The Australian actor, set to play Benedict Bridgerton’s love interest Sophie, discusses representation, overcoming fear on set, and the unexpected challenges of fame.
Yerin Ha is having a moment, and she knows it. The Australian actor is stepping into the highly anticipated fourth season of Netflix’s global hit, Bridgerton, taking the lead as Sophie Baek, a character inspired by Cinderella who captures the heart of Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson).
Ha, who has also appeared in major productions like Halo and Dune: Prophecy, was recently spotted at Zimmermann’s resort collection event in Mykonos. She is clearly a rising star, having just been named a Chanel ambassador.
The new Bridgerton role comes with a significant challenge: intimate scenes, a first for the actor. Speaking poolside at her hotel, Ha admitted the experience was daunting.
Read More: ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 Welcomes Harry Potter Actress Katie Leung as Araminta Gun
“i was petrified, it was like 9 am—robes off!” she told Glamour.
So, how did she manage to push past the anxiety? Ha, with a laugh, initially pointed to her contract. But she quickly offered a more thoughtful perspective on growth. “i’m of the mindset that without fear and discomfort that you have to push past, you won’t grow,” she explained. “So i took it on as a challenge for myself to grow as an actor as opposed to doing this for anyone else.”
A Shift in Representation on Screen
The new season is set to be notable not just for its romance, but for its casting. It will introduce the first all-Asian family to the regency drama, with some Korean and Chinese dialogue even included.
Ha is Korean-Australian and discussed how meaningful it is to see herself reflected on screen without the story having to be solely about her background. She cited the film Crazy Rich Asians as a moment that helped her see a Hollywood future.
“What i love about Bridgerton is that it shows representation in a way that doesn’t require over-explaining,” Ha said. “i love that it shows we can all coexist in this space and not have it be a big thing.” Ultimately, she says the story is about Benedict falling in love with Sophie as a person, and fighting for the person inside.
The importance of identity even shaped the character’s name. Though Sophie’s surname is Beckett in the source novels by Julia Quinn, showrunner Jess Brownell asked Ha if she knew any Korean names starting with ‘B’. Ha suggested Baek, an easy change that felt right.
“i was just super appreciative of her changing the last name so that it fits with my identity and my culture and how i look,” she told Elle. “For a production of that size to mold a character to me really empowered me.”
Finding Kindness in the Industry
Despite her growing fame—she was recently recognized on the streets of Gangnam shortly after securing the role—Ha remains grounded. She credits her mother for her sunny outlook, recalling how she always treated people with unwavering kindness, no matter the situation.
“She treats people with kindness no matter her situation or how tired she is or how stressed she is, she will always treat everyone with equality,” Ha shared with Glamour. This approach has become a guiding principle for her own work. “kindness doesn’t cost anything and that’s how i think you gain respect from people.”
This ethos extends to the set. “The biggest lesson i’ve learned on set is to always remember that everyone is striving towards the same thing,” she told Elle. “To always lead with kindness is the biggest thing for me, because when you create a good environment on set, that’s when people have the best work.”
The new season of Bridgerton is set to premiere in two parts in early 2026, with four episodes dropping on January 29 and four more on February 26
