Simone Ashley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Simone Ashley
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Ashley in 2022
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Simone Ashwini Pillai
30 March 1995 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2016–present |
Simone Ashley (born Simone Ashwini Pillai on March 30, 1995) is a talented British actress. She is well-known for her roles in popular Netflix shows. These include the historical drama Bridgerton and the comedy-drama Sex Education.
Contents
About Simone Ashley
Early Life and Family
Simone Ashley was born Simone Ashwini Pillai. Her parents, Latha and Gunasekharan Pillai, are from India. She grew up in Camberley, Surrey, England. Simone has an older brother named Sean.
Even though her family was focused on academics, Simone always loved creative arts. Her parents were a bit unsure about her choice at first. She explained to Glamour that her parents were protective. They came from India and didn't have many choices in their own lives. Simone grew up learning classical music and playing the piano.
Later, her family moved to Beaconsfield. Simone went to Beaconsfield High School. She also studied at Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead. She left school at 16, describing herself as very determined. She spent some time in Ojai, California, where she has relatives. At 18, she started auditioning for roles. She then studied acting at Arts Educational School in London.
Starting Her Acting Career
Simone Ashley began her acting journey in 2016. Her first role was in the CBBC show Wolfblood. She appeared in two episodes of this fantasy drama. After that, she had parts in other TV series. These included Guilt in 2016 and Broadchurch in 2017.
In 2018, Simone also started acting in movies. She had a small role in Boogie Man. She also played a bigger part in Kill Ben Lyk.
From 2019 to 2021, Simone played Olivia Hanan in the Netflix series Sex Education. This was a recurring role, meaning she appeared in many episodes. In 2020, she was also in the TV show The Sister.
Becoming a Star
Simone Ashley became very famous in 2022. She was chosen to play Kate Sharma in the second season of Bridgerton. This Netflix show is a popular historical romance. She starred alongside Jonathan Bailey. The season was released in March 2022. Simone also returned for the third season of the show.
Her role in Bridgerton brought her a lot of attention. Variety magazine named her one of their "Brits to Watch" in 2021. In 2022, she was on the Forbes list for European entertainment. She was also featured in Time 100 Next. Simone appeared on the cover of British Vogue magazine in December 2022 and March 2024.
In 2023, Simone played Indira in the live-action Disney movie The Little Mermaid. This film was based on the classic animated movie. In July 2024, she was cast in the movie F1. In March 2025, Simone starred as Pia in the movie Picture This.
Simone has also been busy with music. In March 2025, she shared that she was working on her first music album. She is recording it with producer Fraser T. Smith. Since May 2024, Simone has been an ambassador for L’Oréal Paris UK&I.
Simone's Personal Life
From summer 2022 to January 2025, Simone Ashley was in a relationship with Constantin "Tino" Klein. He is the CEO of F.A.T. Ice Race. They met at the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix.
Film and TV Roles
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Boogie Man | Aarti | ||
| Kill Ben Lyk | Girl Ben Lyk | |||
| Sparrow | Taylor | Short film | ||
| 2019 | Detective Pikachu | Girlfriend | ||
| 2023 | The Little Mermaid | Indira | ||
| 2024 | 10 Lives | Rose | Voice role | |
| The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland | Alice | Voice role | ||
| 2025 | Picture This | Pia | Also executive producer | |
| F1 | Herself | Cameo | ||
| 2026 | The Devil Wears Prada 2  |
TBA | Filming | |
| TBA | This Tempting Madness |
Mia | Post-production |
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Wolfblood | Zuhra | 2 episodes | |
| Guilt | Amanda | Episode: "A Simple Plan" | ||
| 2017 | Broadchurch | Dana | 2 episodes | |
| Strike | Alicia | Episode: "The Cuckoo's Calling: Part 3" | ||
| L'ispettore Coliandro | Veena | Episode: "Mortal Club" | ||
| 2018 | Doctors | Sofia Johal | Episode: "Any Moment" | |
| 2019 | Casualty | Shai Anderson | 1 episode | |
| A Working Mom's Nightmare | Aisha | Television film | ||
| 2019–2021 | Sex Education | Olivia Hanan | Supporting role (season 1–3) | |
| 2020 | The Sister | Elise Fox | 3 episodes | |
| 2022–present | Bridgerton | Kathani "Kate" Bridgerton (née Sharma) | Main role (season 2–3) |
Music Videos
| Song | Year | Artist | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Love Letter" | 2022 | ODESZA feat. The Knocks | ||
| "Eve & Paradise Lost" | 2024 | Bastille |
Awards and Recognitions
Simone Ashley has received several awards and nominations for her acting.
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama | Bridgerton | Nominated | |
| TV Choice Awards UK | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
| IMDb Starmeter Award | Breakout Star | Won | |||
| 2024 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Most Promising Talent | N/A | Won | |
| Glamour Awards | Gamechanging Actor | N/A | Won | ||
| 2025 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Bridgerton | Nominated |
See also
In Spanish: Simone Ashley para niños
