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2 Bridgerton Stars Are Seemingly Dating IRL
The long-rumored couple appeared to confirm their relationship.
Alert Lady Whistledown: Lord Debling had eyes for Prudence Featherington all along. In new photos published by E!, Bridgerton co-stars Sam Phillips (Debling) and Bessie Carter (Prudence) appear to confirm their long rumored, real-life romance with some PDA.
In the photos, the pair are seen strolling together through Sussex, England, wearing more casual attire than Bridgerton fans are used to. Cameras caught Carter kissing Phillips’ cheek and shoulder.
The actors met on the Bridgerton Season 3 set in 2022, per the Daily Mail, and are said to have briefly moved in together in March 2023 after filming wrapped. Phillips and Carter haven’t addressed their relationship status, but their latest outing follows a string of cozy-looking public appearances together.
In November 2023, the couple attended the Wonka premiere in London with Carter’s parents, The Crown’s Imelda Staunton and Downton Abbey star Jim Carter. Before that, they were also photographed attending their Bridgerton co-star Luke Thompson’s play A Little Life in March 2023 as well as at a West End Gala after-party two months later, per Marie Claire.
While Carter and Phillips have seemingly fallen for each other in real life, their on-screen counterparts don’t feel the same way.
In Season 3, Bridgerton newcomer Phillips plays Lord Debling, who expresses romantic interest in Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). However, he eventually distances himself from her after noticing an undeniable connection between Penelope and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). Meanwhile, Carter’s Prudence is married to Harry Dankworth and spends Season 3 trying to deliver an heir before her sisters do.
Although Lord Debling plays a significant role in the show’s third chapter, his character doesn’t appear in Colin and Penelope’s love story, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Phillips teased the new character to Shondaland ahead of the latest season, describing Debling as “an outsider.”
“He lives on the fringes of society, and he is after a love match this season; he’s after someone who goes against the grain, someone who is a little bit of an outsider like him,” Phillips explained.
As fans saw in Season 3, Debling and Penelope weren’t meant to be. However, according to recent viral fan theories, the character could find love with another member of the Ton: Eloise Bridgerton (played by Claudia Jessie). Too bad Prudence is already taken.
