Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story's Corey Mylchreest Is Still Getting Used to Swooning Fans: 'I Get Really Awkward' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

For his first major television role inQueen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Netflix’s hit spinoff drama that served as a prequel about the early life and romance of Queen Charlotte,Corey Mylchreestsays he “put so much pressure” on himself to play King George III. “The most challenging parts were the emotional scenes."

Now Mylchreest, 26, who will next be seen in Netflix’s film,My Oxford Year, is adjusting to all the attention from his newfound adoring fan base: “It’s a very surreal experience and really lovely, but I am just very British and awkward!”

AMI clothing. Mejuri jewelry.Simon Emmett

Simon Emmett

What was the best part about playing the role of King George III?There are so many things I have to be thankful for but the best part was being with that gang, I even lived with Freddie who played my servant, we just got on so well. It was all our first big job and it was a six-month shoot spending 14 to 16 hours a day with each other. It was a brilliant character to play. I have done so many things since, I feel I have the world to thank for that show really and that guy, George.

Were you prepared for how the show was going to propel you into the public eye?No, nothing can really prepare you for that. Although I did try to mentally prepare but it turns out that’s called anxiety! It was scary but exciting but I don’t think I had any tangible idea of what it would be like in real life or in my career afterwards. … It was a big old leap. I was so green and I really didn’t know what I was doing but I had enough confidence not to be sick every day.

What was the most challenging part of the role?I think the most challenging part were the emotional scenes, the scenes where he is entering psychosis. I would tackle them from a much more relaxed mindset but looking back, I was so new. … I put so much pressure on myself. Any of those dramatic scenes, I found difficult, but I look back and I think we did an alright job.

I’ve shot three things for Netflix since doingQueen Charlotteand in two of them I’ve been doing scenes in rooms where there’s a massive portrait of King George III because a lot of them have stately homes in them. It was so strange stepping on that set, ready to be a new person and then seeing that! He’s on my shoulder now.”

If you were a member of the royal family, what perk do you think you would most enjoy?I would enforce the four-day week. I would get myself a season ticket at Anfield and watch Liverpool play every other week. I’m a massive Liverpool fan and nobody could say no the King, could they? And maybe a meet and greet with the whole team or I could just be a Liverpool player. Actually that’s what I would do, I would just play for Liverpool and nobody could say no.

How have fans responded to you both before and after the show?There were no fans pre-Queen Charlotteand I have to say, for the most part it’s been really lovely. It’s still strange for me and I’m not sure I will ever get to the point where I’m completely confident and comfortable with these people who I don’t know and yet they know me, it’s a very surreal experience meeting fans of the show on the street. It is really lovely and it’s just a spontaneous expression of appreciation of something I was a part of and very proud to be a part of.

Half of art is to be good and poignant and mean something and be truthful; half of it is that it has to be witnessed and understood. It can’t just be for the artist. It’s validation from the world that half of the job has been done well and people have responded to it.

Kent & Curwen shirt and trousers. Hanes tank. Axel Arigato sneakers. Mejuri jewelry.Simon Emmett

Is there one memorable or funny encounter that has stayed with you?In Paris I met a fan and she made me laugh so much. She said something like … she apologized and she said, “I’m so sorry to tell you this” and I got all worried for a second and she said, “I just don’t see it, you’re not sexy,” and I said, ‘Oh okay, you don’t have to find me sexy, no one does."

Then she said, “You should really change your hair.” She really looked at me and basically the general gist of it was “It’s not working right now, maybe it could work but I don’t have a lot of hope.” I really loved it because in this industry so many people tend to blow smoke up your arse and it was a real antidote to that. I really didn’t expect it.

Where were you?I was at Paris Fashion Week and I was withKit Connor[Heartstopper] at the time. I found it very funny and we were just looking at each other, both thinking we’ll laugh afterwards, we’ll laugh after. How ironic, doing this shoot today, this one is for [her]!

Shall we mail her a copy?Yes, I think so. She might not like my hair though.

If you weren’t an actor, what would you be doing?I would love to do something to do with history. If I didn’t go to drama school, I would have studied history. I’m thinking Indiana Jones, out in the field, bit of action, bit of gunfire and preserving the great chronicles of the world really, single-handedly with a cowboy hat and a whip.

There is still time, no?I don’t see any barrier to it! I would have [also] loved to have been a football coach. Maybe when I have kids, I can coach them. Born at the same hospital asDavid Beckham, same part of London, that’s the closest I get.

What does the perfect date night entail?If I’m not watchingFriends, I think maybe I would get some drinks around Holborn and then go to a comedy club, going to see new comics would be perfect for a date. It’s either going to be awful and you can laugh or it’s going to be great and you’re going to laugh. Maybe get a bite to eat in Camden at one of the stalls and go for a walk along the river, maybe get a mulled wine if its winter.

What has kept you grounded?That fan in Paris helped! I have the best most amazing people in my life and I love them all. They are really sensible but brilliant and funny people and you are your habits, and a lot of your habits come from the people you spend your time with. There are no ideas of grandeur. I think the fact that I struggled a little bit with it, my nervousness about it all, I guess that’s helped me a little bit because I went the other way and felt more self-conscious, definitely not like the king of the world!

What’s on your bucket list?I want to scuba dive, I want to get my driving license, I want to bungee jump, and skydive. I remember saying this when I was 12: “I never want to be famous but I want to be famous enough so that I will at one point in my life be invited to play a charity match at Anfield” because I was in love with Steven Gerrard. That would be my life finished. I would also like to travel and hopefully I’ll feel cemented enough in the industry that I can take some time off and travel properly.

What’s sexy?Humility is sexy. When someone is really amazing at what they do and almost bashful about it. You’re so good at this thing that it feels like a gift sent from above and yet you are not egotistical, you are generous with other people, that’s really sexy, as in attractive, it’s a trait that would attract me to my friends too, that’s the real s—.

CreditsPhotographerSimon EmmettGroomerJosh Knight/ A-Frame AgencyProductsCaudalie/ Hair By Sam McKnightStylistHolly White/ The Wall Group

Credits

PhotographerSimon EmmettGroomerJosh Knight/ A-Frame AgencyProductsCaudalie/ Hair By Sam McKnightStylistHolly White/ The Wall Group

PhotographerSimon Emmett

GroomerJosh Knight/ A-Frame Agency

ProductsCaudalie/ Hair By Sam McKnight

StylistHolly White/ The Wall Group

source: people.com