- This page is about the Netflix character. For the book character, see Penelope Bridgerton
Penelope Bridgerton (née Featherington) is the youngest Featherington child and wife of Colin Bridgerton.
History[]
1813 Social Season[]
At the start of the 1813 social season, Penelope was presented to society, over her objections that she'd rather wait another year like her close friend, Eloise Bridgerton. Her mother insisted she be presented and Penelope was presented to the queen along with her two older sisters. Though she was disinterested in entering society, Penelope was intrigued by Colin Bridgerton. When her cousin Marina Thompson attracted many callers, including Colin, Penelope was happy to be entertained by them, listening as they recited poetry for her and playing with the dog one brought for her.
At the next event, Colin asked Penelope about Marina, who told him that she was sick. When Cressida Cowper saw the two of them talking, she spilled her drink on Penelope to try to get her out of the way. It didn't work as Colin refused to dance with Cressida, saying he was already going to dance with Penelope.[1]
Penelope was shocked when she learned that Marina was pregnant, as she'd been taught you had to get married to get pregnant and Marina was not married. She shared this news with Eloise, though she pretended it was a maid who was pregnant. Penelope brought Marina a plate of sweets and asked her how she became pregnant. Marina explained that it started when a boy at church brought her some sweets. Over time, they came to love each other and that's how she got pregnant. She also shared the letters George had written. At a picnic, Eloise asked Penelope for more information and Penelope said the maid wanted to escape to the country and marry her love.[2]
Penelope began checking the mail daily, looking for letters from George to Marina, consoling her when none came. She continued this even after Lady Featherington forced Marina to start going to events again in the hopes she'd find a suitable match and a quick marriage. She and Marina were both upset when a letter came in the mail signed with George's name, saying that he didn't love her and wanted nothing to do with her or her pregnancy. They were both unaware that Lady Featherington and Mrs. Varley had used Marina's other letters to copy George's signature and wrote the letter themselves.[3]
Penelope learned that Eloise was trying to figure out the true identity of Lady Whistledown, which she supported though she told Eloise she couldn't help as she had events to attend. At one such event, Marina caught the eye of Colin. The two of them danced, which upset Penelope. Seeing this caused her to snap at Eloise when Eloise came to talk to her about Lady Whistledown and what she suspected was true about her.[4]
As she watched Colin and Marina get closer, Penelope tried to dissuade the two any way she could. She reminded Colin of his desire to travel and tried to direct Marina to other men, but none of her efforts worked.[5]
Penelope's worry increased as Colin and Marina grew closer and then got engaged. Wanting to stop their marriage, Penelope went to Colin and revealed to him that Marina was already in love with another. Colin brushed off her concerns, saying he didn't care about what Marina did before they met.
In a last-ditch effort to stop them from making a mistake, Penelope found the letters from George and compared them to the last one. She then showed Marina that the signature on the last one was different, meaning it wasn't from George and he hadn't disavowed their relationship. Marina said that meant he still hadn't replied to her, which wasn't much better, and she still wanted to marry Colin. During this conversation, Marina came to realize that Penelope loved Colin. She told Penelope rather unkindly that she'd need to get over that, as Colin saw her as a sister while he saw Marina as a wife.[6]
When news broke that Marina was pregnant, her engagement to Colin was abruptly called off. As a consequence of their relationship to Marina, Lady Featherington worried that her daughters' prospects were all ruined. True to that, Penelope told Eloise that they hadn't had any callers for three days.
Eloise continued her search for Whistledown and then came to Penelope with what she'd learned. All her previous reports had been public until Marina. With her new information, she believed it was a tradesperson. Penelope told Eloise she could share what she'd learned at an upcoming event, one Penelope herself wasn't going to be attending due to the scandal.
Later, Penelope went to Marina to talk to her and found her passed out on her floor, having consumed a tea meant to induce miscarriage.[7]
As Marina recovered, she came to see Penelope and told her the tea had done what was intended as she hadn't felt movement to indicate she was still pregnant. Marina also said Penelope was right about Colin and she hoped Colin would see Penelope for who she was one day. Later, Penelope stayed with Marina when she received a visit from Philip Crane, George's brother. He brought news that George had died, along with a proposal for Marina, saying he knew George had compromised her honor.
Penelope went to visit Eloise and learned that Eloise had figured out that Lady Whistledown was Genevieve. Penelope was impressed that she could have a job and still write the letters.
Penelope then went home and, along with her sisters, fawned over the dresses Genevieve had brought for them. They wore the dresses and went to a ball. At the ball, Penelope spoke to Colin, who apologized to her for not listening to her warning about Marina. Then as she prepared to make a confession, he told her that he was leaving to start traveling soon, leaving her heartbroken.
After the ball, Penelope went home with her mother and sisters, where they learned her father was dead. She went to Eloise and cried on her shoulder while Eloise consoled her. Eloise then told her what happened when she went to save Lady Whistledown, leaving Lady Whistledown able to write her papers. Penelope said she'd make the next season more enjoyable. At the end, it's revealed that Penelope is Lady Whistledown.[8]
Start of the 1814 Season[]
Penelope waited anxiously by the window on the day the newly debuting ladies were set to be presented to the queen. She kept watching until she received a signal. Then she went to the print shop, where she posed as an Irish servant working for Lady Whistledown and negotiated with Mister Harris to do her printing. She then returned home and hid her money under the floorboards in her room.
While spending time with Eloise, Penelope admitted she was still writing to Colin, though everyone else had begun to ignore his letters. Penelope was surprised to learn that Eloise no longer had good feelings toward Lady Whistledown, because she only repeated what she heard and likely only wrote about those things because she wasn't an active participant.
