In a world of high society drama, secret gossip columns, and whirlwind romances, the Mondrich family has always felt like a sanctuary. While the Ton spends its energy on scandals and courtship, Will and Alice Mondrich have been busy building something far more radical: a stable, loving, and functional marriage. Now, with Bridgerton Season 4 finally streaming on Netflix, the couple finds themselves thrust into a new world of wealth and status—and according to the actors who play them, the journey is anything but simple.
Emma Naomi and Martins Imhangbe have been with the series since season one, quietly evolving in the background while the Bridgerton siblings took center stage. But this year, the spotlight on the Mondriches has intensified. Fresh off the show’s South African press tour—which included a stunning Afrocouture premiere in Cape Town—the duo sat down with various outlets to discuss their characters’ biggest transformation yet . And if their excitement is anything to go by, fans are in for something special.
“We’re figuring it out,” Naomi told IOL with a laugh when describing Alice’s current state of mind . “It’s interesting, isn’t it? I mean, back then, if it were today, it would have been Alice who would have been inheriting that estate, not her 10-year-old son.”
That inheritance—a title and estate passed down to their son Nicky—has flipped the Mondriches’ world upside down. And for a couple who started as working-class Londoners running a boxing club, navigating the treacherous waters of high society is proving to be the ultimate test of their bond.
The Mondriches Get a Major Upgrade
When we first met Will and Alice, they were the grounded anchors to the Duke of Hastings’s chaotic world. Will, a boxer with a strong moral compass, and Alice, his no-nonsense wife, represented something rare in the Bridgerton universe: a relationship that was already functional.
Now, with season four, the stakes are entirely different. The family has inherited a grand estate, and suddenly, they’re members of the Ton whether they like it or not.
Imhangbe appreciates that the writers didn’t take the easy route with this storyline. “Some people assume that the rags-to-riches story is linear,” he explained . “I like how complex it is and how we kind of doubt it, then we embrace it, and we doubt it again. I love that kind of complexity.”
For Will, the journey is deeply personal. The character was inspired by the real-life historical figure Bill Richmond, a British boxer born into slavery who became a pioneering figure in London’s boxing scene . That backstory isn’t lost on Imhangbe, who approaches the role with a sense of honor.
“It fills me with pride to be able to honor these people, because oftentimes, these people are erased from history,” he told BBC Newsbeat . “I didn’t know about Bill Richmond until I got the audition.”
Emma Naomi on Alice’s “Huge Shift”
Naomi doesn’t mince words when describing what’s in store for Alice this season. “Alice is going to go on one of the hugest shifts in a character’s fate of the Bridgerton universe,” she revealed to Cosmopolitan UK . “I think I can say that. And I feel it too as an actor. It’s very exciting and very scary for her.”
The actress, who has been promoted to main cast for season four, describes Alice as someone who has always been “very rooted” and sure of her identity . But the new circumstances challenge everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.
“She’s knocked off her center,” Naomi added . “There’s a lot of changes being thrown at her which challenge her values.”
What makes Alice compelling is her refusal to apologize for who she is—a trait Naomi openly admires. “What I like about her, which I don’t think I am, to be honest, is she’s very sure of who she is, and very, very grounded,” she shared . “She doesn’t really apologize for herself and I love that about her. I wish I was a bit more like that. But I guess that means it’s more fun for me to step into her shoes.”
The costumes this season reflect Alice’s internal struggle. Naomi noted that the clothes themselves became a tool for storytelling. “Some of it was completely empowering, and some of it was literally very difficult, because it’s so tight and it requires a different posture,” she explained . “But I thought the struggle was helpful because it’s completely alien to Alice. She has to find a way to make it work, which was the same journey that I was going through as Emma.”
Fans have also noticed Naomi’s stunning braided updos this season, adorned with beads that honor African adornment traditions while fitting seamlessly into the Regency fantasy . Hair designer Nic Collins, continuing the legacy of the late Marc Pilcher, has ensured that Black hair artistry remains central to the show’s aesthetic .
Martins Imhangbe on Staying Grounded
For Imhangbe, playing Will Mondrich has been a six-year journey of discovery. The character wasn’t originally in Julia Quinn’s books, which gave the actor creative freedom but also required him to build something from the ground up.
“It’s almost a gift,” he said of the role . “The complexities of having a bigger plot in the show mirrored the characters’ journeys. It’s almost like they’re now the celebrities and don’t know how to navigate that. It was similar for us, we didn’t know exactly how to navigate our new roles.”
Despite the pressures of fame, Imhangbe remains refreshingly grounded. He recalled visiting South Africa ten years ago for a theater festival at the Baxter Theatre and being blown away by the local actors. “They brought their souls to the work. It really moved me,” he said . “I think that’s something we have to, as actors… embrace the soul, because these characters are real people.”
That philosophy extends to how he approaches Will’s marriage to Alice. In a world where every other couple seems to be navigating scandals and secrets, the Mondriches stand out precisely because they communicate.
“They’re all green flags,” one fan tweeted recently, and the sentiment has resonated widely. The couple represents something increasingly rare on television: a partnership built on mutual respect, open communication, and genuine affection.
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The Power of Representation
Both actors are acutely aware of what their characters mean to audiences. In an industry where period dramas have historically excluded people of color, Bridgerton‘s commitment to diverse casting matters.
“I feel very proud, being able to give that space and shine a light on that narrative,” Imhangbe reflected . “Because we don’t often see it, especially in period dramas—you hardly see a non-toxic, healthy, beautiful Black family at the forefront.”
Naomi echoed the sentiment, noting that she and Imhangbe have developed a close working relationship over the years. “All of my scenes are with him and have been for six years,” she said . Before filming new seasons, they make a point to reconnect and flesh out their characters’ backgrounds. “We talk a lot before shooting, flesh out our background again, try and remind each other what we discovered, ask questions about what we’re going to do now, and we rehearse. So that’s always great, because I feel like they are such a team as characters.”
The South African premiere of season four, held at Cape Town’s Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, celebrated this connection to the continent. Attendees including Zozibini Tunzi and Katlego Lebogang wore African-inspired fashion, with cowrie shells and beads prominently featured . It was a full-circle moment for a show that has consistently centered African and diaspora talent.
What’s Next for the Mondriches?
With the new Lady Whistledown mystery now underway—showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed the identity has been decided, though the cast remains in the dark—the Mondriches could play a larger role in whatever gossip awaits . Luke Thompson jokingly suggested Benedict could be the new Whistledown, while Yerin Ha speculated it might be Alice herself .
Naomi, for her part, has ideas about where she’d like to see Alice go next. “I would like to see the origin story of Will and Alice, so how they fell in love,” she shared . “I think that would be cool. In terms of where it’s going now, I’d like to meet some more of her family. I don’t know what’s yet around the corner in terms of does she have any sisters? Who are her parents? What kind of background does she come from, and what would they do now that she has elevated status? I think that would be very interesting to explore.”
For now, viewers can catch the Mondriches navigating their new reality in season four, now streaming in full on Netflix. Part two dropped on February 26, and the finale included surprise returns from Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley as Anthony and Kate, who came back to help talk some sense into Benedict.
As the Ton adjusts to its new players and the ever-present threat of Lady Whistledown’s return, one thing remains certain: Will and Alice Mondrich will face it together.
Whether you’re here for the romance, the fashion, or the family dynamics, stick with VvipTimes for all your Bridgerton coverage.
