Why Queen Charlotte From Bridgerton Looks So Familiar
As if Queen Charlotte couldn't get anymore iconic, Netflix's Bridgerton went ahead and cast Golda Rosheuvel to play her. Queen Charlotte was the monarch of the Regency Era from 1761 to 1818, and is perhaps best known for mothering 15 children, supporting famous composers such as Mozart and Bach, and possessing an intense and icy presence. But what is especially interesting about Queen Charlotte is that many believe her to be descended from black and Portugese relatives, potentially making her the first Black British royal (via Smithsonian Magazine).
So while many might have found Netflix's choice to cast Rosheuvel as the Queen as a sort of progressive, woke choice, it in fact might have been nothing more than an accurate depiction of history. As Queen Charlotte, Golda Rosheuvel has absolutely stolen the show, breaking out as one of the most memorable parts of Bridgerton, according to fans on social media. Curious about where you might have seen her before? Keep reading to learn more about her filmography.
Rosheuvel got her start on stage before making it onto the big screen
London-born Golda Rosheuvel discovered her love for acting and performing on stage through a variety of London stage productions. Some of her stage credits include Porgy and Bess, Macbeth, The Winter's Tale, Romeo and Juliet, Angels in America, Bad Girls: The Musical, and Jesus Christ Superstar (via the National Theatre).
She made her debut on the big screen with the 2001 film Lava, a British black comedy in which she played Warden. The film received incredible critical reception and competed in many film festivals, including the Alexandria International Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Filmfest Oldenburg, and Rome Independent Film Festival. The film's positive reception helped to catapult Rosheuvel's career, as she starred in nearly 15 films over the next 10 years. One of the big films before her role as Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton was the 2016 version of Lady MacBeth, in which she played Agnes and performed alongside Florence Pugh and Cosmo Jarvis (via IMDb).
And in regards to her big break in Bridgerton? Rosheuvel couldn't be happier to be a part of it. "It's so empowering for an actress," Rosheuvel told Insider, "to have that background and that feeling that a person in the 1800s could have been fighting for her people and could have been fighting for representation... People want to see themselves reflected. I think we do that in 'Bridgerton.' 112%."