At Lady Danbury's ball, Penelope talked to Eloise, who was hiding from potential suitors. When Eloise told Lord Stanley and Lord Cho that her dance card for the night was already full, Penelope looked at it and saw that all the names were fake. Penelope tried to leave the ball, but Eloise interrupted her, forcing her to stay. That night, after pretending to have gone to bed, Penelope left her house and went to the print shop, where she put a rush on the next issue.
At the queen's ball, Eloise panicked and told Penelope that they needed to leave because she'd accidentally charmed the queen. Cressida then approached and asked Eloise if being named the diamond would stop Eloise from hanging out with Penelope and find better friends. Eloise said she would rather die, remaining loyal to Penelope. Penelope then told Eloise that she didn't share Eloise's difficulty with social events. She liked to watch people and had learned a lot just from that. They also talked again about Lady Whistledown, with Eloise reiterating that she hadn't missed her while she was gone, but her return only reminded Eloise that she was trapped, with everyone watching her and comparing her to Daphne. Penelope said that no one noticed her, which Eloise saw as a good thing.[9]
Penelope talked to Eloise more about Lady Whistledown. Eloise said that she would prefer it if Whistledown wrote more about women's issues, because Eloise had more interest in that than ton gossip. Eloise believed she could persuade Whistledown to do more if she could track her down.
At the Royal Races, Penelope talked to newly-returned Colin about his travels. She asked him about being lonely and he said he wasn't because he was never alone. Penelope started to ask who he was with, but they were interrupted by Eloise, who pulled Penelope away. Eloise told Penelope she knew who was printing Lady Whistledown's pamphlets as she'd found another pamphlet using the same fond and paper type.
Penelope attended Lady Danbury's soiree with her mother and sister. She asked Colin about the lady he was with while traveling and he clarified that he actually meant himself, as it had given him the chance to start a conversation with himself, something her letters had encouraged him to do. He'd actually sworn off women. Penelope said she was a woman, but he said she was his friend and didn't count.
Later, Eloise told Penelope she'd found another clue. All the Ks were slightly misshapen, so she'd know for sure she had the right place if the next issue had misshapen Ks. Penelope immediately went out and bought a new K for the printing press. While she was shopping, she was spotted by Genevieve Delacroix and immediately fled.[10]
Working with Genevieve and Visit to Aubrey Hall[]
While her family was at Genevieve's to get a dress altered, Penelope made excuses for why she was out shopping. Genevieve made it clear that she would keep Penelope's secret, saying she believed a lady's business to be her own. When the next Lady Whistledown came out, Penelope came to visit Genevieve. The pamphlet had been very complimentary of Genevieve and Penelope said she was there to ask a favor of Genevieve in exchange for Penelope boosting her business. She was worried she'd get spotted again and wanted Genevieve's help avoiding that.[11] She arranged for Genevieve to sew her writing into dress seams to get them to the printer.
As the Bridgertons prepared for their annual Hearts and Flowers ball, Penelope talked to Eloise, who had some pamphlets, saying she must have been wrong about the printer as the Ks were no longer smudged. Eloise said she was actually interested in the contents of the pamphlets. When Eloise mentioned talking to Theo, Penelope was horrified that Eloise had been going to that part of town. Colin said that he had been unable to dissuade her and hoped Penelope could while he was visiting Marina.
Penelope and Eloise ended up at a table with several other young ladies. When talking about finding matches, Eloise said they could all simply say no to their mothers, but Penelope knew it wasn't that easy. They also talked about Whistledown, saying they didn't think she'd publish anything that week as they were all in the countryside together and would know anything she reported.
Later, when Eloise fled upstairs after leaving a dance early, Penelope tried to follow her, but Eloise said she wanted to be alone.
Penelope was shocked to learn that Prudence got engaged to Jack at the ball. Prudence wondered if Lady Whistledown would write about it. Penelope said she could ruin their family if she did, but Prudence believed she was just jealous. Penelope then spoke to Colin, who wondered how things could have gone differently if Lady Whistledown hadn't written about her before saying there was no use dwelling in the past.[12]
Penelope and Eloise watched Prudence tell the other young ladies about her wedding plans. Penelope said that Prudence getting engaged meant her mother more or less forgot she existed, but she did appreciate Jack ensuring their family's future. Penelope went with Prudence and Portia to Genevieve's to get Prudence's trousseau. While she was there, she used coded language to ask if Genevieve had gotten the new pamphlet she had written. Genevieve said yes, but it had been a busy week. Genevieve also asked Penelope if Lady Whistledown could promote her business again, but Penelope just reminded her of what she'd already done for her.
At the lake, Penelope talked to Colin, who said Prudence seemed happy. Colin expressed interest in Jack's mines and proposed introducing himself as he wanted to find purpose in his life. Penelope said he had plenty of time for that.
Penelope later talked to Eloise about what she had missed at the lake, but Eloise said she'd already heard. She also said she was busy with wedding errands and wouldn't be able to promenade with Penelope. Penelope was suspicious of Eloise's behavior, so she quietly asked Eloise's maid where she'd been that day, pretending Eloise had left something behind and asked her to retrieve it. The maid informed her that Eloise had been in Bloomsbury, a bad part of town. When Eloise went back there, Penelope followed her and watched her from a distance as she talked to Theo.[13]
Edwina and Anthony's Wedding[]
Desperate to learn more about Theo, Penelope summoned Genevieve to her house and asked Genevieve what she knew. Genevieve said she didn't know anything and began to worry that she was risking her business by helping Penelope. Penelope said her business hinged on it as well.
