The clip has since been viewed over 11 million times. Casting director Helen Yung commented on the video: “This is what we call a ‘lightning in a bottle’ audition. She didn’t just read the lines—she became Ella Sweet.”
The series gained a cult following before even being released—thanks to an open casting call that went viral last spring. Over 4,000 actors submitted self-tapes for the lead role. Among them was Bridgette New, a relatively unknown stage actress from Atlanta. Before the “Sweet Auditions” phenomenon, Bridgette New was best known for her off-Broadway work in The Honeycomb Trilogy and a guest spot on the legal drama Common Ground . She trained at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where professors described her as “a raw, emotive talent with a unique knack for blending sweetness with steel.” sweet auditions bridgette new
In the official press release, creator Mara Leeds said: “We saw thousands of talented actors, but Bridgette brought something we couldn’t teach—a lived-in sweetness that isn’t naive, but resilient. She makes you root for her from the first frame.” Sweet Auditions is currently in pre-production, with filming scheduled to begin in Savannah, Georgia (Bridgette’s home state) in July 2025. The eight-episode first season is expected to premiere on a major streaming platform by early 2026. While the distributor hasn’t been officially named, insiders hint at a deal with Hulu or Amazon Freevee. The clip has since been viewed over 11 million times
Bridgette has leaned into the support. She posts behind-the-scenes photos of her baking practice, answers fan questions, and even sent handwritten thank-you notes to 50 of her earliest supporters. Bridgette New’s rise is also being celebrated as a milestone for authentic, diverse casting in romantic dramedies—a genre that has historically favored white leads. Her Korean-American and African-American heritage is not a plot point, nor is it ignored. The series reportedly includes a scene where Ella makes hotteok (Korean sweet pancakes) alongside her grandmother’s peach cobbler, blending her family’s dual culinary traditions. Over 4,000 actors submitted self-tapes for the lead role
Bridgette is 26 years old, biracial (African American and Korean), and has openly discussed her struggles with imposter syndrome in the entertainment industry. In a now-famous Instagram Live from February 2024, she said: “I almost didn’t submit for Sweet Auditions because I thought I wasn’t ‘cute enough’ to play a rom-com lead. That’s how messed up our industry can make you feel.”