Interview: Simone Ashley on Joining ‘Bridgerton’ and Working with the Amazing Cast

It’s hard to find a more spectacular romance than Bridgerton, which made quite a splash when it premiered its first season at the end of 2020 on Netflix. It returned for an equally immersive second season earlier this year, and this time with a new romantic lead, in the form of Simone Ashley’s Kate Sharma, who clashes with the ton’s most eligible bachelor, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey).

Awards Radar had the chance to speak with Ashley about the experiencing of joining the established show a year into its run and what she finds familiar about her character:

“I think an actor will always find something they relate to within a character. There was plenty within Kate that I related to. She is quite self-realized, she’s very independent, she’s quite mature, but she is on a journey, and that’s something that all of us can relate to. When we first meet her, she does seem like she’s got it all put together, and that she knows what she wants. There are elements of that, but what’s so beautiful about her is that you see her humility and her vulnerability and her being able to stripped down a bit, psychologically and emotionally, and then grow and blossom into a new person. I think the difference with her is that she’s an older sibling, and I’m not. I’m the youngest in my family. There was a lot to play with there that I was really interested in and curious about.”

We also chatted about whether her Sex Education fanbase has followed her over to another Netflix show and the significance of her casting:

“I guess so! That became more clarified, I think, when Bridgerton was announced, that I was cast and when the show came out. It’s been so wonderful to receive such a warm reception from people that knew me from Sex Education to Bridgerton, and seeing the movements I’m making in my career. It’s always something I’m very grateful for. The fan bases of both of those shows, they’re predominantly young people, young women, young Indian women. It’s been such a journey for me, from being an actress, and a woman of color, I guess a political statement, representing what it is to break these barriers of what we see on screen. I love my work, and I love playing that role. It encourages me to be the best version of myself.”

Listen to the full conversation below:

Bridgerton is screaming exclusively on Netflix.