old actor has been out his entire professional career (since “about 13 or 14”) and recognizes his queer identity as an important part of who he is. While, recently, actors like Matt Bomer have come forward about how their sexuality has hurt their chances of landing certain roles, Phoon considers himself grateful to have not encountered that same kind of homophobia.
“At least not directly, as far as I can tell,” he shared with The Bay Area Reporter. “I know a lot of actors are urged not to be openly gay, but I haven’t experienced any such pressure.”
James Phoon & Bessie Carter in ‘Bridgerton’ | Image Credit: Netflix
And surely Bridgerton‘s Harry Dankworth is proof that the industry is moving in a more progressive, open-minded direction. While the series has explored a few characters’ queer awakenings in the most recent season, Harry remains happily—if awkwardly—wedded to Prudence.
The opportunity to play a straight role is not lost on Phoon, who believes sexuality shouldn’t matter when it comes to casting parts: “That’s why it’s called acting. You’re playing something other than yourself.”
And, actually, the latest episodes of Bridgerton gave Phoon the opportunity to be a part of another very important “first” for the series: He and co-star Bessie Carter—whose characters fans have dubbed “Prudank”—got to film the series’ “first funny sex scene.”
In an interview for Shondaland, the scene partners opened up about filming the “comedy version” of the show’s typically “steamy, sexy, hot, romantic thing,” which speaks to the fact that neither of their characters really would be experienced in the sack.
“Sex is awkward, and sex is vulnerable” Carter shared. “So, I think it was important to play the truth of that whilst knowing deep inside that it is really funny.”
Phoon seems to have had no problem getting intimate on camera, but he did remark that it was quite “bizarre” to watch back—especially as a lifelong Mary Poppins fan: “Did you ever think that you would be filmed having sex while Julie Andrews narrates what you are doing?”
We already know a fourth season of Bridgerton is on the way, so whether that means more bizzare sexual misadventures are on the way for Harry Dankworth or not, we’re just excited for the opportunity to see more of James Phoon on our screens.
Phoon can be seen in Bridgerton Season 3, now streaming on Netflix, and Wreck Seasons 1 & 2, streaming on Hulu. Scroll down below for a few more of our favorite shots from his Instagram:
News
THE GATE THAT SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN OPEN When police checked the area where Nyla May Bradshaw was last seen, they found the metal gate leading to the golf course slightly ajar. Nearby cameras captured movement at 4:30:52 p.m. In the clip, a small figure runs toward the gate — and in the final seconds, the gate appears to close
When police checked the area where Nyla May Bradshaw was last seen, they found the metal gate leading to the golf course slightly ajar. Nearby cameras captured movement at 4:30:52 p.m. In the clip, a small figure runs toward the…
FRAME 7 OF THE CCTV FOOTAGE A traffic camera near the golf course recorded movement at 4:31:24 p.m. When zooming in on the video, investigators noticed a small, bright object moving across the corner of the frame in the seventh frame. But what caught their attention even more was the small object lying on the grass immediately after the object disappeared
A traffic camera near the golf course recorded movement at 4:31:24 p.m. When zooming in on the video, investigators noticed a small, bright object moving across the corner of the frame in the seventh frame. But what caught their attention…
“She was laughing just minutes earlier.” A witness said they saw Nyla May Bradshaw near the golf course fence at 4:31 p.m. But a nearby parking lot camera recorded the movement at 4:31:24 p.m. — just 53 seconds later. In the zoomed-in frame, a pink object was lying near the edge of the fence. And when investigators reviewed the slow-motion footage, they noticed a detail that no one had previously noticed
A witness said they saw Nyla May Bradshaw near the golf course fence at 4:31 p.m. But a nearby parking lot camera recorded the movement at 4:31:24 p.m. — just 53 seconds later. In the zoomed-in frame, a pink object…
I only turned away for a moment: According to the initial timeline, only about three minutes would have been enough for Nyla May Bradshaw to leave the backyard. The distance from the back door of the house to the golf course lake is only 176 meters. But the search team says they found two small footprints in the mud about two meters from the water’s edge. That small detail is leading many to believe that the little girl’s final moments may have happened much faster than everyone thought
According to the initial timeline, only about three minutes would have been enough for Nyla May Bradshaw to leave the backyard. The distance from the back door of the house to the golf course lake is only 176 meters. But…
THE CCTV CLUE 🎥🚨 Above a small corner shop on Martintar Road sits a camera pointed directly at the section of pavement where Lucinta Evans was standing before the crash. Early reports say the device was still recording before dawn when the taxi left the roadway. Investigators are believed to be reviewing that footage. Scene breakdown and key details inside the report 👇
THE CCTV CLUE 🎥🚨 Above a small corner shop on Martintar Road sits a camera pointed directly at the section of pavement where Lucinta Evans was standing before the crash. Early reports say the device was still recording before dawn…
5:07AM ON MARTINTAR ROAD 🚨 Early reports say a taxi suddenly veered off the road in Nadi, leading to the death of Lucinta Evans during her birthday trip. Witnesses later described another car speeding through the same stretch just before the crash. Nearby cameras may hold crucial seconds from that moment. Full timeline and scene details revealed here 👇
Early reports say a taxi suddenly veered off the road in Nadi, leading to the death of Lucinta Evans during her birthday trip. Witnesses later described another car speeding through the same stretch just before the crash. Nearby cameras may…
End of content
No more pages to load
