Who is Sophie Beckett changed to Sophie Baek in Bridgerton season 4? Explained

Netflix just officially confirmed that this actress is Yerin Ha, known to fans for Dune: Prophecy, and she will play the role of Sophie Baek, a British Indian woman, the female lead of Bridgerton Season 4. The character's name was changed from Beckett, like in the book versions, to Baek, and even Yerin Ha shares the same heritage as Baek, being Korean-Australian.

Speaking with Tudum, Ha says the change is particularly meaningful to her:

"A name is the first bit of identity you introduce to the world."

The decision reflects the effort Bridgerton continues to make in embracing more diversity and more authentic characters to those playing the roles.

In the novels of Julia Quinn, Sophie Beckett is an Englishwoman who works as a maid before attending a masquerade ball that changes her life. However, in the Netflix series, the character will be modified to change Sophie's past, including how she relates to Violet Bridgerton, to fit in more with the inclusive storytelling of the show and to suit actress Yerin Ha's background.

---

Why Sophie's surname was changed

From Beckett to Baek, the change was a deliberate choice by Jess Brownell, the showrunner for Bridgerton, when she wanted the name for Sophie to fit the Korean heritage of Yerin Ha. According to the interview she gave Tudum, Ha noted the big deal her importance made in this decision:

"It makes a difference because changing the family surname lets me inject parts of my personal experience into the character."

"A name is the first part of someone's identity you introduce to the world," she said.

Ha then better connects with Sophie by infusing her Korean heritage into the character, hence, she breathes the character with authenticity.

While Sophie Beckett in Julia Quinn's novels, is, of course, English, artistic visionaries behind Bridgerton would take this as the chance to create a modern spin with the diversity of characters.

By portraying Sophie as a reflection of Ha's background, the casting of the show is taking its fabulous cultural landscape to a whole new level as the show has been praised since its early days for its inclusive casting.

---

The role of Sophie Baek in Bridgerton Season 4

Sophie Baek will play a young, clever woman who has worked as a maid, with her social status bringing her various problems. But all of that is going to change when Sophie Baek disguises herself for a masquerade ball thrown by Violet Bridgerton, where she meets Benedict Bridgerton. It will go down in history as the complicated love story that was thought to be impossible by societal norms.

Sophie's secret identity plays a huge part in the dynamic between Sophie and Benedict because they are attracted to one another even though they come from two different social classes. When her true identity as a maid is revealed, the tension between her real self and her masquerade persona will represent how her romance with Benedict plays out. Season 4 promises emotional depth within the backdrop of Bridgerton's period drama.

---

Cultural representation in Bridgerton

Bridgerton has garnered so much praise for its cast, putting historical backgrounds with contemporary sensibility. Renaming the female lead character from Sophie as Baek continues the tradition of diversity and is far more representative of the world we live in today. A diverse cast fills out the series in roles that were traditionally European which makes the story more vibrant to everyone.

By making Sophie Baek a Korean, Bridgerton takes its means of telling diversity to a new depth. This will allow Yerin Ha to be fully immersed in the role she plays so that all her personal and cultural identity finds expression in the character.