Simone Ashwini Pillai, better known in mainstream media as Simone Ashley, is an actress from Brittain who rose to fame by starring in a couple of Netflix original hits. She is a part of the cast of Sex Education and, more recently, Bridgerton. With a $1 million net worth and a growing fan base, people are getting curious about the talented artist.
Background
Born on March 30, 1995, Ashley is from Camberley, Surrey, raised by a Tamil Indian family. Her parents are named Latha and Gunasekharan. She grew up with an older brother by her side.
She was always inclined to the artistic fields, despite coming from a family of academics. Ashley learned to sing classical and operatic music as a child. She also played piano.
Ashley was a sixth-form student at Maidenhead’s Redroofs Theatre School. Later on, the Pillai family moved to the market town of Beaconsfield, England. The young lady went on to the Arts Educational School in London to study acting.
Early Acting Career
In 2016, Simone made her acting debut on the fantasy teen drama Wolfblood. She was featured on the series for two episodes. In the same year, she played a part in another series, Guilt, for one episode.
She had short-term gigs in multiple television shows afterward. In her first role on the big screen, Simone Ashley played Aarti in the 2018 film titled Boogie Man.
The aspiring star had two more movie projects that year. Bigger studios started to see her potential around this time. And it wasn’t until she starred in Netflix shows that she earned her big break.
Breakthrough with Netflix
In Netflix’s Sex Education, Ashley portrayed Olivia Hanan. Her character was friends with the show’s main cast members. She played the character from season one to three. It’s reported that she’s unlikely to return for the fourth season as she’s now the leading role for another Netflix show.
Bridgeton’s casting team was impressed by her previous performances, so they cast Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma for season two. Readers of the Bridgerton book series are already aware of Kate’s importance and the impact she will have on Anthony Bridgerton.
The trailer heavily hinted at this plotline. It showed Ashley’s character facing Anthony in the opulent gardens of a luxurious estate. Season two will be released on March 25, 2022.
Personal Life and Future Plans
In Bridgerton, she plays a character heavily involved in romance. But as for her personal love life, she declared that she is currently single. However, she has revealed that she is open to having a relationship and that she wants to build a family someday.
Apart from this, she also shared her future plans as an artist. Because she has a background in music, she wants to use it in a possible musical role. She also wants to act in an action movie.
Furthermore, Ashley is inspired by fellow actress Margot Robbie to become a producer. She is working on her own production firm in order to focus on her own initiatives.
