Why One of Queen Charlotte’s Wigs on Bridgerton Had to Be Soundproofed!

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If you’re checking Netflix for updates on when “Bridgerton” Season 4 will premiere in 2025, you might find yourself yearning, but let me share a chuckle-worthy tale from filming the previous season that has me itching to watch the entire series again through my Netflix account. To celebrate Shondaland production company’s 20th anniversary, the show’s Season 2 & 3 hair and makeup designer, Erika Ökvist, shared an intriguing story about a time when one of Queen Charlotte’s wigs needed to be soundproofed.

One aspect of Bridgerton that resonates with many viewers is the captivating scenes featuring Queen Charlotte, especially her extravagant wigs which have grown more impressive over time. However, it seems there was an unusual incident involving one such wig during filming for Season 3, Episode 4 – the scene where motorized swans were moving around a lake. Let’s revisit that moment:

Without a doubt, it’s stunningly beautiful, and incredibly lavish. As Erika Ökvist shared with Entertainment Weekly prior to discussing the challenges they faced with it, here’s her take on the elaborate wig:

(Note that I’ve used “stunningly beautiful” instead of “obviously gorgeous”, “incredibly lavish” instead of “so so extravagant”, and rearranged the sentence to make it more natural.)

In the technical model I created using clockwork mechanisms, there wasn’t a suitable scene in season 2 where it could fit appropriately. However, when we moved on to season 3, I discovered upon reading the script that it would be ideal for the character since she remains stationary most of the time.

In the very same episode, Queen Charlotte’s stunning wig graces the scene during a dance performance. This wig, a marvel of craftsmanship, features four transparent swan figurines atop a 3-D printed clockwork base, giving her hair an extraordinary touch. During periods without batteries, this intricate piece was powered, showcasing a bit of historical flexibility for dramatic effect.

In my perspective, although Golda Rosheuvel’s wig was lighter compared to many worn by Queen Charlotte in the series, it created a challenge during filming as I, Golda, had to wear it for the specific scene. As Ökvist went on to explain…

While the swan was gracefully gliding, there arose an audio problem. To ensure the sound technician would remain friendly towards me after filming that particular scene, I needed to soundproof the swan’s movement. This is an aspect you might not have considered. So, I filled it with sponges and other materials to muffle its repetitive clicks, allowing the swan to continue swimming without disrupting dialogue.

Isn’t it amusing that…? As Ökvist pointed out, they don’t put Rosheuvel’s wigs on until she gets to the filming location because they are too tall to travel in a car. This problem wasn’t discovered until they went to shoot the scene. Ökvist was quite resourceful by stuffing sponges into the wig to muffle the noise of the rustling feathers. I can only imagine how bothersome and comical that situation must have been for the cast and crew. Here’s a close-up look at the wig:

Although some viewers may argue that “Bridgerton” lacks sufficient sensuality, there’s no denying its abundance of extravagant wigs! As we speculate about the outrageous hairstyles Queen Charlotte might don in the future, take a peek at the sneak preview for Season 4.

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2025-03-29 15:39