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Simone Ashley's momentum keeps building. After her star turn in Bridgerton's second season as Kate Sharma, Ashley has now filmed season 3 and landed her first Disney princess role: She joins Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid as Ariel's older sister, Indira.
The underwater Disney film required a special sort of princess training, Ashley told ELLE.com on Saturday at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic at Liberty State Park, right outside of New York City. “We started in 2019. We did mermaid training. We did a lot of stunt training to learn how to make it look like real swimming once we were on there.”
Ashley came out of the experience having gained far more than fins on screen. “I made so many incredible friends for life,” she said. “And working with Rob Marshall [the director] was just such a joy. It was such an honor, and to see Halle shine [as Ariel], it's just amazing.”
Ashley couldn't say as much about Bridgerton's next season yet, but she teased: “I just think it is going to be hotter than ever.”
With Kate, “I think you're going to see a much more softer side coming this season,” she continued. We'll likely be able to see that “softness” in Kate’s wardrobe, and in her marriage to Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey). “She's going to be quite content with her husband,” she added.
Outside of Bridgerton's famous Regency-core fashion, Ashley has shown off her own fashion chops while sitting front row at runway shows and walking red carpets. When it comes to her personal style, the actress can't point to one single influence, although one celeb's work has recently caught her eye. “I love Dua Lipa’s collaboration with Donatella [Versace],” she said. “It was really inspiring. I don't have any one [inspiration] in particular. I think it's a variety of different things.”
But on a day off, Ashley admitted, she dresses down—her go-to look is sweats. “I have a vintage Mickey Mouse sweat that is my favorite,” she said.
Bridgerton's elaborate hair and wigs actually affected her beauty routine more than her fashion, she added. “I would say I like wearing my hair up, doing an up-do,” she said. “The hairstylist I went through who did my hair every morning, [and] made my wigs, she was just incredible. She really inspired me to wear my hair up.”
Beyond the hairstyles and outfits, there's no denying that Bridgerton has changed Ashley's life. “I'm just very grateful. It's just given me such opportunities,” she said. “I'm just going to keep working hard.”
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she's not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.
