There are so many different layers here. I’m fascinated by the level of fame or notoriety they all reached, and how so many people get trapped by this fantasy element. 

It’s interesting, and I think it’s why people are also so into this story. The whole New York fancy thing of it all—the clubs and the restaurants and the this and the that—and having a friend who can help buy your fancy clothes and the name brands and all this stuff. I didn’t know that world at all.

Your story in particular is so fascinating because you babysat for Connie Britton’s son before you became a working actor and then got Scandal…

And then I’m on red carpets with her and ABC events while she’s on Nashville! And I’m there on Scandal and it’s like, “What is happening? Is someone going to say, ‘Katie, you don’t belong here. Get the hell out?'” 

I’ll never forget at Paleyfest one year when they showed the video of when you got the call that you got the part of Quinn on Scandal. You’ve seen how all of a sudden these doors open to you in ways you could never have imagined.

That’s something that Rachel, I feel, probably was very psyched to be treated differently than she may have been treated at work. Booking everyone’s travel and booking everyone’s restaurants and this fancy photographer is going to shoot this celebrity…and then all of a sudden she has a good friend who’s on the inside. I think people are going to be very mixed, but I am very excited by that. 

For some people to be like, “I’m on Rachel’s side.” And for some people to say that they’re not on Rachel’s side. Because I felt the same way. At first, before I really knew the inner workings of the story, I was like, “Oh, Anna Delvey is the coolest. She’s like a Robin Hood. She’s stealing from the corporations, and it’s so unfair. If a dude had done what she’d done, they would never go to jail for it. Blah, blah, blah.” Now that I know the sort of inner workings of it, I’m like, “Oh, she’s a…” And I’m so inside Rachel’s story, I’m like, “This is a full-blown sociopath.” She’s a crazy person. She feels no empathy. She feels no remorse.

Was there ever a time that you started feeling more skeptical of people you were around just being in this industry?

For sure. There’s that whole thing of fake it till you make it, where when you’re a lowly actor coming up and you have a lot of side jobs, but you get a little acting job, and you’re like, “Okay, talk about it more than it is,” to maybe make yourself feel better or to make it seem like you’ve got something going on when you don’t. That’s it on the most innocent level. But I think I’ve seen it now where it’s just a lot of BS. There’s a lot of people that are walking a talk that’s not backed up. I have a theater company in L.A., so I work in a not-for-profit world and people are like, “Oh I can get you to this person, dah dah, dah, dah.” And I’m like, “Uh-huh.” There’s a lot. I’m very skeptical of people’s actions versus people’s words, for sure. But I’ve been fortunate to be working in Hollywood. Rachel was conned by con artists. I don’t know if I’ve met a con artist. Have you?

What did you want to know, specifically?

I always want to know what makes someone tick, why people do what they do. She’s so inspiring. She’s trained everyone from Denzel Washington to Dakota Johnson. She’s one of the co-founders of Equinox. But I wanted to know who she was. She’s a native New Yorker, but what was her family life like? She has a son. She’s a grandmother now. I wanted to know the obstacles and the hardships, and all the things that aren’t out there. She was so generous. I could cry thinking about how much she shared with me. It’s between her and me, but it was a wonderful gift. She’s an incredible human being.

What do you appreciate about playing this role?

There’s a lot of people in history who are unsung for so many different reasons, and a lot of them happen to be Black women. Kacy Duke was on the forefront of the fitness business in the ’80s. She was a brand ambassador for Nike. She’s a trailblazer in the health and wellness industry, and a lot of people don’t know about her, outside of her clients. I ran into Zoe Kravitz at a Golden Globes party; while we were talking, I said, “Oh, I’m playing this woman named Kacy Duke,” and she said, “I know her.” I was like, “Oh, that’s right. She trained your dad (Lenny Kravitz),” and she trained with her as well. A lot of people in the business know her, but the public doesn’t know who she is. I think they should. 

How do you relate to someone like Kacy?

I love mantras, and Kacy’s very spiritual. She has a mantra for everything, like, It’s an evolution, not a revolution. Or, Don’t be so obsessed with the Emerald City that you don’t enjoy the yellow brick road. My favorite of hers is, You have to love the body you have to get the body you want. Her book is called Show It Love, and her whole philosophy is that you have to celebrate the body you have to get the body you want, which I love. It’s about mindset, motivation, and movement. She says, “The past is our teacher, the present is our creation, and the future is our inspiration.” I love all the mantras, but I also think that Kacy at her core wants to be of service to the world and help people.

