We're still waiting for an official release date for season two of Bridgerton [1], but luckily, the beloved Netflix series has given us something to hold us over until then: a new leading lady! Back in February, it was announced that Simone Ashley had joined the cast [2] as Kate Sharma, Anthony Bridgerton [3]'s (Jonathan Bailey) love interest, and on April 30, we got a first look at Kate's debut as she and Jonathan were spotted on set [4].
"Simone Ashley is Miss Kate Sharma," Shondaland tweeted. "Newly arrived in London, Kate is a smart, headstrong young woman who suffers no fools — Anthony Bridgerton [5] very much included." We're actually surprised Lady Whistledown didn't figure this one out [6] sooner! As we wait for more details about the upcoming season, get to know more about Bridgerton's latest addition ahead. Also, does this mean Anthony has finally moved on from Siena Rosso?
She Turned Her Passion For Creating Into Acting
Simone's journey into acting [8] began as a result of her love for always wanting to create something. "Anything that allows me to do that has got my attention!" she said in a 2019 interview with Veylex. "It allows me to be spontaneous and play — I guess it's something I've always wanted to pursue, and didn't think twice about it."
Simone's father shares a passion for music, film, and photography, so naturally, she grew up "always playing Rock 'n' Roll tunes, or Bob Marley, and the TV always had epic movies on, like Kill Bill." She added, "It's a bit ironic, I grew up in a household full of Indian academics, y know, the doctors, the engineers, the accountants - it's pretty cliché! I was never a budding academic, and always thrived in creative fields."
She Clearly Loves Dogs
It's unclear how many furry friends Simone actually has, but she certainly never misses an opportunity to show them some love on her social media.
She Already Has an Impressive Résumé
While getting cast as the female lead of season two of Bridgerton [9] may be Simone's biggest role to date, it certainly isn't her first. Simone has already made a name for herself as Olivia Hanan on Sex Education and she also worked alongside Ryan Reynolds [10] in 2019's Pokémon Detective Pikachu.
She's Mastered the Art of Taking a Selfie
Just one look at Simone's Instagram [11], and you'll notice that the 26-year-old is a pro when it comes to taking the perfect selfie.
Simone Has a "Deep Love" For Music
She references Fleetwood Mac, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, and Steely Dan as some of her favorites. "Even though I grew up in a very conservative and quiet household, music was always playing," she told Veylex. "I still listen to the same rock artists, but now I'm discovering more genres like Trip Hop, I've been listening to Morcheeba on repeat. I love Alicia Keys [12], Nina Simone, Rihanna [13], Maggie Rogers. The list goes on and on."
