Yet while season three will see a return of other fan-favorite characters—including Jonathan Bailey‘s Anthony Bridgerton and Simone Ashley’s Kate Sharma, whose season two romance was the talk of the ton—it’s Penelope and Colin who will find themselves in the spotlight this time around.
And, as Nicola previously revealed, it couldn’t be a more pivotal season for her character—both romantically and emotionally.
“This year is the year Penelope thought she was having last year, if that makes sense,” the Derry Girls alum told Shondaland in June. “Because I think she thought that she and Colin were a thing and it was happening, and then she got a really rude awakening at the end. I always say year one is ‘girl,’ year two is ‘not a girl, not yet a woman,’ and this year is ‘woman.'”
She added, “She’s really grown up in these three years. I often think about playing characters who are a lot younger than you, and one of the most important things is not to patronize them and to realize that everyone, regardless of age, is a human being. I’ve been on a bit of a journey with her this time around.”
But while you have to wait until May to see exactly where that journey goes, keep reading for more first look photos at Bridgerton season three.