Bridgerton Season 4, right from the get-go, makes Araminta Gunn into a villain. From the very first minute she appears, there is something simmering, and Katie Leung knew exactly how to tap into it.Instead of playing her as cruel for the sake of playing a cruel character on screen, Katie Leung's take on Araminta feels like it leans into the cracks of why she is the way she is. In doing so, she gives Bridgerton Season 4 one of its most layered antagonists.How a hidden daughter turned Araminta into Bridgerton Season 4’s coldest antagonistsIn Bridgerton Season 4, Araminta Gunn has a reputation that precedes her. But Katie Leung never makes her out to be a one note stepmother. Speaking to Deadline, Leung made it clear that Araminta’s grounding came from the character’s history which is what makes her who she is. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostShe said,“It’s definitely not hard for me to understand where she’s coming from, especially because the backstory was already there...I didn’t really have to imagine it. We could play it out and see the result of it. And that’s a beautiful thing.”According to the lore of the character, Araminta gets into a marriage unaware that her husband has an illegitimate daughter. The hits her all at once, and Bridgerton Season 4 allows Leung to sit with that pain instead of rushing past it.She explained that Araminta’s influence is felt even when she is off-screen, especially in how Sophie and Benedict are kept apart.“She is powerful and dominating and all these things...”For Leung, being able to explore that shift was rare and rewarding. She said,“Those traumatic events that really shape who you become...I was lucky enough to be able to do that with Araminta.”The split second that broke her and the funeral that sealed itWhile filming the interview for Bridgerton Season 4, Katie Leung pointed to the carriage scene, where Araminta first meets Sophie, as a turning point. In that moment, we see joy, hope, and then a sudden downward spiral.Katie Leung as Araminta on Bridgerton Season 4 (Source: Netflix)“Once upon a time, she was hopeful and full of joy and in love...and then in that split second, you can see just her world come crashing down.”The funeral scene takes this even further. Araminta lies about the will and offers Sophie work as a maid, which is cruel on the surface. But Leung played it from a place of grief and anger.Leung said,“She is genuinely upset. She’s very upset, but angry at the same time...”She pointed out that Araminta is mourning a man she adored while also dealing with his betrayal. She even stressed that Araminta did not believe she was being evil. “I don’t think it comes from a bad place,” she said, adding that she personally loved the funeral costume.The firing scene was the most challenging. Leung admitted she was nervous about it because it had to feel justified. She told Deadline,“I wanted to make sure that the firing of Sophie is justified,”The scene also went through several versions before landing on a more direct approach.Bridgerton Season 4 refuses to strip Araminta of her complexity. Every harsh decision is tied to a wound that never healed. By grounding Araminta’s actions in betrayal, grief, and responsibility, Leung turns an antagonist into someone so very human.She may still stand in Sophie’s way, but we understand why, and understanding a character's motives is what matters the most.Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more updates.