I anticipate this show being one of the biggest hits of the year, so are you ready to start being recognized wherever you go?

I’ve been taking it one step at a time. I’ve always acknowledged that there’s something almost mystical about this story. I remember feeling that way when I was doing research for the audition because the mystery surrounding Anna was really out of this world. The other thing I’m excited for is the opportunity to connect with more stories of freedom, and more stories about the struggle to find worth. I’m excited that this opportunity feels like a door opener for all of us to find the next story. 

I love people. People are why I act and want to tell their stories. That’s what I’m in it for. I loved the dialogue that came from The Bold Type [when I was on]. That experience was really exciting, especially when people start to talk to you about why it connected to them emotionally. And then when they’re brave enough to take that step of telling you, then I really enjoy meeting people and inquiring about them. It’s nice to not feel like it’s happening in a vacuum. That’s one of the things about theater I love so much—there are heartbeats in the room and everyone’s kind of breathing together and you can feel it in the moment. With this show, you get to see a lot more behind the curtain, but there’s still a lot of unanswered questions. It’s really worth getting into dialogue about.

Would you want to meet the real Anna Delvey/Sorokin?

She always has sort of felt almost mythical to me, like she has supernatural powers that would give me the shivers a bit. But I think—and this is telling of Julia’s performance of her—I learned through working on the show that there was a real love and relationship between Neff and Anna, even if it didn’t penetrate to the point where Anna fully exposed all of the details of her identity to her. I think their connection and respect for one another was real, and I’m fascinated to know where that lives in the real Anna.

Do she and Neff still have a friendship?

I think it’s complicated. I think Neff is continuing to find the right boundary in that relationship. From what I understand, it changes. I think letting her in and then deciding that space is the healthiest thing so it’s a bit of an ebb and flow, which is emotional. I don’t know where exactly they are now. I think there is a sort of a sense of loyalty to someone who was a genuine friend to her that Neff maintains. 

OK, let’s play some rapid-fire questions. How did you celebrate getting the role of Neff?

Ice cream and talking with my mom on Zoom.

What was your favorite scene to film?

The hotel bed scene with just me and Julia. It was just the most grounded…the two of us. It felt relaxed. And it was my first scene with Julia, which was really special and such a cool way to start.

Julia Garner is in costume as the fashion-savvy society wannabe and con artist Anna Delvey when I sit down with the Emmy winner in Marrakech, Morocco. And we’re not just anywhere in one of Africa’s busiest and most popular cities—we’re at La Mamounia, a world-class resort that is an important setting for the sixth episode of Inventing Anna. We also happen to be sitting in the Riad, a private bungalow, next to the one the real Delvey stayed at when her massive con started to unravel in the spring of 2017. 

When we talk, it’s February 2020—unbeknownst to Garner and I, we’re less than six weeks away from the world shutting down because of the coronavirus. But at the time, it’s business as usual, and Garner has been burning the candle at both ends between filming Anna, starting production for the final season of Netflix’s Ozark (where she’s a double Emmy winner for her portrayal of Ruth Langmore), and promoting her film The Assistant at Sundance. “It’s like I’m living Anna Delvey’s life,” she jokes of the intense schedule that has taken her across the world. “And then in three weeks I’m going to have [Ruth’s] Southern accent when Ozark starts up.”

But for now, it’s all Delvey all the time. Several times throughout our conversation, Garner—who’s wearing a printed kaftan that perfectly matches her long, red wig—does Anna’s accent for me. It’s a trip to watch and listen to, not just for me, but for Garner as well, who keeps thinking about what it was like for the real Anna to stay here. 

“It comes in waves,” she says. “I’m so busy thinking about what’s going on with the scene and how I’m feeling in that moment as the character, but today it kind of hit me. When I was leaning against the wall waiting as the shot was being set up, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I wonder if Anna was leaning on this exact same spot on this exact same wall as me. And then like, ‘Anna pressed this elevator button also.’ It’s just weird, you know?”

At the time it was hard for me to fully understand; but after seeing all nine episodes of Shonda Rhimes’s limited series, I get it more than ever. Garner fully immerses herself as Delvey in a performance so captivating that even though this particular story ends after one season, I already wish there was more.

