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The Bridgerton star opens up exclusively to ELLE UK ahead of the Dior 2023 Cruise show about the hit Netflix show, the social power of fashion and Dior’s ability to adapt and evolve.

‘We never take our costumes off during a full day of shooting,’ Bridgerton star Charithra Chandran says on the sacrifices the cast of her hit show make to create the most successful Netflix series of all time. ‘Sometimes that’s like 12 hours in the corset and dress. Even when we’re eating we get given bibs to stop us from spilling anything on our outfits.’

The 25-year-old British actor found fame earlier this year after starring as Lady Edwina Sharma – the younger sister of Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) who becomes embroiled in a sticky love triangle with her and Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey). Far away from the fine French tapestries and stately homes of Bridgerton's 1800s England, today Chandran is exclusively speaking to ELLE UK ahead of the Dior 2023 resort collection in Seville, Spain. ‘I’m initially very nervous,’ she says of attending star-studded events. ‘I think I suffer from a heavy dose of imposter syndrome, but as soon as the show begins and the first model walks out, all I feel is excitement and inspiration.’

On Thursday night, the likes of Chandran, Chiara Ferragni, Celeste and Elle Macpherson descended on Seville's breathtaking Plaza de España, a government building built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition which has since featured in several films over the years such as Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia.

With the help of dramatic flamenco dancing and violins the show began with a simple monochrome look (black trousers, a white tank top, black braces, black brogues and a floral-printed fringed shawl), before a bloody red shade pierced through the sombre colour palette, accompanied by jewelled tones in lace, velvet and ruffles, and topped off with tilted flat-brimmed hats. The brand’s signature Bar jacket and Lady Dior handbag, inspired by bas-relief sculptures, also featured in the spellbinding Spanish-inspired spectacle.

The collection, says artistic director María Grazia Chiuri, was inspired by legendary flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya, 'who through the gesture of dance combines strength and fragility. She is capable of depicting the soul of Spain and interpreting a conscious feminine idea that is feminism', she explained on Instagram ahead of the show.

‘It’s always a dream attending Dior shows,’ Chandran tells us, crediting the French fashion house for ‘championing women’. ‘In particular, I love how intentional and collaborative María Grazia is with every creative decision. Being in Seville, in the heat, it feels like a luxurious escape from life in London or Paris. There’s a sense of spirituality in the air, as we’re here on the day the city celebrates a religious procession.’

Speaking about the artistic director’s 'distinct vision' for the brand, Chandran commends the Italian designer for collaborating with local culture and craftsmanship, from working with Andalucian leather artisans and experts in riding equipment to Orfebreria Ramos, a traditional Sevillian metalworking workshop renowned for creating intricate religious ceremonial objects. ‘She truly captures the essence of the location the show takes place and Cruise 2023 will certainly be a taste of Seville,’ she says.

‘The label is adapting to the changing and ever evolving nature of female and feminine identity while still staying true to the original vision,' she continues. 'On a personal level, I love the 1950s silhouette first introduced in the New Look - it makes me feel confident and elegant.’

As for her own look, for the show Chandran wore a black midi dress from Dior's AW22 collection, which featured sheer lace panelling in the bodice and heavy layering in the skirt and shoulders. Her stylist, Holly White, styled the outfit with a classic Micro Lady Dior Bag and a pair of the J’adior Slingback Pumps.

‘At the beginning of planning every new look Holly and I are always super excited to think about how we can take it to the next level,’ Chandran says. ‘We always aim to do something different to what we’ve done in the past. We were immediately drawn to the lace and sheerness of this look, the subtle sexiness of it and the strength in the silhouette. When I put it on, we knew this was the look.’

Born in Scotland to Indian immigrants and raised in Oxford, Chandran trained with the National Youth Theatre – whose alumni include Dame Helen Mirren, Colin Firth, Joe Alwyn and Daisy Edgar Jones – and spent numerous stints in India during her youth. Recalling her childhood Chandran says her most ‘prized possession’ from her wardrobe was a black sequinned two piece top and trouser set. ‘The inspiration for the outfit came from something worn by an actress in a Tamil movie,’ she remembers fondly. ‘My dad went to the local market to buy black sequinned fabric and took me to a tailor to design the outfit myself.'

With red carpet events and runway shows populating her busy schedule, the star is now focussed on building her sophisticated yet youthful personal style (with the help of her chunky Prada loafers, she notes) and investing in key pieces that’ll stand the test of time. ‘Growing up, fashion was pure escapism, a way for me to express myself and a source of joy,' she explains. 'Now, fashion continues to be both those things. I’ve also become more aware of just how much social power it holds. It’s a creative endeavour that shapes culture and helps dictate important conversations. I do believe this power comes with a responsibility which needs to be taken seriously, to make sure we’re championing positive change and inclusivity.’

If anyone knows how to navigate change it's Chandran. At the end of 2020 the Alex Rider star landed her Bridgerton role after graduating from Oxford University the previous year with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics (PPE). With a job lined up at a management consultancy firm, which offered new recruits a year out before starting, Chandran dipped her toe into professional acting - and it's certainly paid off.

Now, two years later and with roles in forthcoming TV series such as Pillow Talk and Good Intentions, she's determined to on take on projects that continued to challenge her as an actor. ‘I want to keep people guessing when it comes to what I’ll do next,’ she notes.

Chandran is keeping us on our toes, and we wouldn't want it any other way.