15 June 2024 , 19:21
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As Bridgerton’s Lady Danbury, she is one of the most powerful and privileged women in London. But in real-life, actress Adjoa Andoh is determined to use her TV stardom to help those less fortunate.
She recently visited Poland with the International Rescue Committee to meet Ukrainian women displaced by the war with Russia – and Adjoa, who is an ambassador for the IRC, was left in tears by their devastating stories.
She says: “We sat and cried together. The sort of mad schizophrenia of doing the Bridgerton junket in Warsaw and everybody being zhuzh-ed up and fabulous to then, a day later, sitting with women who have run away with a suitcase and a bag of nappies is a stark contrast. I will be going away thinking about them and praying for them.”
Adjoa visited the IRC center for displaced Ukrainian women and girls in Poland. The center uses art therapy to help build community (© Tamara Kiptenko)In a touching moment, gran Adjoa, 61, was presented with a T-shirt made by the refugee children with all their handprints on it. “Now I am carrying the likes of Sophia, Mia, and Eva all next to my heart on my T-shirt,” she smiles.
“Being a grandmother has that extra resonance as well. It could be my little grandson and those mothers could be my daughters – and it could have been me, if I had the accident of being born somewhere different.”
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Adjoa is not the only Bridgerton star to use their status for good. Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington in the show, has raised almost £1.5million for Gaza’s aid efforts in the past seven months.
Speaking ahead of World Refugee Day on Thursday, Adjoa said: “Nicola has been amazing. I think many members of the cast are conscious of the great privileges we enjoy. Sometimes we want to stretch out a helping hand and lend a voice to people whose lives are hard.”
Nicola Coughlan who plays Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton has also used her fame for good by raising almost £1.5million for Gaza’s aid efforts (Getty Images)Regency romance Bridgerton first appeared on our screens in 2020. And this week, fans of Shonda Rhimes’ opulent drama tuned in to find out the latest twist in the love story between Penelope and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
Adjoa is just as invested in their relationship as the rest of us. “A lot of the audience will be rooting for them because they’ve invested in them for so long, but also because love goes where love goes – and we all need a bit of that right now,” she says.
“The show has become a phenomenon but the way I’ve seen it manifested has always been beautiful. It doesn’t matter about your gender, your race, your religion, or your sexuality. Everybody is welcome.”