Phoebe Dynevor says she lied at her 'Bridgerton' audition about being a skilled horseback rider despite having a fear of horses

• Phoebe Dynevor said she lied about her horseback riding skills at her "Bridgerton" audition.
• The actress, who plays Daphne, was "scared" of horses and "didn't like" them.
• However, she told Glamour on Tuesday that she claimed to be an "amazing" rider at the audition.

Phoebe Dynevor wasn't completely honest about her horseback riding skills while auditioning for Netflix's Regency drama "Bridgerton," on which she stars as Daphne Bridgerton.

"I've always said - I don't know why - that I didn't like horses and was scared of them," she explained during an interview with Glamour on Tuesday.

Since high-society Englishwomen frequently rode horses in the early 19th century, which is when the Shonda Rhimes-produced show takes place, Daphne would be expected to ride in multiple scenes.

In an attempt to land the leading role, Dynevor said she lied about her equestrian skills.

"In the audition when they asked me, 'Have you ridden a horse before?' I was like, 'Yeah, I'm amazing. I've ridden so many horses. I'd be perfect for this role,'" she said.

After she was cast as Daphne, Dynevor began horseback riding lessons with her costar Regé-Jean Page, who plays her on-screen love interest Simon Basset.

"I actually loved horseback riding by the end of it and would love to get back on a horse as soon as possible, so that was fun," she said.

In December, Dynevor told UK publication Express that it was initially "terrifying" to get on a horse, especially because she didn't realize she'd "have to be sidesaddle."

"So that was a new skill," she remarked.

Dynevor had six weeks to prepare for her role as the young debutante.

Aside from getting comfortable riding, the actress enrolled in piano lessons, which she said she "loved learning" and hopes to continue outside of the show.

Dynevor also took dance lessons, which she joked was "really terrying, probably more than horse riding."

"I've always said that I couldn't dance," she said, adding, "It was really scary, but our choreographer Jack Murphy was brilliant. There were so many dances and so much to learn but he made it so easy and so fun."

• Read more:
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• Here's where every major character ended up on the season 1 finale of 'Bridgerton'
• 23 details you might have missed on season one of 'Bridgerton'
• Fans noticed there are modern yellow lines on a road in 'Bridgerton' even though cars didn't exist yet in 1813