“It’s great being part of the Shondaland family, but honestly it’s the part [that drew me in], it’s that simple,” Garner says. “I was excited when I read the scripts because they were really good. If the part was just good and the script weren’t, that would be bad. But that wasn’t the case.”

Clearly. Garner went to great lengths to make that happen, whether it was advocating for fake teeth to fill out her face, spending hours perfecting Delvey’s amalgamation of a Russian/German/American accent, and even meeting with the convicted socialite herself. “I was terrified even though I wanted to meet her,” Garner says. And by all accounts, so was Delvey/Sorokin (her actual name). 

Dear Reader, you may (or may not) already know that the second season of Bridgerton is confirmed, so while you impatiently wait for brand-new episodes of the Netflix period drama to roll out, we have some other exciting news to share: Shondaland teamed up with Meena Harris’s social-justice brand Phenomenal and Nell Diamond’s Hill House Home (i.e., the lifestyle brand behind the always sold-out Nap Dress) to release a capsule of “Regencycore” pieces that you’ll be burning for the second you lay eyes on them.

The five-piece collection officially hits Phenomenal’s website today—and includes three limited-edition Nap Dress styles and two crystal-embellished bobby pins. The two sleeveless smocked Ellie dresses feature custom floral prints in pink and lavender by Diane Hill, a Black artist based in London whose work is inspired by chinoiserie, a decorative art style. The third Nesli dress, which has puffed short sleeves and a square neckline, comes in a vining white floral print, aptly named the Whistledown Trellis. The dresses ring in at $125 each, and the hair accessories at $40.

“With summer in full swing, we’re excited to bring fans a piece of Bridgerton to wear while they await the second season,” Meena Harris, founder and CEO of Phenomenal shares in a press release. “What better way to do that in true ‘Regencycore’ style than through the versatile and iconic Hill House Home Nap Dress?” This exclusive collection marks the second Bridgerton collaboration with Phenomenal, the first of which included a sell-out drop of pastel-hued sweatshirts and hoodies. 

“Regencycore” trends (think corsets, opera gloves, Empire-waist dresses, and dramatic headpieces with pearls and feathers) have been booming since the debut of the award-winning series, making this collaboration perfect for the show’s fashion lovers. As for the dresses themselves? Well, the Hill House Home Nap Dress is ideal for lounging at home, perhaps watching reruns of season one—or venturing out for “little walks” with suitors in nearby parks. (Picnic baskets and chaperones optional.) Shop the full collection below. 

 

Shonda Rhimes is one of the most successful showrunners right now. Maybe you’ve heard of her? She’s the brains behind major TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and, most recently, an executive producer on Bridgerton. So she’s not afraid to call out the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for refusing to hold a press conference for the record-breaking Netflix hit. Rhimes recently retweeted an article from The Wrap that exposed the bias of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) against Black creators, offering some insight of her own. 

“HFPA rejected our press conference. Until it was a ‘surprise hit’ (Grey’s, Scandal, Murder -SURPRISE!) And yet they STILL asked me to show up in person to present at the Globes. We’re not the only ones. This is why HFPA’s house is on fire,” Rhimes tweeted. “They lit the flame w/their own ignorance.”

The article Rhimes retweeted is an exclusive from The Wrap about how the HFPA rejected requests to hold press conferences for a variety of recent projects, including Girls Trip and Queen & Slim. This is more evidence of the obvious discrimination within the association that holds the Golden Globe Awards.

“All three projects submitted requests through their studio or streaming distributor to hold press conferences with the 87-member organization and were turned down for lack of interest or other reasons, according to individuals close to each project,” the publication reports, according to The Root. “None wound up receiving a single Globe nomination.”

After the 2021 Golden Globe nominations, it was revealed that the group of international journalists responsible for giving out Golden Globes does not have one Black member. Variety notes that the HFPA hasn’t had a Black member for at least 20 years.

Shonda Rhimes shared a post from Time’s Up about the lack of representation within the HFPA. “Enough is enough,” she wrote as the caption. Time’s Up president and CEO Tina Tchen released a statement this month about the HFPA agreeing to address its diversity problem: “So NBCUniversal, Dick Clark Productions, and the HFPA just declared that they have a plan to fix problems they’ve ignored for decades.”

