Simone Ashley commanded attention at the Met Gala on Monday night, wearing a nearly-naked silver chain dress by Stella McCartney. The 31-year-old actress had not attended the prestigious event since her debut in 2022, and her career has soared in the intervening years.
From Sex Education to Bridgerton
After her breakthrough role as Olivia in Netflix's Sex Education in 2019, Simone broke cultural barriers by landing the lead role of Kate Sharma in the second season of Bridgerton. She now stars as Amari, Miranda Priestley's new assistant, in the highly anticipated sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2.
On the red carpet, Simone appeared completely at home, having previously stated, 'I never wanted to have a smaller life.' Born to first-generation Indian immigrants, her parents initially had reservations about her pursuing a creative career. 'It made me want to escape and do things my own way. I’ve always been a bit rebellious in that sense,' she told Veylex.
Early Ambitions and Challenges
Simone began singing lessons at age six and realized her passion for the arts. She studied at Redroofs School for the Performing Arts and later earned a degree in Musical Theatre from ArtsEd in London. To support herself, she took modelling jobs before transitioning into acting.
Reflecting on her teenage years, she told The Times, 'I would write my dreams in my diary... It was just fact. I never wanted to have a smaller life. It wasn’t if, it was when.'
Breaking Barriers and Overcoming Anxiety
Simone has spoken openly about colorism and typecasting in the industry. 'Yes, colorism is an ongoing issue... If I surrender to all of that, where would I be going? Nowhere,' she said. Her role in Bridgerton made her a symbol of diversity, earning her a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and Time 100 Next.
However, the fame brought anxiety. 'When Bridgerton came out, those were some of the best years of my life, but I also had a lot of anxiety... There was a time when I didn't leave the house often because I was afraid of being recognised,' she told Harper's Bazaar.
Dream Role in The Devil Wears Prada 2
Simone now stars alongside Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt, and Meryl Streep in the sequel. She described her character Amari as 'a bada**' and 'nothing like Emily Blunt's neurotic character.' Filming in New York, she fell in love with the city and decided to stay, crediting it with boosting her confidence.
Music Career and Future Projects
Simone is also pursuing music, releasing her debut EP Songs I Wrote in New York on April 10, produced by Grammy-winner Fraser T Smith. Upcoming film projects include the A24 comedy Peaked and the music romcom Falling with Evan Peters and Sam Claflin.
As she enters her thirties, Simone shows no signs of slowing down, embracing her success and continuing to break new ground.
