Shonda Rhimes: Bridgerton’s appeal lies in workplace drama, not just romance, as Edinburgh festival honors her
Shonda Rhimes was named the inaugural Edinburgh fellowship recipient at the Edinburgh TV Festival, an event marking the festival’s 50th year. In a wide‑ranging session, Rhimes explained that Bridgerton began with an abandoned hotel-room read of The Duke and I and a decision that reframed the Regency-era story as a workplace drama rather than a straightforward romance.
Rhimes said she didn’t see Bridgerton as a romance at heart. The series, based on Julia Quinn’s novels about a family in Regency England, centers on how the women’ power is exercised not through personal autonomy but through marriage, creating a tense, drama‑driven landscape. “I could see myself in them,” she told festival attendees, emphasizing that a Black woman in contemporary America could find a reflection in the Regency-era world she was bringing to life.
The conversation touched on Rhimes’s career path. As the youngest of six children, she chose film school over law school after seeing an article suggesting it would be harder to gain entry. She began as an office administrator and wrote in her spare time. Her first idea—a romantic comedy about an older White woman paired with a younger Black man—sold but never reached production.
Rhimes also reflected on her breakthrough with Grey’s Anatomy, which premiered in 2005 after a project about female war correspondents was rejected and the head of Disney indicated a medical drama was the path forward. The show became a global ratings powerhouse and helped popularize the creative company she built, Shondaland, a nod to Disneyland that grew into one of television’s most influential outfits, with footprints in New York, Los Angeles and London.
In discussing Bridgerton’s impact, Rhimes noted that its release during Christmas 2020, amid global lockdowns, helped many viewers escape real‑world pressures. The show didn’t just become a hit; it became a lifestyle phenomenon, with fans collecting Bridgerton tea sets and attending prom and wedding‑style events inspired by the series. Bridgerton’s production in London and its Bath shoots have also contributed to a broader cultural footprint, including fan tours around Bath.
The Edinburgh festival presentation was conducted with Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury in Bridgerton, presenting Rhimes with the inaugural fellowship. The festival’s milestone year highlighted a career that has reshaped modern television by centering character-driven stories that foreground diversity and inclusivity.
Additional context and value:
– Bridgerton’s success has opened doors for more inclusive storytelling in period pieces, encouraging creators to explore power, agency and romance through contemporary lenses.
– Rhimes’s career demonstrates the impact of persistence and reinvention, from early ideas that didn’t reach production to shaping a global media company and mentoring a new generation of creators.
– The Edinburgh fellowship signals ongoing support for visionary leaders in television who blend entertainment with meaningful representation.
Summary:
Shonda Rhimes accepted the inaugural Edinburgh fellowship at the city’s 50th‑anniversary TV festival, discussing how her reimagining of Bridgerton as a workplace drama grounded the series in themes of power, identity and representation. From Grey’s Anatomy to Shondaland and Bridgerton, Rhimes has built a legacy on character development, inclusivity and storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences worldwide.
Positive takeaway:
Rhimes’s keynote reinforces a hopeful industry narrative: stories that center underrepresented voices can achieve massive, worldwide appeal while driving cultural conversations forward.