The statement continued, “We’re not so sure. On behalf of the many artists who look to us to hold the HFPA’s feet to the fire on the racism, disrespect, misogyny, and alleged corrupt financial dealings of the Golden Globes, we need to see specific details, timetables for change, and firm commitments. The right words are not enough. The clock is ticking.”

In August 2017 longtime ABC showrunner and producer Shonda Rhimes—the genius behind Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal—shocked her fans and the industry when she announced she was leaving the network to create a slew of new shows for Netflix.

Rhimes, who signed a $300 million deal with the streaming powerhouse, didn’t reveal any details about the shows she was working on for almost a full year, before finally announcing eight projects in The New York Times—all of which felt quite different from what we’ve seen from her in the past.

“Everybody thinks that there’s a ‘Shondaland show,’” Rhimes told the Times. “No. There’s a Shondaland show that we made for ABC. Now I can’t wait to show everybody what a Shondaland show is that we make for the world.”

And what does a Shondaland show for the world look like? Bridgerton, for one. The historical romance was the fifth biggest premiere for Netflix and to date has been watched by 63 million households.

Another example: Shondaland and Netflix acquired the rights to New York magazine’s viral story of ultra-scammer Anna Delvey and have adapted it into a forthcoming television show.

“I knew exactly what the show was, which is a very clear indicator,” Ms. Rhimes told The New York Times after reading the Delvey story while on vacation in Arizona. She said she starting writing it “almost immediately.”

Below, a list of all the Shonda Rhimes shows and movies on Netflix—some available for streaming, some still to come—and everything we know about them so far.

Hot Chocolate Nutcracker

This moving documentary about Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s take on the world-famous Nutcracker ballet came out in November 2020.

Bridgerton

This hit series, which premiered on Netflix in December 2020, is inspired by author Julia Quinn’s collections of eight fiction novels set between 1813 and 1825. Each novel is from the perspective of one of the Bridgerton children who make up the wealthy and influential British family. The series was executive-produced by Rhimes alongside creator, executive producer, and showrunner Chris Van Dusen (a Scandal vet!). 

Notes on Love

“Shondaland’s Notes on Love is an episodic anthology series that ranges across genres and explores the unexpected, life-changing, euphoric, hilarious, surreal, and all-consuming places where love intersects with our lives,” per a Netflix press release. Each installment will come from a different visionary creative, including Jenny Han, Diane Warren, Lindy West and Ahamefule J. Oluo, Norman Lear, Steve Martin, and Shonda Rhimes herself. 

Inventing Anna

This series is based on Jessica Pressler’s viral New York magazine article “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People” and will star Ozark‘s Julia Garner in the title role. The series was filmed in New York City, as seen below, though a premiere date remains unknown. 

It’s a cold, rainy morning in Bristol, England as I arrive on the set of Bridgerton, a Netflix series produced by Shonda Rhimes: one of her first major projects for the streaming platform. The sweeping period drama centers on the wealthy Bridgerton and Featherington families as they navigate the dramatic waters of Regency-era London. The cast and crew are on location at a gorgeous country house from the 1800s filming the ball seen at the end of episode three, titled “Art of the Swoon.” 

It’s a lavish affair, with costume racks whirling past me, extras pacing between scenes, and a smoky haze left over from the Bird Ball, another society affair recently filmed. Unbeknownst to me, it will be another 13 months before Bridgerton—created for television and executive produced by Rhimes protégé Chris Van Dusen—arrives on Netflix for all to stream. In some ways it feels like a lifetime ago, but given the enormous undertaking of the elaborate series, it’s a relatively short time frame.

“I’ll be very honest, nothing about this show has been easy,” Van Dusen tells me between scenes. “But at the end of the day, that’s what makes it all the more rewarding. When I watched the first cut, I was just overwhelmed with pride. I’ve always wanted to be involved with a period show, but make one that’s different.”

And is it ever. As Van Dusen says, this is not your mother’s period show. “It’s vibrant and sensual and sexy,” he says. “We wanted to take what’s always been a traditionally conservative genre and turn it on its head.”

In case you haven’t watched all eight episodes, I won’t spoil anything for you here. But I did uncover as many behind-the-scenes secrets as possible to learn just what it takes to bring 19th century London society to life. From audition stories to makeup and hair secrets, here’s what you might have missed—and what you should go back and watch. 

