Hit Refresh

Indeed, there were many eyes on her, following Bridgerton (according to The Hollywood Reporter, in the three days after its premiere, season two amassed 193 million hours of viewing time worldwide). “I guess it was overnight, and I think it took me a minute to understand what it all meant on the scale of things,” explains Ashley. “There was an obliviousness back then, and there’s part of me that misses that a little bit, but the other part of me is really glad that I’m so much more aware – and how much I have learned from that. I’m so grateful I had Nicola and Phoebe, who I could text or call, because it is something that really only the three of us could understand.”

Ashley’s portrayal of Kate, a dark-skinned Indian woman who gets to be more than the sidekick, as the lead romantic protagonist, was an emotional watch for South Asian women everywhere. I tell Ashley of me and my sister’s collective sob in seeing ourselves and our culture reflected in such a positive, beautiful way. With a smile, she shares that her next projects are making meaningful shifts, too. “It’s important to remember that I’m actually a whole human being. This is just the color of my skin. I’m really pleased to represent that but I’m also here to create something arresting for you to enjoy. That’s the goal: for these conversations [about representation] to no longer happen – because it’s so normalized.”

Ashley has been grafting in the industry since she left her family home in Surrey to move to London as a teenager, followed by a stint in Los Angeles. And 2024 is set to be her biggest year yet. She has two upcoming projects in the pipeline: a twisted psychological thriller, This Tempting Madness, and an Amazon Prime romantic comedy, Picture This, on which she is also executive producer.

“Picture This is completely different to Bridgerton,” Ashley explains. “It’s like an Indian Bridget Jones. When I watched the final cut of it, I felt the exact same way you were feeling when you saw yourself represented – 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”.

The nuance that comes with being ‘the first one to do it’ means that, more often than not, you become the standard bearer for the cause. While being a poster child of change can have its advantages, it doesn’t come without its challenges. “When the narrative is that you have to carry the weight of every dark-skinned girl’s dream on your shoulders, it’s actually counteractive [to the cause]. You’re told you need to talk about your brown skin, diversity, and how hard it was for you – but I’m fine, I’m really happy, my life is so blessed. It doesn’t need to be this trauma porn all the time. People know that diversity is clickbait now, and you have to be careful and think, ‘Do they actually care about me or is it going to look good for them hiring the brown girl?’ I’m strong enough to be like, ‘No thank you’. Always work with grace and kindness but you have to protect yourself and know your worth”, she says.

So, how do you protect yourself when millions of people know who you are, when people might have an expectation of what’s next for a breakout star? “I always go back to, ‘Why do I want to do this?’ When I was younger, I loved movies and singing, and performing. I just wanted to create art. So as long as I’m doing that, I’m protecting myself. If I find myself doing way too many things that can be distracting from my art, I know how to refocus: by going underground for a bit, reading all the scripts and books and getting inspired.”

It’s apparent that Ashley knows herself well. She is self-aware, self-motivated and, as of this year, in her self-care era, too. “I’m doing it like I’ve never done it before. Maybe it’s because I know everything that’s coming up this year and next, but I’ve been like, ‘right, girl, we need to put that energy into you.’”

“I don’t drink much at all. I wouldn’t say I was sober, but I can’t really remember the last time I drank. I love having energy and waking up clear-headed. I would say I’m less anxious than I was before; it’s easier for me to find clarity. I’m trying to eat better too – big, clean, healthy meals”, the actor explains. “There are days where I don’t know if I’ve got it in me to be good to myself and that’s OK, too – I just want to be lazy and sit on the sofa and eat chicken nuggets”. It’s no lie, Ashley is so positively radiant that I ask her to drop the skincare routine just before we agree that late nights in this very spot have served us some of our favorite fried-chicken moments.

The conversation turns to fashion and how she has embraced this element of the job. I tell her that, two years ago, I was following her up the red-carpet stairs at The Fashion Awards in London as she sparkled in custom 16Arlington. “I absolutely loved that look and collaborating with Marco Capaldo, who I now consider a dear friend,” she says. “I just think you are so lucky to be wearing someone’s work – it really feels like an honor.”

After a few years of a hectic work schedule and a meteoric rise to fame, I ask whether a work-life balance is as elusive in Hollywood as you might be expect. “It was my new-year’s resolution to spend more time with friends. I’m so grateful to be busy but I love getting together with my girlfriends; doing Pilates or going for a run – whatever it is – just being present with them and taking a breath”, she says. “It is a balance of trying to do ‘normal’ things, like go to the pub, and putting the time into creating your art. But you have got to live your life. You have to get it wrong to get it right.” If the hour or so we’ve just spent together is anything to go by, she is getting it so right.

Season 3, Part 1, of Bridgerton is available on Netflix now – with Part 2 premiering on June 13

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Simone Ashley talks through some of her most memorable firsts – from the first time seeing herself on screen (a background artist in Straight Outta Compton, if you didn’t know) and her memories of filming Bridgerton season two, to meeting a Hollywood icon in real life and the piece of advice any hardcore Disney fans will know…