Season 2 of has unsurprisingly gripped fans across the globe, with many viewers immediately watching all eight episodes in one go in a flurry of excitement.
The final episode, which revealed the conclusion to the complicated connection shared between Anthony Bridgerton () and Kate Sharma (), ended with a special tribute before the credits rolled.
After the last scene faded out, the words: ‘In Memory of Carole Prentice’ appeared on screen, after the was included in episode one.
The tribute was then followed by the credits, beginning with executive producers Chris Van Dusen, Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers and Tom Verica before the rest of the cast and crew.
While some viewers may have known about Prentice’s involvement on the production, others may not have been aware of the significant role she played behind the scenes or the vibrant life she led.
Who was Carole Prentice?
Prentice, who died in January at the age of 61, worked as a Covid-19 coordinator on the second season of Bridgerton, having been an avid fan of the show before.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Prentice’s son, Sebastian Prentice, who is her only child, explained that she previously worked in the entertainment industry predominantly as a line producer, on productions such as the 2016 film Star Trek Beyond.
Prentice spent the majority of her career in Cape Town, South Africa, living a ‘nomadic lifestyle’ as she also spent seven years in Dubai, before living in a house boat in Kingston upon Thames in England.
The producer, who also worked as a life coach, died due to post-surgery related complications. Sebastian explained that her death occurred suddenly and ‘took everyone by surprise’, as she was ‘very full of energy and full of life up until she passed away’.
He said that his mother experienced ‘great camaraderie’ with the other members of the crew on Bridgerton.
‘It was really amazing to see how much of a closely knit friendship group she had established in such a short time there. But she loved it,’ he said.
‘She herself was a very avid Bridgerton fan. She was so excited that she was working on Bridgerton. She made good friends and I think she impacted a lot of people in a short time.’
A celebration of Prentice’s life took place in London following her death, which was attended by several members of the Bridgerton crew, much to his delight.
Sebastian is planning on writing books about his mother, including a biographical account of her life and a self-help book based on life lessons she taught him, which he has titled: Carolism: Lessons From a Single Mum.
He said that she was ‘always doing what she could to try and mentor and help, which I think left a positive impact on a lot of people’.
While Sebastian was aware that Bridgerton was planning on paying homage to his mother, after the Covid team requested the tribute, he admitted that he didn’t believe it would happen until he saw it with his own eyes.
‘I was so happy to see that. I shouted. I was so proud. She really deserved that, you know? Someone who poured her heart and soul into it. She really did deserve that recognition. I was overjoyed, I was so so happy to see that,’ he said.
Paying tribute to his late mother, he added: ‘She was fair, strong and full of life. She was true to herself and to her values, all the time. She feared nothing but faltering on her values.
‘She was the most honest and strong-willed person you’d have ever met. She was also full of love and laughs and humour. She had a contagious laugh and an infectious smile. A truly complete human being. She was extremely self aware and introspective. Kind, curious, supportive and passionate; all words I’d use to describe her.’
On January 27 this year, the Commercial Producers Association of South Africa released a statement on Facebook in honour of her following her death, saying she would be ‘sadly missed’ by all who knew her.
‘The CPA is so sad to learn of the passing of Carole Prentice,’ the statement read.
‘Carole was one of the pioneering women of our service industry and was a member of the CPA during her time at Filmworks. She always stayed in touch and was an inspiration to many.’
The statement added: ‘We send our deepest condolences to Sebastian and to her many friends and colleagues. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. RIP Carole.’
On IMDb, Prentice’s earliest credit in the film industry is from the 1987 post-apocalyptic film Steel Dawn with Patrick Swayze, on which she worked as a production assistant.
She studied for a degree in psychology at The South African College of Applied Psychology.
Bridgerton is available to watch on Netflix.
