Bridgerton's Bessie Carter vows to 'stop dating red flags' and says she's 'never been happier' after split from co-star Sam Phillips

Bessie Carter has vowed to 'stop dating red flags' and insisted she has 'never been happier' following her split from her Bridgerton co-star Sam Phillips. 

On the Netflix show, Bessie plays the role of Prudence Featherington while Sam, 39, plays Nicola Coughlan's character Penelope's suitor Lord Debling.

Despite their characters not interacting on the show, the actors began dating after meeting on set of season three and reportedly moved in together in 2023. 

But Bessie, 32, who is the daughter of actors Dame Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter, insisted she is loving the single life after confirming she is now single. 

'I am single and I have never been happier. I love waking up alone, being able to stretch out, make a cacao, pad around my beautiful flat and to choose what I want to put into this day that I am lucky to get to enjoy.

'I wanted to come back to myself. To go to therapy, to become really f***ing good at my job, to stop dating red flags.' 

The former couple were first pictured together in May 2023 as they attended the Theatrical Consequences: The 5th Annual Platform Presents West End Gala after party at Tequila Mockingbird in London.

Then in November 2023 the pair attended the Wonka premiere together with Bessie's famous actress mother Imelda. 

They posed as a trio with Imelda stood in the middle - suggesting Sam had been introduced to her side of the family some time before.

Then in December 2023 Bessie her famous dad Jim accompanied Sam to The Crown season 6 finale celebration event.

He played the Queen's Equerry Stephen Chambers in season 3 and 4 of Netflix's The Crown.

Speaking to People in July 2025, Bessie revealed the most important quality she looks for in a prospective partner. 

'I mean, if you've got a crackin' sense of humor, you're gonna be fine,' Bessie said.

'They got a crackin' sense of humor,' she continued, referring to her parents. 'Humor is one of the most important things to me in any kind of relationship, so, yeah, if you can crack a joke, you'll be absolutely fine.' 

Despite her famous parents, Bessie previously insisted she has made her career happen on her own and 'doesn't really care' about the term 'nepo baby' being used.

She told The Independent: 'I have a lot of drive to make stuff happen myself, instead of waiting for the phone to ring.

'Some people might use that phrase (nepo baby), but I don't really care. I believe in myself and my trajectory being what it is, and I've never used my parents, ever, to get any work.'