Penelope attended Edwina and Anthony's wedding with her mother, sister, and Jack. Before the wedding, she, Colin, and Eloise talked about how opulent the wedding was, even fancier than Daphne's. During this conversation, Penelope also expressed worry over Eloise continuing to visit Theo. Eloise said she'd visited him again, but she was only interested in his thoughts, so it wasn't scandalous.
When the wedding was abruptly called off, Penelope mingled with the other guests in the gardens. She overheard people gossiping about Edwina and why she'd called off the wedding. She and Eloise then talked about Theo again. Eloise wondered what if she wanted more with Theo than an intellectual bond. Penelope warned her of the potential consequences of marrying below her station. Eloise said she just wanted to know what she was feeling because not knowing was torture. She asked if Penelope had ever felt anything like that. Penelope said no, but looked over at Colin.
Penelope then talked to Colin. She told him he'd find his purpose someday and said she was also looking for hers. During this conversation, Colin realized Marina was right about Penelope caring for him. Penelope spotted Eloise as she left to go see Theo. She tried to stop Eloise, but Eloise just asked her not to tell anyone.[14]
Reporting on Eloise[]
In the aftermath of Anthony and Edwina's canceled wedding, Penelope was promenading with her family when they came across the Bridgertons. Portia was surprised to see them out and about so soon after their scandal. As they walked away, Penelope expressed her sincere condolences to the family.
Penelope then met with Eloise, who was frightened because the queen believed she was Lady Whistledown and was threatening her to admit it. Penelope said they would find a way to convince the queen that it wasn't true. Eloise wanted to warn Theo, but Penelope said she needed to stay away from Theo and the print shop until the next Whistledown was published and then they'd have proof it wasn't her. Penelope went straight from here to see Genevieve, who was worried that the queen had gotten involved. Penelope reminded her that their arrangement was mutually beneficial. She asked if Genevieve had any possible solution, as she wanted to protect Eloise and wasn't sure she could convince the queen if she tried to turn herself in. Genevieve suggested that she could write something about Eloise that Eloise would never write about herself. Penelope said she couldn't do that to her friend.
However, after Eloise said she was considering turning herself in and giving the queen the ally she wanted, Penelope wrote her next pamphlet, then broke her quill and burned it, as she had reported that Eloise was socializing with political radicals.[15]
Penelope quit writing as Lady Whistledown after this report. When Prudence expressed desire for Whistledown to return and report on her wedding, she and Philippa speculated on why she stopped. Penelope said maybe she was done ruining the lives of others. When Portia decided to use some of the money they'd gotten from the members of the ton to invest in the mines to throw a ball, Mrs. Varley asked about the Bridgertons and Sharmas. Prudence and Philippa liked the idea of the drama it would cause, but Penelope reminded them that Kate was still unconscious after falling off a horse. Portia decided to invite them anyway.
Eloise told Penelope she was going to find Lady Whistledown, with Theo's help. Penelope tried to warn her off the task, saying people had been gossiping about Eloise for weeks and her family would be in a worse position if she wrote more about them. She told Eloise to move on and let the scandal pass.
At the ball her mother threw, Penelope stood on the edge and talked to Eloise, sharing gossip about those around them after Eloise said she'd ended things with Theo. After talking to Eloise, Penelope ended up going with Colin to another room, where he showed her that Jack's necklaces were counterfeit and there were no gemstone mines in Georgia. Portia and Jack entered the room and Portia pretended to be shocked at the news. Colin threatened Jack, saying he needed to return all the money he'd taken and leave town immediately or he would reveal Jack's con. He was only refraining so long for the ladies' benefit. After this, Penelope and Colin returned to the dance and danced together. Colin said he had more planned if Jack didn't comply. Penelope thanked him for looking out for them.
Penelope later left the ball and found Eloise in her room, where Eloise had uncovered evidence that she was Lady Whistledown. Penelope apologized, but Eloise was angered that Penelope betrayed her to make money. Penelope said she felt horrible, but this was all she had. And she'd given it up for Eloise. Eloise said Penelope sequestered herself away to write because she couldn't stand up for herself in reality. In turn, Penelope said at least she did something, while Eloise was all talk and that she never does anything to change things, finishing off by telling her that she is a coward and a hypocrite who does not tolerate the fact that seeing her friend dared to do what she would never do. Eloise said she never wanted to see or talk to Penelope ever again and left.
Penelope returned to the ball, where she overheard Colin telling some other men that he would never court Penelope. That night, Penelope started writing her next report, telling everyone she was back.[16]
1815 Social Season[]
After a summer spent in the countryside, avoiding Eloise, Penelope and her family returned to Mayfair. On the day of the debuts, she saw Eloise with her family. As a cover for why they had money again, Portia lied and said their aunt Petunia had died and left them a fortune, counting on no one in London knowing that Petunia never had a fortune to leave anyone.
Colin tried to speak to Penelope at a social gathering, only to have her brush him off, still hurt by his overheard remarks.
After learning that Jack had allegedly written a note leaving the title to the firstborn son of one of Portia's daughters, Penelope decided she needed to change her whole wardrobe and start taking her search for a husband more seriously. She told Genevieve it was bad enough being under her mother's thumb, but she couldn't bear one of her sisters becoming the lady of the house while she still lived at home.
At the modiste, Penelope ran into Eloise and tried to apologize and make things right, but Eloise brushed her off and said she'd keep Penelope's secret, but wanted them to live their separate lives.
Penelope showed off her new wardrobe at Lady Danbury's Four Seasons ball, the first ball of the season. She attracted some attention, but remained awkward when gentlemen tried to speak to her and ended up watching from the wall. She talked to Francesca Bridgerton there and they bonded over being different from their siblings. Penelope warned Francesca not to spend too much time on the wall as it was hard to come off it once you got there, only to have Francesca turn that same advice back to Penelope.
