“Don’t think I could be more excited for next season.”
British-Tamil actress Simone Ashley has landed a lead role in the upcoming series of Netflix’s Bridgerton.
Ashley will feature in the show’s second season and will play Kate Sharma – the new love interest of Anthony Bridgerton.
Simone Ashley previously found fame in popular shows such as Sex Education and Broadchurch.
Now, the 25-year-old is due to appear in the second season of regency drama Bridgerton, based on the romance novels by Julia Quinn.
Bridgerton’s season two will follow the plot of Quinn’s second book, The Viscount Who Loved Me.
The story is set to see Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey, on the lookout for a bride.
Simone Ashley will fill the role as Kate Sharma, a “headstrong young woman who suffers no fools”, according to a tweet released by Netflix.
Bridgerton’s official Twitter handle responded to Netflix’s tweet to make its own announcement regarding the show’s casting choice.
The tweet was released on Monday, February 15, 2021, and is also written in the style of Bridgerton’s narrator, Lady Whistledown.
Quite the juicy bit of gossip, dear readers… This author is certainly looking forward to many a column covering Miss Kate Sharma ? https://t.co/jOxQRcw0Gx
— Bridgerton (@bridgerton) February 15, 2021
Bridgerton tweeted:
“Quite the juicy bit of gossip, dear readers…This author is certainly looking forward to many a column covering Miss Kate Sharma.”
Even before Simone Ashley was a confirmed addition to the cast, Bridgerton was receiving praise for its casting choices.
Many BAME cast members appear in prominent roles, such as Regé-Jean Page as the Duke of Hastings.
As well as this, the show features Golda Rosheuval as Queen Charlotte and Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury.
Bridgerton has also received similar credit for Simone Ashley’s lead role, and the announcement has been met with positive reviews online.
Actress Mindy Kaling, known for her role in The Office, took to Twitter to share her excitement.
The absolute coolest. A feisty young British-Tamil lady in this world! Didn’t think I could more excited for next season. ?? https://t.co/pgzQDPlr6R
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) February 16, 2021
She tweeted:
“The absolute coolest. A feisty young British-Tamil lady in this world!”
“Don’t think I could be more excited for next season.”
Discussing Bridgerton’s highly-anticipated second season, creator and showrunner Chris Van Dusen said:
“We have a bunch of new characters we are going to be introducing.
“Anthony is going to have a love interest next season, and I think it’s going to be as sweeping and moving and as beautiful as viewers of the first season have come to expect from the show.
“We left him at the end of the first season at a bit of a crossroads, so I’m looking forward to jumping in and discovering how he fares on the marriage market.”
Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey’s storyline as Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton is due to replace season one’s main love story.
Season one predominately featured the blossoming connection between Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings.
Production for season two of Bridgerton is due to begin in the UK soon.
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