Was that the sound of a silver glove falling? Because Benedict’s (Luke Thompson) Bridgerton Season 4 love interest (previously known only as the Lady in Silver) has officially been cast. Halo’s Yerin Ha will play Sophie Baek, a maid whose mask — both literal and figurative — hides a mysterious history. Naturally, only someone with such fascinating depths could capture the heart of an artist like Benedict. 

“What drew me to Sophie was that she immediately has obstacles — something that she constantly has to overcome,” Ha, who can be seen in the video above, tells Tudum after a busy day of Bridgerton rehearsals. “Whether it’s this battle around social status or trying to hide her feelings from Benedict.”  

Gavin Bond/Netflix

After all, Sophie isn’t like the debutantes that usually populate Bridgerton — and are therefore paraded in front of Benedict as options on the marriage mart. As a victim of tragic events, Sophie has been forced to spend much of her life working for the most demanding employer in the ton. But the resourceful Sophie always finds a way to persevere through her circumstances — circumstances which will drastically change after she disguises herself to attend Violet Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell) masquerade ball and meets Benedict.

Fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton books may be familiar with Violet’s upcoming party (and waiting with bated breath to see it come to life on-screen). The masked celebration unfolds during the third novel in the series, An Offer from a Gentleman, which inspires Season 4. Thompson and Ha are undeniably ready for the memorable evening. The co-stars proved as much with a dramatic reading of one very special chapter from the book. You can watch the complete video above.

In the clip, Ha and Thompson stoke anticipation for their characters’ costumes — along with those of everyone else in the ton. Ha tells Tudum that fittings for her own ensemble have been “really great” and credits the Bridgerton costumers for all the fashionable wonders ahead. “There is an incredible team working so hard,” Ha says. “A few people can be working so hard on just one detail.”

Still, like the Bridgertons’ second son, you probably have a few more questions about the enigmatic Sophie (especially now that production on Season 4 is underway). So, keep reading as Ha starts to unmask her Lady in Silver.  

Who is Sophie Baek? 

Sophie is a captivating and complicated woman. It’s fitting, then, that she meets Benedict at the upcoming Bridgerton masquerade ball, where attendees are encouraged to transform into whomever they choose. “There’s this theme with masks that was running throughout all of my audition scenes,” Ha says. “When does Sophie put on this mask to cover her emotions? Or vice versa, when does she take it off and when does she soften up? Playing with those [questions] is just really fun.” 

With the masked ball, naturally, comes some dancing. Benedict himself, Luke Thompson, confirms he and Ha have been practicing their steps. “In fact, we had a dance rehearsal today. I’ve only stepped on Yerin’s toes once, which is good,” he jokingly tells Tudum.  

Ha reveals their lessons have been “really special and very vulnerable,” as she and Thompson prepare to step into Benedict and Sophie’s love story. “The dancing is like an extension of their emotions, and a way for them to connect,” she explains.  

The Korean actor, who’s from Australia, also feels particularly connected to Sophie, who’s been given a Korean surname out of respect for Ha’s culture; the character’s name in the original Julia Quinn book series is Sophie Beckett. 

“A name is the first bit of identity that you share with the world, and that’s why changing a name can be so powerful,” Ha says. “To make Sophie’s name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering. All credit to Jess Brownell, our showrunner.” 

Brownell asked Ha about Korean last names that begin with a B and settled on Baek. “It’s a really nice way for me to feel like the role is fit for me, rather than me having to fit a certain mold,” Ha says. “It’s amazing what it can do just in a psychological sense. So it means a lot that Jess did that for me.”  

A New Lead Is Unmasked

Who is Yerin Ha? 

Although Season 4 will feature Ha’s first spin around the Bridgerton ballroom, she starred in the Steven Spielberg–produced Halo for two seasons and can be seen in the upcoming prequel series Dune: Prophecy. Previously, Ha was part of the Sydney Theatre Company’s Lord of the Flies.

Now, as Sophie, Ha will have to contend with Lady Whistledown. Initially, the idea of entering a show like Bridgerton in its fourth season was “nerve-racking” for Ha. Then she got to know her new co-stars. “I was stressing over nothing because everybody has truly welcomed me with open arms,” Ha says. Claudia Jessie, who portrays Eloise Bridgerton, even greeted Ha with a crocheted bookmark as a gift. And Nicola Coughlan and Hannah Dodd — who play Penelope Bridgerton and Francesca Stirling, respectively — contacted Ha before meeting her.  

“They were like, ‘Hey, reach out if you ever need anything.’ For someone just coming into the show, that means so much,” Ha says. “It’s so sweet. I feel so fortunate and grateful to be part of such a family.”

Until Ha makes her Bridgerton debut as Sophie, keep coming back to Tudum as the clock strikes down to the series’ next great love story. And for even more Bridgerton Season 4 news, click here. 

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