After appearing in “Sex Education,” Simone Ashley gained worldwide fame as Kate Sharma in Netflix’s smash hit “Bridgerton.” As her character, she not only captivated Anthony’s heart but also millions of fans of the series. However, she is also ready to move onto new heights in her career.
Ashley, 29, told Porter Magazine that while she feels “so grateful” for her role in Bridgerton, she is also “excited” to forge her own path and “not be defined by one role,” a challenge that she thinks “a lot of actors who have been part of a big franchise go through.”
With her newfound global fame, she also has landed new opportunities. After small roles in movies such as“The Little Mermaid” and “Detective Pikachu,” she is ready to have her first lead roles in film, as well as continuing exploring TV. But, she is not only working in front of the camera, as she has also started her own production company. Here’s what to know about Ashley’s upcoming projects.
Simone Ashley’s projects: Where to watch her next?
Picture This (rom-com, Prime Video) | TBA
Ashley stars and executive produces “Picture This,” a Prime Video rom-com which is set to come out later this year. She plays Pia, a woman who, while attending her sister’s engagement party, discovers that she will meet the love of her life among her next five dates (at least, according to a spiritual guru).
Alongside Ashley, “After” star Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Luke Fetherston also appear. Ashley told Porter that the movie “is like an Indian Bridget Jones.” She also said that “it’s the first time I’ve seen an Indian girl as the lead in this kind of genre. Yes, there’s cultural specificity but never once did we stereotype my heritage or Indian traditions – everyone can watch this and feel a kinship to the character”.
This Tempting Madness (thriller) | TBD
She will also star in “This Tempting Madness,” a psychological thriller indie directed by Jennifer E. Montgomery, from her script written with husband Andrew M. Davis. It also serves as Montgomery’s directorial debut.
According to Deadline, the movie follows a young woman (Ashley) who awakens from a coma injured with her memory fractured, and her husband arrested. But as she puts together the pieces of her past, she starts to question her own actions — and her perception of reality.
Speaking to Porter, Ashley revealed that the story is “dark,” and that, at first, she didn’t think she was going to get cast because she wasn’t white. “This was an independent movie and I was so grateful to the producers and to the director – it didn’t matter where I was from; I was just the right actor for the role,” she said.
Season 4 of Bridgerton | TBD
And, of course, while Ashley is ready to explore all genres, she is also keen to return as Kate for another season of Bridgerton. She told the press in June 2024 that she and Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony, “adore” their characters and “their relationship and what they mean for the show.”
She also revealed that both actors will “do all we can with our schedules to make it work so that we can, hopefully.” However, it’s not set in stone, and it would also depend on other factors, explained by showrunner Jess Brownell. “It’ll be dependent on how much story the main couples take up, and whether there is story room. It will be dependent on whether the actors are available,” she told Variety.
