Annie Walton Doyle
Bridgerton fans have been left shocked after discovering who voices Lady Whistledown.
The hit Netflix series, based on Julia Quinn’s novels, has captivated audiences since its debut with its glittering world of Regency-era romance and scandal.
Amid the opulent ballrooms, passionate love affairs, and complex social dynamics, one mysterious figure has kept everyone on their toes: Lady Whistledown.
The sharp-tongued, secretive gossip columnist whose society papers cause ripples across the town has become a central figure of intrigue.
And now, the recent revelation of the actress behind Lady Whistledown’s voice has left fans utterly gobsmacked.
Lady Whistledown, the faceless narrator of Bridgerton, appears to know what’s going on in everyone’s lives and is willing to publish every salacious detail, no matter who is involved.
Her gossip column, Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, is the constant talk of Bridgerton’s high society in Regency Era London, but the column also functions as the narration for the show.
As the ‘Bridgerton’ books exist, the anonymous writer’s identity is easy to look up – leading many to wonder why the historical romance drama hid her identity using a different voice actor.
The gossipmonger’s real identity is Penelope Featherington.
Despite being in close contact with the real Lady Whistledown throughout Bridgerton, Eloise never suspects her best friend – Lady Whistledown is imagined to be a much older, dignified person.
So the choice of voice actor for the role embodies this perfectly…
Even after the identity of Lady Whistledown is revealed, it helps the drama distinguish the separation between her two identities.
This isn’t the first time a TV show has used a different voice actor to portray the secret identity of one of its main characters.
The closest comparison is Gossip Girl, which ran from 2007 to 2012 and was set in a high school where a gossip columnist, the titular Gossip Girl, caused all the drama.
Kristen Bell voiced the narrations in Gossip Girl, with the identity kept secret until the series’s finale when it’s revealed that social outcast Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) had been responsible the whole time.
Similarly, Bridgerton has used this same conceit for Lady Whistledown.
After discovering who the voice actor is behind Lady Whistledown, people have taken to social media and shared their surprise.
One Bridgerton fan comments: “I can’t believe I didn’t recognize her voice!”
Another asks: “Why did everyone gatekeep this info???”
“I was today years old,” jokes somebody else.
If you didn’t already know, Julie Andrews is the voice actor behind Lady Whistledown.
For many, Andrews is a household name synonymous with classic cinema.
From her iconic roles in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins to her recent work in Despicable Me and The Princess Diaries, Andrews’ career spans decades and genres.
Yet her involvement in Bridgerton as the narrator behind Lady Whistledown’s enigmatic letters has remained an astonishing surprise to many viewers.
Bridgerton’s showrunner, Chris Van Dusen, has previously revealed that Andrews was the ‘top’ choice for the role.
He told OprahMag.com: “We offered her the part, sent her the scripts, not thinking anything would really come of it. But surprisingly she read the scripts and fell in love with them.”
Unlike the rest of the cast, who film their roles in the U.K., the 88-year-old records her voiceovers from a studio in the U.S.
Related Article: Netflix’s Highly-Anticipated New ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ Thriller Has Finally Landed
Related Article: Viewers Are Binge-Watching ‘Phenomenal’ New Netflix Drama Starring Mark Ruffalo And Hugh Laurie
Do you have a story for us? If so, email us at [email protected]. All contact will be treated in confidence.
