Simone Ashley says She is ‘Proud’ to Represent Women Like Her

Simone Ashley says she is “really proud” to represent girls who look like her as she continues her rise in Hollywood.

The 31-year-old actress is currently seen in The Devil Wears Prada 2 alongside Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Simone said she is conscious of the platform she now has and the impact it can have beyond entertainment.

She said: “I’m really aware of the position I’m in and I’m really proud to be representing girls that look like me in all different kinds of industries.

“I think it goes beyond the entertainment industry.

“I want women to know, even if I’m the face of L’Oreal Paris globally, that speaks to women in a different way, all these different things. But that’s my position.”

Simone said progress in diversity depends on more than on-screen casting and begins behind the scenes.

She said: “I think the change really comes as a ripple effect behind the scenes.

“So it’s representation in the writers’ rooms, in producing partners, in directors, the whole thing.

“Once you have the material that requires actors from diverse communities, I think that’s the source. And that’s what the world’s hungry for.

“In a world of AI, we don’t want to see repetition; we want to see a real representation of the world. So in my position, I hope me saying that, it creates a ripple effect behind the scenes, there’s more push for diverse kinds of stories.”

The actress said audiences are increasingly looking for authentic stories rather than repeated formulas.

Simone also spoke about learning to ignore distractions while filming, particularly when working on location for major productions such as The Devil Wears Prada 2.

She said: “It maybe used to be when I was in my mid-20s, and I think the more I’ve been working, and it goes beyond just movies, like if I’m doing a shoot on the street or whatever it might be, you [learn you’re] there to do your job, you have to be professional.

“We’ve chosen to shoot on location for a reason. They’ve not done it randomly, it’s to get the shot to look as amazing as possible, and we all want it to look amazing.”

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is enjoying early success but her previous big-budget role in F1 did not go as well as her scenes were cut.

Nevertheless, Simone enjoyed working on the film and would be open to returning should a sequel be made.