Jim Carter says his daughter Bessie ‘had a wonderful time’ filming Bridgerton

Downton Abbey‘s Jim Carter has said his daughter Bessie ‘had a wonderful time’ filming the hugely popular Netflix series Bridgerton.

The actor, 72, revealed the star, 27, – who plays Prudence Featherington in the show – ‘really enjoys her work’ and that he is ‘thrilled’ the series was such a ‘huge success’.   

Speaking on Tuesday’s episode of Lorraine, he said: ‘We’re delighted, it’s been a huge success. 

‘Bessie has had a wonderful time doing it. I’m thrilled on her behalf. They’re starting out a second series soon. 

‘She really enjoys her work so that’s the main thing.’

In Bridgerton, Bessie plays Prudence Featherington, whose mother Portia [played by Polly Walker] is trying to marry her off to a suitable husband.  

During the series their household is seen donning very brightly coloured costumes and becomes central to several scandals in the ‘ton’.

Bessie’s real life parents have their own experience with period dramas with both of them having main roles in Downton Abbey.

Her dad Jim played butler Carson for five years, while her mum Imelda was Maud Bagshaw, the Queen’s lady-in-waiting and cousin of the Crawleys, in the show. 

Imelda is also set to take over the role of the Queen from Olivia Colman in the next two seasons of another Netflix hit, The Crown. Lesley Manville is lined up to appear as Princess Margaret and Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip. 

Bessie made her own TV debut in another period drama – BBC series Cranford –alongside her acting royalty parents.  

While her other acting credits include roles of Evie Wilcox in the 2017 adaptation of Howards End and Violet Woodhouse in TV series Beecham House.

Speaking about her parents last year, Bessie gushed: ‘We are such a unit. Mum calls me Bebo, Dad calls me Trousers. No idea why. Their love is palpable.

‘I adored being an only child. I think I asked about a sibling once or twice without knowing what that entailed, but it was never on the cards.

‘They were the two people who were everything to me and I couldn’t imagine sharing my world with anyone else.’  

Elsewhere on his Lorraine interview, Jim – who is a Marie Curie ambassador – spoke about how life has been for him and his family during lockdown.   

He said: ‘A year ago we were out on the street clapping for our carers. As it’s gone on, it’s been harder and harder to deal with. It’s been very tricky. There’s wonderful stories and also people dealing with brief and bereavement.’

Speaking about the one year anniversary of lockdown he said: ‘I’ll take that moment to sit in the garden during the one-minute silence at 12PM. I also gather that buildings will be lit up at 8PM too.

‘I’ve been alright, but have slowed down really. It’s changed. They were predicting 20,000 deaths but now we’re up to 126,000.

‘We’re very lucky as we have a nice place to live and have each other. One of the keys of coming out of this is patience and kindness.

‘We need to listen to the scientists to come out to the happier and healthier society.’ 

He also teased information about another Downton Abbey film, saying: ‘I’ve been told that it will happen but I can’t be definitive about it as with the third wave, anything can happen. 

‘I can’t say exactly when but our fingers and toes are firmly crossed. For Downton and coming out of lockdown, let’s hope for the best.’