The Real Reason The Walking Dead’s Jesus Wasn’t Cast As Bridgerton’s Simon Bassett – Looper

Payne revealed in a People "Defend Yourself" interview on YouTube that he auditioned for "the big heartthrob hunk guy" but wasn't chosen."Basically, If I go for any of those parts, where it's supposed to be ... all the girls falling over him, I'm not tall enough," the actor explained. "It's not going to work out I'm not that guy. You can't walk into the room and look up at anyone, I don't think.It's just not going to work for that kind of character." According to a tweet he posted in 2013, Payne is 5 feet 8 inches. PopBuzz says that his successful competitor for the role, Page, stands at 5 feet 11 inches.

It's a shame Payne lost out, since Bridgerton takes place in Payne's hometown of Bath. Still, he got something out of watching the first season of the show: "It's very nice to see my hometown on-screen," he said.

Don't worry about the actor, though he's plenty busy being a newlywed. He married his girlfriend, Jennifer Akerman, just before the end of 2020, so it's certain he has plenty of romance in his current life. As for his career, he seems plenty busy regardless. In 2019, he tried out for Aragorn in the Amazon Prime Lord of the Rings series, so he's getting high-profile auditions, and he's now starring in the second season of Prodigal Son.

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The Real Reason The Walking Dead's Jesus Wasn't Cast As Bridgerton's Simon Bassett - Looper