Simone Ashley on Joining the World of 'Bridgerton': "It Was Mad"
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Simone Ashley sees the latest installment of Bridgerton—the mega-hit Regency-era Netflix romance helmed by Shonda Rhimes—as much more than a love story.
The 26-year-old actress stars in the second season of the series as Kate Sharma, the eldest sister of the Sharma family by way of India and the unexpected love interest of the most eligible bachelor in all of London: Lord Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey). Kate is initially put off by Anthony's no-nonsense approach to romance, especially since he plans to court her younger sister, Edwina (Charithra Chandran), the queen's hand-selected "diamond" of the debutante season. But over the course of eight episodes, Kate and Anthony discover they have feelings for each other—which could be disastrous for both their families. As fiercely loyal older siblings and societal outsiders, they have more in common than they think. Add a layer of forbidden romance, and this season is just as compelling as the last one.
"[Bridgerton] is all about family. It's centered around different families that I think everyone can relate to, but also that everyone kind of wants to be a part of," Ashley tells BAZAAR.com. "So it had to be more than just a love story. It had to also be about the love between the family members and the siblings and the parents and extended relatives."
Ashley says she was drawn to the character of Kate because she sees a little bit of herself in the role. "With most characters, there are factors that you relate to. Kate was one that I definitely empathized with and was rooting for," she explains. "It was so much fun [joining the cast]. I mean, it was mad! It was wild! It was crazy! I was so grateful, first and foremost, just to sink my teeth into the amazing material and the love story. But I think that it's a gift to an actor to be presented with such a great character journey."
A central part of Kate's story arc, of course, is her affair with her sister's husband-to-be, Lord Bridgerton. The tension between the two slowly turns seductive, relying on an intense chemistry that Ashley says was apparent from the start. "I think chemistry's such an interesting thing," she says. "We had a deep understanding as actors of how each other works. I think we were both just so enthusiastic to bring this love story to life. It was effortless."
She adds, "There was a rhythm that Johnny and I kept going throughout the whole series, not just in the intimate scenes. We always had each other's back. We were both focused on our separate work that we did for our own characters, but when we were together, we always made sure that we felt supported."
If there's anything that Ashley took away from her experience playing Kate Sharma, it's the importance of remaining open as a performer. "[Playing Kate] encouraged me to be more vulnerable—with my cast members, while working together and as friends off set. It encouraged me to listen to my own voice, my own instincts, and to trust myself more," Ashley says. "I've always had an understanding of these things, but it just helped exercise that muscle even more. And the more you do it, the easier it gets."
In addition to indulging forbidden love and celebrating the strength of sisterhood, the second season of Bridgerton also raises the question of who deserves a happily-ever-after. Regardless of how audiences will react to Kate and Anthony's love story—which includes elements of disloyalty and betrayal—Ashley is a firm believer that Kate deserves her own shot at love.
"I will always root for her, and I want her to find happiness. I think everyone deserves it," Ashley says. "Mistakes were made, but also lessons were learned—and bonds were made stronger."
Bridgerton Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
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