He left their hearts throbbing with his charismatic performance in Netflix’s hit epoch series, Bridgerton.
And now Regé-Jean Page is being serenaded by Shonda Rhimes for the 2021 TIME100 Next list.
The 51-year-old writer and producer sounded almost like one of his passionate fans when he talked about the 31-year-old actor, calling him ‘better than fiction’ and ‘better than any dream’.
Praised: René-Jean Page, 31, serenaded the pages of the TIME100 Next list of his Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes, 51; Page seen in 2018 in LA
“You can dream of him, what we call the Duke of Hastings,” she began. ‘But in reality, Regé-Jean Page is better than fiction and better than any dream.’
The creator of Scandal went on to describe Page as a ‘rare actor, who brings intensity, intelligence and precision to his work, providing infinite depth to any scene’.
She continued, writing that the actor’s engaging performances build ‘a vibrant world for us to enter, making it impossible to imagine any other actor playing the role’.
Rhimes concluded the short tribute by adding that ‘Regé is a singular talent whose perspectives are limitless.’
Effusive praise: ‘You can dream of him, what we call the Duke of Hastings’, Rhimes began. ‘But in reality, Regé-Jean Page is better than fiction and better than any dream’; seen in 2019
Star to watch: The creator of Scandal went on to describe Page as a ‘rare actor, who brings intensity, intelligence and precision to his work, providing infinite depth to any scene’; Bridgerton still
– Today, he can be our duke. Tomorrow … not even I can dream big enough to imagine, ‘she wrote.
Page stars in Bridgerton as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings.
His chemistry with co-star Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton, was widely acclaimed, and the series as a whole has gained 89% of recent ratings among critics sampled by Rotten Tomatoes.
Page and Dynevor were so convincing as fictional lovers that rumors emerged that the two should have dated while filming the Netflix series, although the actress ended this conversation earlier this week in an interview with You Magazine.
‘I would love to say that there really was something between us. But no, it was always strictly professional, ‘she said.
‘There was so much pressure on us to get it right that it was all about the job. We have a really professional working relationship, ‘he continued. – I’m happy about that, actually. It would be very complicated if it went further. ‘
Perfect matches: Page stars in Bridgerton as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. His chemistry with his co-star Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton, was widely acclaimed; seen together in january in London
Rising star: Before starring in Brigerton, Page was best known for appearing in the 2016 mini-series version of Roots and in the legal drama of ABC For The People; pictured in 2016 in NYC
Strangely, when Page was asked about a potential relationship during a January interview with Access Hollywood, he avoided giving a direct answer.
“I think everything you need to know is on camera,” he said, before praising the show’s “beautiful scripts”.
Before starring in Brigerton, Page was best known for appearing in the Tessa Thompson drama Sylvie’s Love, along with the 2016 miniseries version of Roots and the legal drama for ABC For The People.
He will be introduced to a new audience this weekend when he presents Saturday Night Live for the first time.
More to come: Bridgerton is Rhimes’ latest hit, who also worked with Page on For The People. Her next series is about a Russian fraudster known as Anna Delvey; seen in 2018
Bridgerton is Rhimes’ most recent success, who also worked with Page on For The People.
Then she will write and produce the series Inventing Anna for Netflix.
The program, which she also created, is based on the New York Magazine article How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People, about a Russian-born woman who pretended to be a wealthy German heiress to defraud New York socialites.