While getting some ice cream, Penelope got a cold headache. Lord Debling noticed her and came to check on her. He'd noticed the other ladies seemed to dislike her. Penelope became nervous at his attention and moved to step away only to have her dress rip because Cressida Cowper was standing on it. Lord Debling left to get a maid to help her and Cressida taunted her, saying her dress ripped because it was cheap. Instead of waiting for Debling to return, Penelope just left.
While waiting for her carriage, Colin found Penelope. She confronted him about the remark she'd overheard about him never even considering courting her and went home.
Back at home, she started a new Whistledown column.
The next day, Colin came to see Penelope and apologized. He insisted that he was a different, better man after his travels and offered to help her find a husband if that's what she wanted because he'd learned that charm could be taught. He said he wanted to earn back the favor of the one person who always made him feel appreciated. They agreed, but Penelope was horrified when she remembered that the Whistledown she'd just published decried Colin for his sudden personality change, questioning if it was genuine. After finding her sisters reading it, she insisted to them that whatever Whistledown said about Colin, she was wrong.[17]
Penelope met up with Colin for a lesson. He told her she knew how to wave her fan and bat her lashes, which was enough for some men and had her try it out on a group of gentlemen so he could assess her skill set. When she failed awkwardly, he realized how dire the situation was. Despite this, Colin expressed a desire to continue helping her. He said she had all the skills she needed, but needed the confidence she'd had as a child when they first met. He asked where she felt most comfortable. She told him it used to be Sunday tea with the Bridgertons, but that wasn't possible anymore.
Despite her reluctance, Colin had Penelope come to the Bridgerton house, where they went to the drawing room. He had her speak to him as she would a suitor and was surprised when she complimented his eyes. They had a moment until they heard Eloise and Francesca approaching. Colin had Penelope hide in the study, where the journal on the desk caught her eye. When Colin came in a few minutes later, he was angry to see her reading it. He knocked a lamp off the table in his haste to stop her and cut his hand on the glass. He allowed her to bandage it and she did so as she apologized for reading. She told him he was a good writer and she hoped to get to read more someday. Then she thanked him for the lesson and left.
At the next ball, Penelope checked on Colin's hand, which he told her was much better. Then he encouraged her to socialize with Lord Basilio, a viscount, after building her confidence. This failed when Penelope approached him and he began crying, which he attributed to his horse recently dying.
However, later that evening, she spoke to Lord Remington and they connected over Lady Whistledown, which Remington read religiously. At the end of the conversation, Remington asked Penelope to call on him the next day. Unfortunately, right after this conversation, as she was celebrating with Colin, they realized others were talking about them. They learned that word had spread about their arrangement. Penelope fled in horror and cried on the way home.
Knowing that it was something Whistledown would write about, Penelope forced herself to include it in the next issue. Portia confronted Penelope over it and chastised her for thinking she could get married in her third year out. She told Penelope that an unmarried life wasn't the worst thing.
That night, Rae told Penelope she had a visitor and escorted her to the garden, where Colin was waiting. He'd bribed Rae to give them time alone. He told her he was sorry about what Whistledown had reported. Penelope, fearing she'd never have another chance, asked him to kiss her. She said she didn't want to die without ever having been kissed. He agreed and leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was brief, but after they pulled back, they leaned in and kissed again, for much longer. When they broke apart, Penelope ran away.[18]
Soon after this, Mrs. Varley told Penelope she had a visitor. She was surprised to find it was Eloise. Eloise apologized and admitted she was the reason the news of her and Colin's arrangement got out. Penelope tried to invite Eloise in, but Eloise said she was meeting a friend and said she hoped Penelope got what she wanted that season.
Penelope and Colin were promenading separately and noticed people whispering about them. They stepped away from the crowd and agreed their lessons were done, because Penelope had embarrassed her family enough and if they continued, she'd embarrass him as well. She pledged to get serious about her prospects, not that she had many.
At a party, Penelope tried to talk to Lord Wilding and Lord Stanton, but they just asked if she was looking for someone else to help her find a husband and laughed at her. At the same party, she talked to Lord Debling. When she admitted that she found the party boring, Debling said he found her frankness refreshing.
At the hot air balloon debut, Colin and Penelope had a secret conversation under the guise of looking at sweets. She told him she had an interest in Lord Debling and he wished her luck. However, when she went to talk to Lord Debling, she found him talking to Cressida. He called her over and she and Cressida started to compete for his attention, each of them exaggerating a love for nature. When the hot air balloon broke free from its tethers, Lord Debling threw his body over Penelope's to keep her from getting hit by it.
Later, at the Innovations Ball, Penelope took advantage of Lord Debling being alone for a moment to talk to him. She admitted that she'd lied and she preferred the indoors to outdoors. He said he appreciated her honesty and wasn't looking for a match who was exactly like him. When Debling stepped away, Colin approached Penelope and said he had a question for her. Before he could ask, Lord Debling returned and said it was time for their dance, Penelope looked at Colin, but he didn't say anything, so she left for her dance.[19]
Lord Debling called on Penelope soon afterward and brought her a plant so she could enjoy nature from her windows.
Penelope then went to the opening of Lord Fuller's collection. She attempted to read a book there, but Portia told her not to. She said it was better to pretend you don't know anything about a man's interests and allow him to explain it. When Lord Debling approached, Portia talked over Penelope to ask Lord Debling to explain the book to them. Lord Debling asked Penelope how he could go about getting permission to propose to her under the guise of talking about books. When he asked if the lady in the book would say yes, Penelope said he'd have to read the book.
