10 iconic female characters from historical dramas to celebrate Women’s History Month

8. Daphne Bridgerton from Bridgerton

Daphne Bridgerton, portrayed by Phoebe Dynevor, is one of the newer characters in historical dramas. Still, already she has become one of the most iconic female characters in the genre. While the books the series is based on by Julia Quinn have been out for a while, the Netflix adaptation from Shondaland only released at the tail end of 2020.

Since then, it has become a monumental success for the streaming service, and people can’t get enough of the torrid romance between Daphne and the Duke, played by the dashing Regé-Jean Page. Bridgerton begins with Daphne, the eldest Bridgerton daughter, making her debut at the season’s social event. The Queen quickly declares Daphne as the diamond of the season, but no one catches her interest quite like the Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett, a known rake.

Despite appearing picture-perfect on the surface, Daphne is a much more complex character with her own desires and ambitions. Even when she falls for the Duke, she is forced to continue their fake dating charade to preserve her reputation and family. It’s a tricky balance and one that Dynevor excels at. She adds layers to her performance and does an excellent job with the material.