"I just always imagined myself doing something like that.”
Simone Ashley’s role in Bridgerton may have changed her life but there’s a very different role that she’d love to play.
The 30-year-old, who reprises her role as Kate Bridgerton in the fourth series of Netflix’s hit period drama, wants a future in action films.
Simone revealed the James Bond franchise remains her ultimate career goal.
She said: “I would love to be a Bond Girl or to work on an action movie.
“I grew up watching all the Bond movies, so that was really part of my childhood. I just always imagined myself doing something like that.”
Highlighting the importance of representation, she continued:
“I think it would be great to see an Indian Bond girl.
“And I’m super-athletic, so I would love to channel that into my work, into developing a character, and to be part of something like that, like Tomb Raider.”
Another influence is Uma Thurman’s role in Kill Bill, as Simone elaborated:
“My favourite movie is Kill Bill. That movie inspired me to go and face my dreams.
“I just thought Uma playing that kind of character… as a young girl, watching that was really inspirational, and it made me feel like a badass whenever I watched it.
“So if I ever need a bit of inspiration, I watch Kill Bill.”
Away from the screen, Simone Ashley maintains a strict fitness routine.
She explained: “I swear by reformer Pilates. I was introduced to it a few years ago and I’m a massive runner. I run all the time.
“Whenever I’ve got lots of press work coming up, or a red carpet, if I work out lots I feel less depressed and generally happier. I feel like the best version of myself.”
Despite her polished public image, Simone Ashley says her personality is far from flawless.
“My friends would describe me as clumsy and kind.
“I think, especially when my schedule was all over the place, one of my best friends was like, ‘You’re my Bridget Jones’. I’m just a bit chaotic.”
Simone Ashley’s personal life has also been in the headlines, with her split from businessman Tim Sykes coming after several months of dating.
The pair were spotted kissing courtside at the 2025 US Open.
The split followed her breakup with former lawyer Constantin Klein, whom she met at the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2022.
On screen, her Bridgerton character enjoys a fairytale ending with Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey). But off-screen, Simone hopes for a family in the future.
She said:
“I would absolutely love to have a family one day. That’s a big dream of mine. Lots of dogs, lots of babies. I would love that.”
However, she believes her romantic outlook has sometimes worked against her.
She told the Reign With Josh Smith podcast: “From such a young age, I just always wanted to find my best mate. I always wanted to find my partner.
“And what I didn’t understand was, in order to find that, you actually really need to know yourself. You need to own yourself and be confident in who you are.
“And I think on that journey of finding confidence in myself, I just got myself in some really Wild West, crazy situations, where I had good intentions of like, ‘OK, I’m going to find the one. This is going to be it’.”
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