Soon after, Lord Debling came to Portia and asked permission to propose to Penelope. Portia was frustrated at Penelope's hesitation and said she needed to be practical. Love isn't real and security is romantic.
At the next event, Debling approached Penelope and asked her to dance. While they were dancing, Colin appeared and asked to cut in. Lord Debling stepped aside to allow them to resolve whatever they needed to resolve. Penelope was upset with Colin for potentially ruining her chances with Lord Debling, but he said he couldn't watch her make a mistake like that. After the dance ended, Penelope went back to Lord Debling, but after talking to Cressida, he'd realized she had feelings for Colin and said he needed a wife who wasn't engaged elsewhere. When he walked away, Portia came to Penelope and asked what she'd done, Penelope was upset that that was her first question, instead of asking if she was okay. Penelope cried and left.
On her way home, she was shocked to hear Colin calling after the carriage. She let him in, but said she didn't want to talk to him. He asked her if Lord Debling had proposed. She said he hadn't and it was because he believed Colin was in love with her. Colin admitted that he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her since their kiss and his growing attraction to her. She admitted she also wanted them to be more than friends. Colin leaned in and kissed her, then reached under her dress to pleasure her. They continued until the carriage stopped at Colin's home. He helped her fix her clothes and then got out. He asked if she was going to come with him and when she expressed concern about his family seeing her, he asked if she was going to marry him or not.[20]
Penelope followed Colin into the Bridgerton house, where he announced their engagement. Everyone was pleased except Eloise, who left the room. Penelope followed her and Eloise insisted that Penelope tell Colin about Lady Whistledown before they were married.
Portia was upset with Penelope for not telling her directly about the engagement, but Penelope said it was because she didn't feel like sharing the happy news with her. Portia believed that Penelope had somehow entrapped Colin and that was the only reason they were engaged. Colin overheard this and came in to correct that misconception, saying that he had proposed solely out of love.
Colin then took Penelope to one of his family's properties, which he said would be their home after they married. There, he admired her body and told her how he loved her and they had sex on a couch. After they finished, Penelope immediately asked to do it again. Afterward, they cuddled and Penelope started to say she had something to tell him, but a knock at the door interrupted them and Colin hastily dressed, saying they could take his carriage through the park to avoid detection.
On their way, a messenger from the queen stopped them to give them a note telling them that the queen was offering a monetary reward to anyone who helped her unmask Whistledown. Despite this, Penelope was certain that no one would be able to unmask her. Portia apologized for how she'd treated Penelope and said they'd attend her betrothal party alone, giving her sister's time to think about how to make it up to her.
Penelope and Portia went to the party, where Portia quietly insulted the Bridgertons to Penelope while being nice and complimentary to them to their faces. Eloise pulled Penelope aside, realizing Penelope hadn't told Colin. Penelope said she would, but she was waiting for the right time. Eloise said she'd give Penelope until midnight and then she'd tell him herself.
Penelope got more anxious as the clock ticked closer to midnight. She played charades with the rest of the party and became more anxious when the topic turned to Lady Whistledown and the queen's offer, especially after Colin said her being outed would ruin her chances of getting married. She excused herself and left the room. When she returned, Colin asked where she'd gone and what was wrong, as he knew she wasn't well. When the clock struck midnight, Eloise approached, prepared to tell Colin, but he sent her to get a cool towel for Penelope. Just then, Cressida stood up and declared that she was Lady Whistledown. Penelope started to hyperventilate and then collapsed in Colin's arms.[21]
Desperate to refute Cressida's claim, Penelope feigned continued illness and hid away in her room, attempting to write the next issue. When Colin came to visit her, he gave her the ring and expressed his surprise that Cressida was Lady Whistledown, as he thought it would be someone cleverer.
Penelope was still trying to write when Eloise came to her and said that despite Eloise trying to force her to tell Colin, she'd realized Penelope could never tell Colin, as it would devastate him. She insisted that Penelope let Cressida take the credit and let Lady Whistledown die. Penelope said that would break her heart because she'd put so much work into it.
Penelope then worked with Portia to plan her wedding. Portia said that she'd chosen a match for security and Lord Featherington had been unable to provide even that, but he did give her her daughters and the only thing she wanted was for them to do better than she did. She warned Penelope not to take her luck for granted.
In church, Minister Hughes announced Colin and Penelope's engagement. After everyone had filed out, Colin took Penelope's hands and they danced in the empty room together.
Penelope went to see Genevieve to get fabric samples for her wedding and told Genevieve she was done with Lady Whistledown. Genevieve said her favorite part about making dresses was the look on the ladies' faces when they wore the dresses and said she wouldn't give up that feeling for anything.
Penelope attended the Mondrich party with her family. When Cressida arrived, Colin promised not to let her ruin their evening. Then he told her he was editing his travel diary into a manuscript. Penelope offered to do that for him, but he said he wanted to do it himself, to prove he was worthy of her. Then they watched as Cressida approached the queen. When Cressida had an announcement passed out in the room, Penelope grabbed one and read it. She was shocked when it announced that Lady Whistledown would return soon. She found Eloise and pulled her out of the room. Eloise apologized for telling Penelope to let Cressida take credit. Penelope said she could clear the whole thing up by publishing one last column, discrediting Cressida. She'd started the column to give herself some power because she felt powerless in her home and should have used it to give voice to the other voiceless, but she hadn't. She asked Eloise to allow her to use her pen to make things right. Eloise said she needed to be quick to publish before Cressida.
Penelope wrote her next issue in the carriage on the way to the printer. She handed it over to Mister Harris, apologizing for the late hour. He said he'd do anything for Lady Whistledown. As Penelope turned to walk away, she saw Colin, who had followed her there and now knew she was the real Lady Whistledown.[22] Colin was angry at Penelope for hiding that from him. He reminded her of everything she'd written about his family and pledged that he'd never forgive her.
