Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey has opened up about taking on the male lead romantic role in season 2 of the Netflix show.

While he had a supporting role in the first batch of episodes as Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton, the upcoming season will put his character front-and-centre after the focus on Regé-Jean Page's Duke and Phoebe Dynevor's Duchess of Hastings last time around.

Reflecting on stepping into Page's shoes for the new season, Bailey has admitted he channelled his anxiety over the daunting prospect into his performance.

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bridgerton l to r jonathan bailey as anthony bridgerton and regÉ jean page as simon basset in episode 101 of bridgerton
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"I felt super kooky and I don't know if that's necessarily unhelpful when it came to Anthony," he told Entertainment Weekly.

"The one thing I've always remembered reading the script was like, 'Well, this is someone who's incredibly anxious, who can't sleep at night and is struggling to even get through a meal.' That felt quite right that I was feeling similar."

Speaking further on returning to the set, the star admitted: "Everything shifted and you get a sense of people slightly assuming they know you. So, the safest place to be is to go back into it and be with the people who understand that world."

jonathan bailey viscount bridgerton in bridgerton season 2
Netflix

Bailey recently revealed that Anthony will find himself in a "dangerous" love triangle in season 2 with Edwina (Charithra Chandran) and her sister Kate (Simone Ashley).

"You can understand why he's drawn to both," he told EW. "And they're both drawn to him in turn. It's an interesting love triangle; it's dangerous when it's siblings. It's bestial between them in a way season 1 wasn't. They're all animals with each other."

Bridgerton season 1 is now available to watch on Netflix. Season 2 will premiere on March 25. Secret Cinema with Fever Present Bridgerton opens in February 2022 in a secret outer London location. To purchase tickets, head here.

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