Phoebe Dynevor was nervous about the ballroom dances

“I’ve never been a particularly good dancer, and I was a little bit worried about that,” Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton, reveals. “But it’s a real bonding experience for all the actors to be thrown into this world and get to play together.” Freddie Stroma, who plays Prince Friedrich, says that choreographer Jack Murray not only taught everyone how to dance for the time period, but tailored dance styles to each character. “He understands dance and time periods and that we’re layering in [elements] that aren’t necessarily historically accurate,” Stroma says. (Case in point, musical arrangements to Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande songs.) “It ends up being really fun.”

Daphne Bridgerton wears nearly 100 dresses on the series

“I have 93 dresses,” Dynevor reveals. “That’s just mad! They’re all made from scratch and hand-embroidered. And there’s six people making just Daphne’s dresses.” Of the dress-making process, costume designer John Glaser tells Glamour that they started manufacturing gowns nearly nine months before filming started, in cities like Budapest, Madrid, Florence, New York, and London. Even with the head start, Glaser and his team continued making costumes during filming. 

Dynevor has lots in common with her alter-ego

“I felt her emotion and everything she was going through,” she says of Daphne’s coming-of-age story and figuring out love. “Daphne is very much putting on a front to be someone she thinks people want her to be, versus what’s her. And I have felt that as well.” Dynevor says social media hasn’t necessarily been good for her,  because of “the pressure to be this perfect thing, or what you think people want you to be, and then what’s underneath.” 

Nicola Coughlin was working in a doctor’s office before her career took off

“I walk around every day going I can’t believe I’m part of a Shonda Rhimes show on Netflix. I don’t know what has happened,” Coughlin says. “I think my imposter syndrome is at an all time high.” In fact, three years before getting the role of Penelope Featherington, Coughlin was working at an optometrist’s office part-time. “I was the girl who tells you when your eye test is due. I used to practice my autograph on the letters, so this is insane to me. I wake up every day so grateful for my job.”

The Featherington sisters are meant to be the Kardashians of the 19th century

“Penelope is old school Khloé,” Coughlin says. “Remember Khloé used to say, ‘I’m the redheaded stepchild, and I have to do everything for everyone.’ I think that’s Penelope. But then, you know, Khloé came back and is flying high.” Coughlin says she thinks Penelope will follow a similar path, but for now she’s definitely the one who’s left out amongst her sisters. “Prudence and Philipa are terrible to her. And then Lady Portia Featherington is a true Kris Jenner—the ultimate ‘momager.’ She’s very ambitious for her girls.”

When will Bridgerton premiere?

The drama, created by longtime Shonda Rhimes collaborator Chris Van Dusen (Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy), will premiere on Netflix on Christmas Day: December 25, 2020.

How many episodes will there be?

There are eight one-hour episodes. 

What is the series about?

Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling romance novels and is set in the high-society world of London. The series follows Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe Dynevor, the eldest daughter of the powerful Bridgerton family, as she makes her debut onto Regency London’s competitive marriage market. 

Per Netflix, “Hoping to follow in her parents’ footsteps and find a match sparked by true love, Daphne’s prospects initially seem to be unrivaled. But as her older brother begins to rule out her potential suitors, the high-society scandal sheet written by the mysterious Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews) casts aspersions on Daphne. Enter the highly desirable and rebellious Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), committed bachelor and the catch of the season for the debutantes’ mamas. Despite proclaiming that they want nothing the other has to offer, their attraction is undeniable and sparks fly as they find themselves engaged in an increasing battle of wits while navigating society’s expectations for their future.”

Who stars in Bridgerton?

You mean Dame Julie Andrews as the narrator isn’t enough? All right, all right. In addition to Andrews and Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton, the series also stars Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton, Derry Girls fave Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, Ruby Barker as Marina Thompson, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Ruby Stokes as Francesca Bridgerton, Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton, Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton, Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton, Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington, Harriet Cains as Philipa Featherington, Polly Walker as Lady Portia Featherington, Ben Miller as Lord Featherington, Sabrina Bartlett as Siena Rosso, Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich, and Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley. 

What else do we know?

Glamour was actually on set in Bristol, U.K., during filming in the fall of 2019, so we’ll be sharing lots of behind-the-scenes photos, videos, and interviews soon. Until then, check out the rest of the just-released photos from Netflix and begin the countdown now. 

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour West Coast editor. You can follow her on Instagram @jessicaradloff14, where she’ll be sharing more from the set—soon.