Regé-Jean Page: Why He Left Bridgerton & His Relationship

Few TV characters have captured the public imagination quite like Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. The actor who brought him to life, Regé-Jean Page, became a household name almost overnight when Bridgerton premiered in December 2020.

Born: 1988 ·
Birthplace: London, England ·
Instagram followers: 6 million ·
Known for: Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings in Bridgerton Season 1

Key facts about Regé-Jean Page at a glance.

Why did Simon leave Bridgerton?

The official reason: Shonda Rhimes confirms exit

• On April 2, 2021, the Bridgerton Lady Whistledown account announced Page’s departure (Extra TV).
• Producer Shonda Rhimes told Variety that Page “rightly pointed out” he signed for one closed narrative, and she understood his wish to preserve the story’s perfection.
• Page himself called the role a “limited series” with a beginning, middle, and end, speaking to the Los Angeles Times.

Impact on Bridgerton season 2 and beyond

• Simon Basset does not appear after Season 1; his wife Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) remains in the series but the character’s absence is explained away as estate duties (HELLO! Magazine).
• No divorce was written — the storyline simply moved on without Simon.

Fan reactions and speculation

• Page compared his exit to “graduating high school” in a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight.
• He later said he “respectfully exited” the cast group chat, feeling it would be awkward to stay (theJasmineBRAND).

The implication: Page made a deliberate career bet — sacrifice long-running series security for film opportunities. It appears to have paid off.

Who is Regé-Jean Page in a relationship with?

Emily Brown: rumor or reality?

• According to Wikipedia, Page has been in a relationship with Emily Brown since 2019 — but the same source flags this as unconfirmed, and Page’s team has never issued a statement.
• In 2024, entertainment sites like Just Jared linked Brown as his “producing partner” on a new adaptation (Just Jared).

Current relationship status

• Page has never publicly confirmed a long-term partner. He keeps his personal life extremely private.
• No marriage or engagement has been reported by credible sources.

What this means: fans looking for a definitive answer will be disappointed. The lack of official confirmation may itself be the answer.

What is Regé-Jean Page’s real name?

The origin of the name

• His full name is Regé-Jean Page. It is not a stage name — it reflects his Zimbabwean heritage and a French variant of the name “Ré.”
• He was born in London to a Zimbabwean mother and an English father, making him British-Zimbabwean.

Cultural background

• Page grew up in London and spent time in Zimbabwe, which he has cited as influential on his identity.
• He is proud of his mixed heritage and has spoken about it in interviews with POPSUGAR.

The pattern: Page’s name is both personally meaningful and marketable — unique enough to be memorable, authentic enough to feel real.

Did Simon and Daphne divorce?

Their on-screen marriage and ending

• In the show, Simon and Daphne are happily married at the end of Season 1. No divorce occurs.
• When Simon leaves the series, the show explains his absence as being occupied with the Hastings estate, not a marital split.

Fan interpretations

• Some viewers speculated that Simon’s disappearance implied a divorce, but the writers never followed that thread.
• Daphne appears in subsequent seasons as a supporting character, referring to Simon off-screen as her husband.

The catch: the audience’s desire for closure on a beloved couple was never satisfied — the story simply faded him out.

Is anyone in Bridgerton dating each other in real life?

Confirmed cast romances

• No on-screen couple has publicly confirmed a real-life relationship.
• Cast members have described the set as a close friendship group, but no romantic links have been reported by credible outlets.

LGBTQ representation among cast

• Several cast members are vocal supporters of LGBTQ representation, both on and off screen, though personal orientations have not been widely discussed in press.

Why this matters: the on-screen chemistry that made Bridgerton a sensation doesn’t extend to real-life romance — which is exactly why the acting is so convincing.

Who is the highest paid actor on Bridgerton?

Season 1 salaries and speculation

• Reports suggested that by later seasons, some actors earned around $1 million per episode, but no official figures exist (Variety).
• Regé-Jean Page negotiated his contract for Season 1 only, meaning he was not part of the pay increases that came with later seasons.

Why Page’s salary made headlines

• His one-season deal fueled speculation that he left money on the table — until his film career took off.
• Netflix’s budget for Bridgerton is among its highest, but the streaming giant has never disclosed per-episode pay.

The trade-off: Page traded long-term TV pay for the chance to lead films like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and The Gray Man. Early estimates put his net worth at $4–5 million, a figure that will likely grow with upcoming projects.

Timeline

A timeline of Page’s career and personal narrative.

“He rightly pointed out that he signed up to do one season and that was it. He felt that the story that he had signed up to tell was one closed story. I completely understood that.”

Shonda Rhimes, creator of Bridgerton, in Variety

“Leaving Bridgerton was like graduating high school. You’re ready to move on to college.”

Regé-Jean Page, speaking to Entertainment Tonight

For the streaming giant Netflix, Page’s exit was a reminder that even a breakout star can choose to walk away. For fans, it means the Duke of Hastings will remain a one-season legend, frozen in time.

Frequently asked questions