Katie Leung. Image: Yellowbelly Photo via Instagram/@_katieleung_
Katie Leung – a Chinese-Scottish actress best known as Cho Chang in the “Harry Potter” films – has been cast as one of the antagonists in season four of “Bridgerton.”
Leung’s casting was confirmed by a streaming platform’s pop culture branch on Monday, Sept. 16. She will star as Lady Araminta Gun who will be the stepmother of season four’s central protagonist Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).
Lady Araminta Gun is described as a “twice-married and twice-widowed” mother who’s pressured with two of her daughters “debuting on the marriage mart this season.”
“She’s feeling the pressure to get at least one of her girls married off. Fabulous, discerning, and blunt, Araminta does not respond well when anything – or anyone – threatens her standing in society,” her description added.
The actress also reposted the cast announcement on her Instagram page on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Meanwhile, Michelle Mao and Isabella Wei will portray Leung’s onscreen daughters, Rosamund Li and Posy Li, respectively.
Rosamund is said to be Lady Gun’s “most prized possession” who has her sights on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), while the “chatty and overly friendly” Posy doesn’t have her mother’s attention.
The fourth season of the hit Regency-era series will revolve around the love story of Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek. It is based on the third book of the historical novel series, “An Offer from a Gentleman,” its author Julia Quinn’s retelling of “Cinderella.”
In the third book’s original storyline, Benedict’s love interest is named Sophie Beckett, while her “evil stepmother” is named Araminta Reiling.
Filming for “Bridgerton” season four already kicked off, per the streaming platform. Details on possible changes to its plot and premiere date are yet to be announced as of press time.
“What’s striking about Season 4 is that it’s the struggle between a proper old-school fairy tale – the romance of it – and the actual reality of the world… And both are true. You have to hold both of them – the romance and the reality – in your hand. In its best version, ‘true love’ happens in the middle of that,” Thompson says of season four in Tudum.
Esteemed members of the Ton, it is with great joy that we inform you that Bridgerton Season 4 is officially in production! pic.twitter.com/GikCAlfeKo
— Bridgerton (@bridgerton) September 16, 2024
Leung starred as Cho Chang in “Harry Potter’s” fourth to seventh films, namely “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Her character is known as a Ravenclaw Quidditch seeker and the central character’s first love interest.
The actress also appeared in the series “Arcane,” “The Peripheral,” “One Child,” “Strangers” and “Annika.”