Warning: This article contains spoilers aboutBridgertonseason 3, part 2.
Bridgerton’sresident mean girl received quite the send off this season.
Though it turns out, Cressida may not be disappearing to the Welsh fens after all.
Jessica Madsen on ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix
In fact, they shot an alternate ending that suggested a different future for her.
“We did shoot a different ending,” reveals Madsen.
So, it could be that she’s off somewhere by herself."
Jessica Madsen on ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix
“It was a really beautiful moment.
JESSICA MADSEN: I don’t think it’s something she’s thought through at all.
She intends to out Whistledown, but not as herself to begin with.
She’s aware that if she speaks out the reward money will be hers.
That’s what she’s focused on.
Wouldn’t have to marry, would have money.
She would be free to do what she wants and that’s an ideal for her.
But it’s not thought through.
How much does it hurt when Eloise rejects her after this reveal?
She so badly wants to hold onto her friendship.
Her natural response is to go on the defense and to go on the attack.
So that’s what happens when she says, “I can’t be friends with you.”
She attacks and responds, “You are just jealous that I’ve made something of myself.”
A lot of that will come in the aftermath of everything that happens.
Does she regret taking credit for the column?
At the end, she is left with a lot of regret.
But it’s a heaviness that she carries with her as she goes.
I didn’t realize quite how heavy it was to be blackmailing somebody.”
It’s really thinking on her feet and trying to save herself.
It feels like she’s desperate at every turn.
And really none of it comes from a place of malice.
We see someone really trapped.
She’s this caged bird who’s trying to get out.
I don’t think she intends to hurt anybody in the process.
People don’t realize she feels the same way because she is this mean girl in the ton.
How did you balance that?
That was such a great scene to shoot with Luke.
It was one of my favorites of the season because it has such an arc within that one moment.
But the minute he mentions her father, that’s it.
She shuts down again and realizes, “You know what, we are not the same.
You have the love of your family.
And I don’t.”
And she doesn’t.
We do see in that moment she doesn’t have another option.
I don’t know what I would’ve done in her situation.
I really don’t.
It’s the end of the line for her and she’s hopeful that she can get herself out.
If she actually did secure this money, what do you think she would’ve done?
Would she have been able to find happiness or continued being miserable?
She would have left the country.
She likes the idea of going to Vienna and starting a whole new life.
I like to think that she will open up again.
The reality of it is, I don’t even know what’s possible.
I don’t know if she can even afford to live off of that amount of money.
What will we do?
You’ve had outlandish wardrobe before, but your sleeves were out of control this year.
How difficult was that to manage?
I found it tricky to get through doors.
There were a lot of doors I had to sort of crab walk into.
I did actually end up wearing a sleeping bag with a big buckle around my waist.
But the costumes were amazing.
I loved the energy that they gave me and the bravery.
It’s a huge moment for her.
There’s a lot of bravery in what she’s going through and those costumes really reflect that.
The internet has been abuzz.
So, does any part of you think Cressida is queer?
Because a lot of people are seeing a vibe between her and Eloise.
I love that and I appreciate it so much.
I didn’t expect it.
We wanted it to be really authentic.
We didn’t expect it to come across romantically.
But what I do love is that there’s a hunger for queer romance on the show.
The audiences will not be disappointed by the end of the season.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
All episodes ofBridgertonseason 3 are now streaming on Netflix.
