‘Bridgerton’ queer heartthrob James Phoon dishes on filming the show’s “first funny sex scene”
Bridgerton has given its gay fans many gifts: The series’ first queer love triangle, the rumblings of a new sapphic affair, and, well, any time the hunky Jonathan Bailey is on screen.However, this time around, Bailey wasn’t the only LGBTQ+ star of the ‘Ton who had our knickers in a twist…Season three of the Regency era romance introduced viewers to harmless himbo Harry Dankworth, the dashing yet doltish new husband of Prudence Featherington (Bessie Carter), played by rising queer star James Phoon.Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.Harry Dankworth giving golden retriever energy #Bridgerton pic.twitter.com/MPBgXx945QThe role represents a real breakthrough moment for the Brighton-born actor, who was previously best known for his work in the London theater scene and his recurring role on BBC Three’s darkly comedic whodunit Wreck.But being part of one of Netflix‘s most popular series ever brings with it a whole new level of fame.
It’s certainly been an adjustment for Phoon, though it sounds like he’s making the most of his spotlight:“There is so much work to do,” he recently told The Bay Area Reporter, reflecting on the precarious sociopolitical climate for the worldwide LGBTQ+ community. “Things can regress so quickly.
I welcome any platform that can be used to prevent that.”A post shared by James Phoon (@jamesphoon_)For one, merely being visible as an out, queer performer of East-Asian heritage can make all the difference—especially when you’re showing up in a TV series as massive as Bridgerton.“Just because we haven’t heard about them before, and because the story and the spotlight hasn’t been on them, it doesn’t mean they didn’t exist,” Phoon shared, speaking broadly of underrepresented stories in media.
