Simone Ashley, 26, is the diamond of Bridgerton season 2! The actress is one of the new cast members in the Netflix series and plays the crucial role of Kate Sharma. Kate is a beloved character from Julia Quinn’s book, The Viscount Who Loved Me, and she’s going to take Anthony Bridgerton by storm.
So, who is Simone Ashley? From her musical talents to her past with Netflix, HollywoodLife has everything you need to know about Bridgerton’s brightest new star.
1. Simone Ashley plays Kate Sharma.
Simone’s Kate Sharma is the character Bridgerton book readers know as Kate Sheffield. Kate makes her first appearance in the second book in Julia’s Bridgerton book series, The Viscount Who Loved Me. Kate is the older sister of Edwina, this season’s “Diamond of the First Water.” In keeping with the show’s dedication to diversifying its roles within the period drama, Kate and her family are of Indian descent.
Kate comes onto the scene and steals Anthony Bridgerton’s heart. Anthony was introduced in the first season as the eldest Bridgerton child and Daphne’s overprotective older brother. Anthony had a secret relationship with singer Siena, which came to a heartbreaking end in season 1. Kate definitely keeps Anthony on his toes like no one has before.
2. Simone can sing.
Simone’s talents are endless! The actress is trained in classical music, opera, and musical theater, according to Glamour. She also writes her own songs. “I think if you can sing, you should use it,” she told the magazine.
3. Simone has starred on another hit Netflix show.
Simone is best known for her role as Olivia Hanan in Netflix’s Sex Education. Olivia is one of the members of The Untouchables. The show has been renewed for season 4, but Simone is likely not returning. “I think my time on [the show] has come to an end. It’s very sad because I love them all so much,” she told Glamour.
4. Simone is from England.
Simone was born Simone Ashwini Pillai in Camberley, Surrey. They later moved to Beaconsfield and spent time in California as well with relatives. Her parents were hesitant about her acting aspirations at first. “My parents were quite protective over me. They’re first generation. They came from India to this country, so they didn’t really have a life where they could choose to be whatever they wanted to be,” She told Glamour UK.
5. Simone has starred in other TV shows and movies.
In addition to Sex Education and Bridgerton, Simone starred as Elise Fox in the miniseries The Sister. She also had a small role in the 2019 film Detective Pikachu. Her first role was in the 2016 series Wolfblood.