Simone Ashley is the diamond of the season.
Anyone familiar with her from Sex Education knew she was talented, but with her role as Kate Sharma in Bridgerton, it has launched her to new levels of stardom, and I am rooting for her. Recently, the actress spoke to Elle about the experience of getting to be Kate and filming those sex scenes.
Depicting sex wasn’t new to Ashley, since she’d done it playing Olivia on Sex Education, but this was a different, more intimate experience. “We didn’t have body doubles,” Ashely said. “We knew what we were getting into, but the scenes were beautifully shot, and we tried to portray female pleasure, seeing it from that point of view, which was really interesting.”
One of the criticisms from some was that this season wasn’t as sexy as the last, and it’s true we only got some minor nudity early on in the form of Johnathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton’s backside. In my humble opinion, all of it was done in this way that really allows the emotions between the two to be at the forefront of their love story. The chemistry between Ashely and Bailey was extraordinary, and you can tell there is respect and care there.
When recalling meeting Ashely after reading the book their love story the season would be based on, Bailey said, “She made more sense as Kate than I even knew was possible. She holds moments in such a composed way. And my gosh, her eyes can tell a hundred thousand stories.”
Shonda Rhimes agreed that she was an excellent choice for Kate from the beginning: “We have incredible casting directors who search far and wide and listen to us about the way we see the roles. It was wonderful for Simone to be placed in front of us, as she was exactly what we were looking for.”
Growing up, I watched as the few dark-skinned faces in media got lighter and lighter. I’ve spoken about colorism often, and while it is often in a Black context, it is something that exists globally—a mentality that lighter is better, and movie studios that have, for decades, ignored that dark-skinned women can be heroines and love interests.
Seeing Simone Ashely, a dark-skinned Indian woman, as not just the love interest of a series, but one who is not fetishized or exotified, is a revelation—and a well-deserved one. I hope that casting directors are taking notes. As for Ashley herself, this will be the beginning of a long career full of compelling leading ladies.
(via Elle, image: Netflix)