While out promenading, Penelope talked to Eloise, who was happy Penelope published an issue, as Cressida's version of Whistledown heavily disparaged the Bridgerton family. Penelope told Eloise that Colin knew and she didn't know if he would still marry her. Eloise said she couldn't help Penelope as she already felt like she was stuck between them.
As planning for the wedding breakfast continued, Penelope was pleased when Colin came to her home with his mother. When she tried to talk to him, he said he'd only come because Violet was suspicious of them not seeing each other. Despite his anger, he said he'd still marry her as he was an honorable man and they'd been intimate. She asked him what their marriage would be and he asked if she would stop publishing, as that would make a difference. Then he said they'd decide after the wedding.
The night before the wedding, Penelope went to see Genevieve and told her about Colin. She admitted to Genevieve that she couldn't imagine giving it up, despite the trouble it had caused for her. Then they toasted to her marriage and Penelope left to go home. On her way, she ran into Colin, who was shocked to see her out at night without a chaperone. She tried to defend what she'd done, saying she was trying to protect Eloise by writing about her and Theo and was trying to protect Colin with what she wrote about Marina. He told her she didn't need to hide behind Lady Whistledown anymore, but she said she didn't want to give it up. Colin became angry with her and said he felt foolish for feeling good about what she said about his writing when she's a renowned writer herself. She promised him she meant what she'd said about his writing. He expressed concern with her being out alone at night, but she assured him she could take care of herself. That angered him and he asked what good he was to her if that was the case. She told him she loved him and he kissed her. When they were interrupted by a horse passing, Colin broke away and put Penelope in a carriage, saying he'd see her at the wedding.
The next day, Penelope and Colin were married. At the wedding breakfast, Penelope found Colin standing on the edge of the room and told him she'd spent too much time standing on the edges of rooms and wanted to be in the center for once. To that end, she asked him to dance. He agreed, even after reminding her that it was still daylight and highly unusual.
As the dance ended, everyone was shocked when the queen entered and dismissed everyone except the Bridgertons. Penelope went to leave, but Colin held her back, reminding her she was a Bridgerton now. The queen revealed that she knew one of them was Lady Whistledown and demanded she reveal herself. Penelope panicked, but stayed quiet until Anthony finally said that if something like that were happening under his roof, he would know about it and would have stopped it. The queen backed off, but promised she'd find the truth soon. As she left, Penelope left out another door. Colin followed her and she said she wasn't sure if it would be better to admit to it or stay quiet. He told her she'd done the right thing and said it was imperative that she stop publishing. She said that he couldn't understand, as he was a man who had some power, but she was unwilling to give up Lady Whistledown. He couldn't accept that and said he'd be sleeping on the sofa that night. Once he was gone, Eloise came to Penelope and comforted her.[23]
The next morning, Penelope was sad when Colin left to have breakfast at Bridgerton House. Her other was coming over, but Colin said he'd give them privacy and left. When Rae said she had a visitor, she said to serve her tea as she wasn't ready. After getting ready, Penelope went to the drawing room and was shocked to find not her mother, but Cressida. Cressida said she knew Penelope was Lady Whistledown and wanted Penelope to pay her for her silence. Penelope insisted that no one would believe Cressida, so Cressida tested it by telling Portia when she arrived. Once Cressida was gone, Penelope confirmed to her mother that it was true. Then they went over to Bridgerton House to tell Colin, who insisted that they wouldn't pay Cressida, though Penelope had the money from her column, and instead he would talk to her.
After talking to her, he reported that he'd actually made things worse and Cressida now wanted twice as much money and also wanted Penelope to used her column to restore Cressida's reputation.
While visiting her mother before Francesca's wedding to John Stirling, Penelope overheard Walter Dundas telling Portia that he knew her aunt had lived in poverty and that the money had actually come from Jack's scams. Penelope was upset to learn this, but Portia said she had done what she had to do in a time where they seemed to be no other way. They agreed to do better if they survived the scandal.
After John and Francesca's wedding, Penelope told Colin she didn't want him to get money from Benedict to pay Cressida off. Instead, she wrote a letter to the queen, revealing her identity and asking for the chance to address the ton herself before the queen made a judgment. Then she took some money from under her floorboard and gave it to Mrs. Varley to pay for Prudence and Philippa's ball, where she would address them.
Once the queen gave her the floor, Penelope talked to them about why she started the column and promised to use her quill more responsibly if they'd grant their forgiveness. The queen said that Penelope seemed humbled and they'd make sure she stayed that way, then left.
Penelope stayed at the ball and Lady Danbury came to Penelope and revealed that she'd suspected Penelope was Lady Whistledown. Then she said she was looking forward to the next edition. Next, Penelope talked to Portia and said that now that that was in the open, they could tell Walter the money came from Penelope's writing, solving their other problem.
Colin thanked Penelope for coming clean and then said he'd tried to separate her from Lady Whistledown, but after re-reading all the letters she'd sent him, he realized they were one and the same. They expressed their love to each other and danced.
Months later, Penelope gave birth to their first child, a boy and the new Lord Featherington. Then they celebrated the publication of Colin's travel book and the continuation of Penelope's column under her own name.[24]
Personality[]
A vastly intelligent girl with a sharp wit and warm heart, Penelope would prefer to quietly sway near the perimeter of any ballroom rather than take center stage. She's been born into a family who will never truly understand her — as if dealing with the cutthroat, mean girls of 1813 Regency London weren't enough.
