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Simone Ashley: 13 facts about Bridgerton actress you need to know
Here's everything you need to know about Bridgerton and former Sex Education actress Simone Ashley.
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1. Who is Simone Ashley? Get to know the Bridgerton and Sex Education star here
After finding fame playing Olivia on Netflix’s Sex Education, Simone gained a whole new legion of fans when she appeared as Kate Sharma in Bridgerton season 2. Now, her career is well and truly on the rise. Get to know the actress here. [David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Vype]
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2. How old is Simone Ashley?
Simone Ashley is 29 years old. She was born on March 30th in 1995. That makes her an Aries, in case you were wondering about her star sign. [via Instagram]
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3. How tall is Simone Ashley?
According to a model profile on Bellazon, Simone Ashley is around 178m tall, which is about 5ft 10 inches. [via Instagram]
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4. Where is Simone Ashley from? What is her ethnicity?
Simone Ashley is a British actress of South Asian descent. She was born in Surrey, England. In an interview with Veylex, Simone described what it was like becoming an actress in an Indian family full of traditional academics: “They still find it quite scary and unsettling. There is no crystal ball, no security, no guarantee. Which can be a parents worst nightmare.” [via Instagram]
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5. Who plays Olivia in Sex Education?
Simone Ashley plays Olivia Hanan in Netflix’s Sex Education. Olivia is friends with Ruby, Aimee and Anwar a.k.a. The Untouchables. She later becomes friends with Maeve, Lily, Ola and Viv. Simone left the show at the end of season 3 to concentrate on Bridgerton and other projects. She did not appear in season 4 at all. [Netflix]
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6. Is Simone Ashley in Sex Education season 4?
Sex Education was renewed for season 4 but Simone Ashley did not return as Olivia Hanan. In an interview with Glamour, she said: “I think my time on [the show] has come to an end. It’s very sad because I love them all so much." Olivia is one of Ruby’s best friends, she appeared in the first three seasons of the show. [Netflix]
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7. Who plays Kate Sharma in Bridgerton?
Simone Ashley starred in Bridgeton season 2 as Kate Sharma (originally named Kate Sheffield in Julia Quinn’s novel). According to Deadline, Kate and her family “were conceived by the series’ producing team as being of Indian descent in a continuation of the reimagined, multi-racial world of 1880s London’s high society’”. Kate eventually marries Anthony, becoming the new Lady Bridgerton. She returned in season 3 and will hopefully be back in season 4. [via Instagram]
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8. How did Simone Ashley get cast in Bridgerton?
In an interview with Glamour, Simone Ashley revealed that she heard the news that the Bridgerton casting team were interested in her for the role of Kate Sharma while on the Sex Education set and just fourteen days later, she had won the part. Within 10 days, she had already done a chemistry read with Jonathan Bailey. After that, Simone met with Shonda Rhimes and the Shondaland team, and won Shonda over after she “leaned into Kate’s flaws in a brave and creative way.” And the rest is history!
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9. What movies has Simone Ashley been in?
As well as her breakout role in Sex Education, Simone Ashley has appeared in a handful of films, including Boogie Man, Kill Ben Lyk and 2019’s Detective Pikachu. She also appeared as Ariel's sister Indira in the live-action Little Mermaid. [via Instagram]
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10. What TV shows has Simone Ashley been in?
Simone Ashley’s first TV role was in Wolfblood. She then appeared in Guilt, Broadchurch season 3, Doctors and Casualty. Her biggest roles to date are Olivia in Netflix’s Sex Education and Kate Sharma in Bridgerton. She also recently appeared in The Sister as Elise Fox. [David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images]
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11. Who did Simone Ashley play in Broadchurch?
Simone Ashley played the role of Dana in Broadchurch season 3, opposite David Tenant and Olivia Colman. Her soon-to-be Bridgerton love interest, Jonathan Bailey, also has a role in Broadchurch as Olly Stevens, although they did not appear together in the same season. [ITV]
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12. Who does Simone Ashley play in Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid?
Simone Ashley also appeared in Disney's The Little Mermaid live-action movie opposite Halle Bailey. Simone played Indira, one of Ariel's mer-sisters. Despite it being a small role, Ashley expressed how grateful she was to feature in the film on Instagram, calling the movie "so, so special". [Alamy]
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13. Who is Simone Ashley dating? Does she have a boyfriend?
As of July 2023, Simone Ashley is in a relationship with boyfriend Constantin 'Tino' Klein. According to his LinkedIn, he is the CEO of the GP Ice Race. Simone made it Instagram official with Tino by a sharing a black-and-white photo of them cozying up at the 2023 Netflix BAFTA Awards afterparty from February 2023.[Getty]
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14. Does Simone Ashley have Instagram?
Yes! And you can find her at @simoneasshley. On her grid, you’ll find photoshoots, gorgeous selfies and glimpses of life behind-the-scenes while she films Sex Education with her cast mates. Expect even more snaps from her days on the Bridgerton set. [via Instagram]
