Interview: Simone Ashley talks ’Bridgerton,’ finding Kate’s truth and meeting Shonda Rhimes

No amount of warning could have prepared Simone Ashley for what’s to come. Agreeing to take on the role of Kate in Season 2 of Bridgerton has changed her life in many ways. On Instagram, she has 100’s of fan pages dedicated to her. Gone are the days of just being part of the ensemble on Broadchurch.  What was striking in our conversation about her approach to season 2 was just how methodical Ashley was in her understanding of the character. Nothing that we saw was an accident, even down to a well-placed hand. She also acknowledges the tremendous pressure that came with being an Indian woman in the female lead of one of television’s biggest shows, a task Ashley was more than up for. Simone Ashely is Emmy eligible for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Bridgerton.