Relationships[]
Romantic[]
Colin Bridgerton[]
Penelope fell in love with Colin the first time she met him, but she kept her feelings a secret from everyone.[22] When she overheard him proclaim that he would never marry her, she was heartbroken and kept her distance.[17] However, Colin sought her out and apologized to her, saying he didn't want to lose his friend. Penelope agreed to his offer to help her find a husband.[17] She was annoyed when Colin came between her and Lord Debling, who thought Colin was in love with her, something Penelope didn't believe was true. However, Colin admitted that he did have feelings for her, and proposed, to Penelope's surprise and delight.[20] Penelope wanted to tell Colin her Lady Whistledown secret. When he found out, he was upset, though Penelope insisted she would never try to entrap him.[23] Despite them marrying, the Lady Whistledown secret strained their relationship until Penelope came forward and revealed herself, and she and Colin reconciled.[24]
Alfred Debling[]
Penelope met Lord Debling at the first ball of her third season, after she vowed to seriously start seeking a match. He seemed interested in her, finding her honesty refreshing.[17] She found herself in competition with Cressida for Lord Debling, and tried to show her interest in nature, like Lord Debling. She later decided to be honest, and admitted that she was not interested in nature, which Lord Debling appreciated, as he wanted someone who had her own interests.[19] Penelope was excited when Lord Debling asked her mother for permission to propose. However, this ended when Lord Debling asked her about her feelings for Colin, and withdrew his interest.[20]
Familial[]
Penelope is the daughter of Lord and Lady Featherington, and is sister to Prudence and Philippa. Though her sisters are not the most poised or beautiful girls in society, Penelope is often looked upon as the ugly duckling. Her family pokes fun at her skin and weight, and often critiques her for her studies and writing.
Friendships[]
Eloise Bridgerton[]
Penelope and Eloise Bridgerton are best friends. Though they shared different goals, they were each other's confidantes. When Eloise found out Penelope was Lady Whistledown, Eloise ended their friendship.[16] The following season, despite being distant, Penelope still tried to reconcile with Eloise, despite her new friendship with Cressida.[17] When Eloise apologized for spreading a rumor about Colin helping Penelope, Penelope accepted, but they still didn't reconcile.[19] After Colin announced his engagement to Penelope, Eloise was upset and told Penelope she needs to tell Colin the truth about Lady Whistledown, and Penelope agreed, asking Eloise to let her tell Colin.[21] When Cressida claimed she was Lady Whistledown, Eloise convinced Penelope to stay silent and move on. However, when Cressida came out with a column, Eloise was worried that she would write something hurtful about her family, and Penelope said she would write another column to discredit Cressida and save Eloise's family.[22] The two eventually reconciled after Colin and Penelope's wedding.[23]
Marina Crane[]
Marina and Penelope quickly became friends when Marina first arrived, but their relationship was strained when Penelope heard about Marina's plan to seduce Colin and get him to marry her. When Marina refused to spare Colin from her plan to escape the fate of an unwed mother, Penelope published news of her pregnancy in Lady Whistledown, secretly betraying her.[6]
Rivals[]
Cressida Cowper[]
Penelope and Cressida both entered the marriage market in the same year. Cressida enjoying belittling and embarrassing Penelope, such as when she deliberately spilled her drink on Penelope’s dress in front of Colin Bridgerton.[1] When she heard that Eloise Bridgerton might be name the diamond of the season, she offered her friendship to upgrade from "wallflowers" like Penelope, which Eloise very crassly refused.[9] Their rivalry reached its peak in their third season, when both girls set their sights on Lord Alfred Debling as a suitor.[19] Lord Debling was planning to propose to Penelope when Cressida sabotaged her by implying that she and Colin Bridgerton shared more than mere friendship, causing Debling to notice their mutual attraction and breaking it off with Penelope.[20]
Later on, at the party celebrating Penelope’s betrothal to Colin Bridgerton, Cressida claimed to be Lady Whistledown, shocking everyone, especially Penelope.[21] Penelope was reluctant to let Cressida take the credit for her column, as she took so much pride in it, but briefly decided to cease writing to keep her secret safe from Colin. However, when she found out Cressida was planning to write her own article defaming the Bridgertons, Penelope chose to write an article of her own denouncing all of Cressida’s claims, including the one of Cressida being Whistledown.[22] It worked, and Cressida could not collect the reward money from the Queen for exposing Lady Whistledown so that she could live independently. With that and her father pulling her dowry, Cressida was to be sent away to Wales to live with her aunt, until she went around town trying to uncover Whistledown for real, and discovered that she was Penelope.[23] Cressida then threatened Penelope to pay her ten thousand pounds, twice the amount promised by the Queen, or else Cressida would expose her to the ton. Unfortunately for Cressida, Penelope, not willing to let her win, owned up to her secret of her own accord, stripping Cressida of her one leverage.[24]
Professional[]
Genevieve Delacroix[]
Penelope eventually entrusts Madame Delacroix to help her with her business as Lady Whistledown and in return she helps Madame Delacroix with her own business. She also went to Delacroix for advice when Queen Charlotte was threatening Eloise.
Career[]
Penelope maintains a secret identity as Lady Whistledown, who writes a newsletter spreading all the ton's gossip. It is later revealed that Penelope has earned a substantial income from her Lady Whistledown columns.
