Is Francesca Bridgerton autistic? Hannah Dodd explains the introverted character

May 17, 2024, 09:02

By Katie Louise Smith

Neurodivergent Bridgerton fans are wondering if introvert Francesca Bridgerton is autistic after connecting with some of her traits.

After two seasons of sitting in the background while her siblings’ love stories played out on screen, Francesca Bridgerton is finally taking on a bigger role in The Bridgerton Chronicles season 3 and viewers see the start of her relationship with future husband John Stirling.

Francesca (played by Hannah Dodd, who replaced Ruby Stokes before season 3) is perhaps the most reserved member of the Bridgerton family. She is very different from her siblings and does not fit into society the same way as her siblings. She is a music lover, a very talented pianist and a very pragmatic and introverted person.

Viewers have already fallen in love with Francesca, with some neurodivergent fans delighted to discover they seem to share various traits of the character. Is Francesca written as an autistic character?

Here’s what Hannah Dodd and showrunner Jess Brownell explained about her character.

Is Francesca Bridgerton autistic?

Due to Francesca’s quiet and reserved nature, as well as the fact that she does not seem to enjoy social interactions, has difficulty interacting with suitors, and would much rather be alone playing the music, some viewers wondered if it was neurodivergent and on the spectrum.

After watching the first four episodes of The Bridgerton Chronicles season 3, users on X/Twitter and Reddit have sharing that they see Francesca as “coded autistic” and find various traits of themselves in Francesca.

In the books, there is no specific or direct information that confirms whether Francesca is autistic. She is written as an introverted and incredibly introspective character.

These traits, along with her apprehension around men in the marriage market, have also made viewers wonder if she is asexual. (In the books, she is heterosexual and marries John Stirling, pictured below.)

Hannah Dodd explained the character and why she’s not particularly going full steam ahead into the marriage market. HILL: “There’s definitely an air of innocence about her. Debutantes are so young. Even though they’ve been preparing for these moments their whole lives, you can’t replicate a ball or suitors you’ve never met before coming to you You can’t replicate a ball or suitors you’ve never met before coming to you. I don’t know how these conversations will go.

“She’s not fighting. She’s going to these balls. She’s trying to find a husband,” Hannah added. “I think the difference is she’s not excited about it. She hasn’t spent her whole life dreaming about what her wedding day will look like and what her husband will be like. She knows just that it’s his time and it’s part of life, and here we go.”

Hannah shares that Francesca shares many of Eloise’s traits, but the difference between the two is that Francesca “doesn’t always feel like she needs to be the center of the party and certainly never the center of the party.” ‘attention”.

Addressing Francesca’s introspection, showrunner Jess Brownell also added: “Francesca doesn’t always say how she feels like the rest of the Bridgertons. So we were always looking for little ways to explain to people that there’s a lot more more things to do than it seems. She has a very rich inner world.

Learn more about The Bridgerton Chronicles here:

Bridgerton Cast vs. “The Most Impossible Bridgerton Quiz”

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