“Sex Education” star Simone Ashley is going to Regency Era London for her next role.
Netflix confirmed for Variety that Ashley was cast for the second season of Shondaland’s hit series “Bridgerton”. She will star opposite Jonathan Bailey’s Anthony Bridgerton as his girlfriend Kate Sharma.
Kate is an intelligent and independent woman, new to society and its many social events (and expectations). For Anthony, winning over Kate will not be an easy task.
The second season of “Bridgerton” will focus on Anthony, the oldest of the Bridgerton clan, and his reluctant quest for marriage. Consequently, the season will be based on the second book in the Julia Quinn series, “The Visconde Who Loved Me”.
The second season is set to continue the reimagined world established in its first chapter, in which 19th century British high society includes people of all races. Netflix praised the show’s first season as the most-watched original series so far, and as a result, its stars Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor soared to fame – with Page hosting “Saturday Night Live” this weekend.
Ashley is best known for her role as the mean girl Olivia in Netflix’s “Sex Education”. His other credits include “The Sister”, “A Working Mom’s Nightmare”, “Casualty”, “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” and “Broadchurch”.
The first season of “Bridgerton” stars Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, Ruby Barker as Marina Thompson, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury and Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, as well as Luke Thompson, Luke Newton, Ruby Stokes , Will Tilston, Florence Hunt, Ruth Gemmell, Bessie Carter, Harriet Cains, Polly Walker, Ben Miller, Sabrina Bartlett, Martins Imhangbe and Lorraine Ashbourne. Julie Andrews gives Lady Whistledown a voice.
Deadline Hollywood was the first to report the news.