Notes and Trivia[]
- The ball gown worn by Penelope to the Diamond Ball was inspired by Kylie Minogue's star-spangled blue dress worn on her 2005 tour.[25]
- Penelope's new softer and looser hairstyle in season three is inspired by Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, and Jessica Rabbit.[26]
- Nicola Coughlan changed Penelope's voice over the seasons. In season 1, Nicola gave Penelope a girlier and shyer voice, since it was her first season out in society. In season 2, she lowered the tone of her voice to show that Penelope was more confident. In season 3, Penelope's voice was more grounded to show that she was a woman.[27][28]
- Claudia Jessie, who portrays Eloise, originally auditioned for the role of Penelope.[29]
- In season 2, Penelope has a line where she says, "You are obstinate and opinionated with no inclination to obedience or conformity," which ended up getting cut because Nicola couldn't say the line.[30]
- Shortly after Nicola Coughlan was cast as Penelope, she found out Penelope was Lady Whistledown from a Reddit fan forum because she googled it. On the first day, the crew confirmed that she would indeed be portraying Lady Whistledown and Nicola proceeded to tell everyone about it.[31]
- Penelope's first dance with Colin in season one is called the Siege of Ennis, which is a famous Irish dance that Nicola has known since she was a little girl.[33]
- Penelope's first dance with Colin in season two was inspired by the tango. During the dance, there are times when they turn and don't see each other, which according to Nicola, reflects what was going on in their relationship at the time.[33]
- According to Nicola, during Penelope's dance with Lord Debling, she sees that a man finally sees her as a romantic prospect and as a woman, which Colin sees as well.[33]
- When nervous, Penelope blinks a lot, which was Nicola does unintentionally.[33]
- According to Nicola, Penelope's transformation in season three is shown through her wardrobe. Penelope initially wore garish colors. When she wore the emerald outfit, Penelope felt that she stood out too much, so she later wore soft blue colors. Penelope's physical and mental transformation then starts to blend together over time.[33]
- Nicola purposely differentiates the way Penelope holds herself while chilling at home and when she is in the presence of the queen. This is because when historical adviser Hannah Greig worked with the cast at the beginning of season one, she showed many historical pictures. One picture of three ladies lounging on a couch stood out to Nicola, because it showed that people back then chilled, laid back on couches and put their feet up, despite the gilded dresses and interior.[33]
- In preparation for portraying Penelope, Nicola read the fourth book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, a lot to get as much of an insight into Penelope as possible. Penelope is much older in the book, so Nicola had to take anecdotal things of what Penelope was like when she was young. Nicola's preparation was mostly in the physicality of Penelope.[33]
- Nicola thinks of Penelope as a yo-yo in season one, where she would go out to say something and then pull it back.[33]
- In season two, Nicola wanted Penelope to have more of an arrogance about her, but a bit misplaced, because she's the most famous person in London, but no one knows who she is. She's convinced herself that she and Colin are having a love story, even though they are not.
- In season three, Nicola wanted Penelope to be more grounded, like a young woman and becoming more comfortable with herself.[33]
- When portraying Penelope, Nicola wanted to show her innocence, but not undermine her intelligence. Nicola thinks a lot of the mistakes actors make is when they have a big age gap with the character they play is that they try to patronize and not see young people as still fully rounded human being, and play it as a silly baby. [33]
- Nicola sees similarities between Penelope and Clare from Derry Girls. Both are both quite bookish and smart, but Clare has a lot of frantic, frenetic energy, speaks very fast and cannot keep anything in, while Penelope is more grounded, observes more and keeps everything in.[33]
- Penelope made slightly over £10,000 from writing as Lady Whistledown.[24]
- In season three, Penelope's confidence grew in her finding herself in a relationship, while Nicola's confidence grew in finding herself in her work and being a leading lady.[34]
- Nicola thinks Penelope's interests are reading, writing and staring longingly out windows.[35]
- Nicola thinks Penelope's biggest ick would be wearing flashy, over the top outfits.[35]
- Nicola thinks the qualities that Penelope looks for in a partner is kind, tall, lives near, brown hair and wears a pirate coat.[35]
- According to Nicola, Penelope is 20 years old, as of season three.[35]
- Nicola thinks Penelope's love language would be words of affirmation.[35]
- Nicola thinks Penelope's modern-family favorite musical artist would be Taylor Swift and would also like "Dancing on My Own" by Robyn.[35]
Gallery[]
|
A more complete gallery with pictures of Penelope Bridgerton (Netflix) can be found here. |
Memorable Quotes[]
- Colin: What is the one thing in the world that makes you feel most comfortable now? Most at ease?
- Penelope: It used to be Sunday teas at Bridgerton House. It was one of the few places I could go unchaperoned and truly be myself.[18]
- Penelope: Colin, we are friends.
- Colin: Yes, but we...Forgive me. Um...I do not know what I was thinking.
- Penelope: But I'd very much like to be more than friends. So much more.[20]
- Penelope: At least she did not see fit to dress you as a sunflower. I declare a bee might mistake me for the real thing.[9]
Appearances[]
| Bridgerton, Season 1 | |||||
| #01 | "Diamond of the First Water" | #04 | "An Affair of Honor" | #07 | "Oceans Apart" |
| #02 | "Shock and Delight" | #05 | "The Duke and I" | #08 | "After the Rain" |
| #03 | "Art of the Swoon" | #06 | "Swish" | ||
| Bridgerton, Season 2 | |||||
| #01 | "Capital R Rake" | #04 | "Victory" | #07 | "Harmony" |
| #02 | "Off to the Races" | #05 | "An Unthinkable Fate" | #08 | "The Viscount Who Loved Me" |
| #03 | "A Bee in Your Bonnet" | #06 | "The Choice" | ||
| Bridgerton, Season 3 | |||||
| #01 | "Out of the Shadows" | #04 | "Old Friends" | #07 | "Joining of Hands" |
| #02 | "How Bright the Moon" | #05 | "Tick Tock" | #08 | "Into the Light" |
| #03 | "Forces of Nature" | #06 | "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" | ||