Bridgerton's Jessica Madsen Teases Cressida's 'Sticky Situation' and How She Hopes for 'a Different Life' (Exclusive)

Jessica Madsen teases how her Bridgerton character, Cressida Cowper, finds herself in a “sticky situation” in the second part of season 3.

As fans will recall, Cressida struck up an unlikely friendship with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) and competed for the attention of the same suitor, Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), as Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) in the first half of the season.

The 32-year-old actress tells PEOPLE that Cressida will stand her ground in the second half of season 3, adding that “fans of the book will not be disappointed.”

“She's cooking up a feast of fear for herself. She doesn't have an awful lot of choice,” she shares. “She doesn't have a lot of options on the table. She's in survival mode and she's taking her stuff in her own hands and she's like, ‘You know what? I'm going to do this for myself,’ without really thinking about what the consequences are.”

Cressida’s attitude will have a “big time” effect on her chances on the marriage mart, according to Madsen.

“We've always seen her struggle with that. She doesn't have a lot of success,” she says of her character finding a match. “What she chooses to do is because of where she ends up getting with the marriage mart and the options that she's left with. And so she really tries to save herself out of quite a sticky situation, hoping to free herself for a different life.”

As for the advice she would give Cressida, Madsen says, “I'd give her a hug and I advise her to go to therapy.”

“Heal her baby Cressida, you know, do some inner child work. I think that would help her a lot,” she adds.

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The first part of Bridgerton season 3 is streaming now on Netflix and part 2 drops on June 13.