Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page is praised by producer Shonda Rhimes for the TIME100 Next list

He set hearts fluttering with his charismatic lead performance on Netflix’s hit period romance series Bridgerton.

And now Regé-Jean Page is being serenaded by Shonda Rhimes for the 2021 TIME100 Next list.

The 51-year-old writer and producer sounded almost like one of his lovestruck fans as gushed about the 31-year-old actor, calling him ‘finer than fiction’ and ‘better than any dream.’

Praised: René-Jean Page, 31, was serenaded in the pages of the TIME100 Next list by his Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes, 51; Page seen in 2018 in LA

‘You might dream of him, the one we call the Duke of Hastings,’ she began. ‘But in reality, Regé-Jean Page is finer than fiction and better than any dream.’

The Scandal creator went on to describe Page as a ‘rare actor, one who brings an intensity, an intelligence and a precision to his work, providing endless depth to any scene.’ 

She continued, writing that the actor’s enveloping performances build ‘a vibrant world for us to enter, making it impossible to imagine any other actor playing the role.’

Rhimes concluded the short tribute by adding that ‘Regé is a singular talent whose prospects are limitless.’ 

Effusive praise: 'You might dream of him, the one we call the Duke of Hastings,' Rhimes began. 'But in reality, Regé-Jean Page is finer than fiction and better than any dream'; seen in 2019

Effusive praise: ‘You might dream of him, the one we call the Duke of Hastings,’ Rhimes began. ‘But in reality, Regé-Jean Page is finer than fiction and better than any dream’; seen in 2019

Star to watch: The Scandal creator went on to describe Page as a 'rare actor, one who brings an intensity, an intelligence and a precision to his work, providing endless depth to any scene'; still from Bridgerton

Star to watch: The Scandal creator went on to describe Page as a ‘rare actor, one who brings an intensity, an intelligence and a precision to his work, providing endless depth to any scene’; still from Bridgerton

‘Today, he may be our duke. By tomorrow… not even I can dream big enough to imagine,’ she wrote.

Page stars on Bridgerton as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings.

His chemistry with his costar Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton, has been widely acclaimed, and the series as a whole earned an 89 percent fresh rating among critics sampled by Rotten Tomatoes.

Page and Dynevor were so convincing as fictional lovers that rumors cropped up that the two must have dated while filming the Netflix series, though the actress put that chatter to bed earlier this week in an interview with You Magazine.

‘I’d love to say there was really something between us. But no, it has always been strictly professional,’ she said.

‘There was so much pressure on us to get it right that it was all about the work. We have a really professional working relationship,’ continued. ‘I’m glad for that, actually. It would be very complicated if it went further.’

Perfect matches: Page stars on Bridgerton as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. His chemistry with his costar Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton, has been widely acclaimed; seen together in January in London

Perfect matches: Page stars on Bridgerton as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. His chemistry with his costar Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton, has been widely acclaimed; seen together in January in London

Rising star: Prior to starring in Brigerton, Page was best known for appearing in the 2016 miniseries version of Roots and the ABC legal drama For The People; pictured in 2016 in NYC

Rising star: Prior to starring in Brigerton, Page was best known for appearing in the 2016 miniseries version of Roots and the ABC legal drama For The People; pictured in 2016 in NYC

Oddly, when Page was asked about a potential relationship during a January interview with Access Hollywood, he avoided giving a straight answer.

‘I think that everything you need to know is on camera,’ he said, before praising the show’s ‘beautiful scripts.’ 

Prior to starring in Brigerton, Page was best known for appearing in the Tessa Thompson drama Sylvie’s Love, along with the 2016 miniseries version of Roots and the ABC legal drama For The People.

He’ll be introduced to a new audience this weekend when he hosts Saturday Night Live for the first time. 

More to come: Bridgerton is the most recent success for Rhimes, who also worked with Page on For The People. Her next series is about a the Russian-born fraudster known as Anna Delvey; seen in 2018

More to come: Bridgerton is the most recent success for Rhimes, who also worked with Page on For The People. Her next series is about a the Russian-born fraudster known as Anna Delvey; seen in 2018

Bridgerton is the most recent success for Rhimes, who also worked with Page on For The People.

Next up, she’ll be writing and producing the series Inventing Anna for Netflix.

The show, which she also created, is based on the New York Magazine article How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People, about a Russian-born woman who pretended to be a wealthy German heiress in order to defraud New York socialites.