Simone Ashley on Brad Pitt’s ‘F1,’ Returning to ‘Bridgerton,’ and What Cynthia Erivo Has Proved

In Picture This, which came out in March on Prime Video, Ashley plays Pia, an aspiring photographer who’s told by a spiritual guru that she’ll meet the love of her life in her next five dates. “I always wanted to be the leading lady in a rom-com,” she says, “and to represent more women that look like me as that kind of Bridget Jones character.” Along with displaying her charm and comedic chops, Picture This gave Ashley her first executive producer credit, which let her ensure that her own background was accurately represented in the woman she played. “We celebrate her heritage,” she says. “The joy and the comedy is also in celebrating the culture.”

Now Ashley is having a homecoming of sorts by returning to Bridgerton for its fourth season, which will air next year. This time around Kate is a new mother, so there are fresh waters for Ashley to dive into. “There was so much drama and volatility before,” she says. “Now when I play her, she’s much softer, which is super fun.” Ashley is also recording her debut album for Universal Music with producer Fraser T. Smith, who has worked with Adele and Drake, among others. She describes the album as pop with some R&B references and says she’s been inspired by the likes of Sade and Alicia Keys. She hopes the album could lead to starring in a movie musical someday. She’d also love to play an action hero, a Lara Croft type. “It’s really good to lean into having fun with it and not taking it all too seriously—and taking opportunity when it comes.”

Dress by Chanel; jewelry by Chanel Fine Jewelry. Throughout: hair products, makeup products, and nail enamel by L’Oréal Paris.Photograph by Camilla Åkrans; Styled by Leith Clark.

Ashley has always admired the way Dev Patel has shaped his career. “I definitely don’t want to be playing characters that feel overly stereotypical,” she says. The doors haven’t always been open to her—she’s been in auditions where it was clear she wouldn’t get the role because of her skin color. “I have been very close to getting big, life-changing roles but losing them to a blond actress,” she says. “This is why it’s so amazing how supportive women of color in Hollywood are. We all speak the same language, and we all understand that kind of hurdle.” In low moments, Ashley sometimes calls up Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, who became a friend and mentor after they met on the Ellen DeGeneres show in 2022: “She’s just done it and proved that women like us get bums in seats.”

HAIR, SHON HYUNGSUN JU; MAKEUP; WENDY ROWE; MANICURE, EMILY ROSE LANSLEY; TAILOR, CLAIRE O’CONNOR; SET DESIGN, CARL HOPGOOD. PRODUCED ON LOCATION BY JN PRODUCTION. FOR DETAILS, GO TO VF.COM/CREDITS.