Ashley, Simone

The “Bridgerton” star spoke about chemistry on set and representation onscreen in an interview.Simone Ashley, who plays the fiercely independent Kate Sharma in the new season of “Bridgerton,” found a lot to relate to in her character — a young woman who doesn’t have time for love and who struggles when she’s confronted with it.“I’m still on that same journey, learning that balance between being serious and brave and headstrong and heartstrong, but also sharing space and relating to people and letting people in,” Ms. Ashley, 27, said.Season 2, which arrived on Netflix in late March, centers on Kate and her little sister, Edwina (Charithra Chandran), who have traveled with their mother from India to find a husband for the younger Sharma daughter. But Kate ends up developing feelings for Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the viscount who has been courting Edwina, and tries her best to deny those emotions.Though this season contains notably fewer steamy scenes than the first, it still serves up plenty of juicy gossip, extravagant style and instrumental pop covers, as well as several nods to South Asian culture.Ms. Ashley, who grew up in England, had a breakout role in “Sex Education,” a Netflix comedy that follows the lives of high school students, but “Bridgerton” is her first time playing a lead character in a major production. In a video interview last week, the actress spoke about establishing chemistry with her co-star and the importance of representation onscreen. This conversation has been condensed and edited.“I’m still on that same journey, learning that balance between being serious and brave and headstrong and heartstrong, but also sharing space and relating to people and letting people in,” Ms. Ashley said.Rosie Marks for The New York TimesWhich were your favorite scenes from this season of “Bridgerton”?I love the scene where Kate and Anthony dance for the first time. And the bee sting scene — I think that’s such a pivot in the story. The stakes are really raised, and they realize they have feelings for one another and that there’s this obstacle now between everything that they’ve worked for. And, I love all the horse riding scenes.Inside the World of ‘Bridgerton’The Netflix series, which infuses period-drama escapism with modern-day sensibilities, is back with a second season.Sparkling Period Piece: The show is a Regency romance and society drama with an unstuffy pop aesthetic, writes our television critic.Approach to Race: The first season was notable for including aristocratic Black characters. The second chapter touches on colonialism in India.The Secret Is Out: A big reveal in the first season put Nicola Coughlan at the center of the action. Here is what the star says about her new fame.Trends: The show has helped fuel the resurgence of period clothing (corsets included) and inspired immersive experiences and “Bridgerton”-themed travel itineraries.Across the Pond: “Bridgerton,” which is filmed in Bath, is one of several productions made in Britain, drawn by the labor pool and tax incentives.What was the most awkward scene to shoot?There were never any awkward moments. Uncomfortable, maybe. With the mud scene, we were just covered in mud all day long, but we got really accustomed to it by the second take. I try not to ever indulge in thoughts of feeling awkward or uncomfortable. I just tried to get on with it and find the positives and see it as a challenge and have fun with it so that I can leave and know that I did my best.As a viewer, the chemistry between Kate and Anthony was palpable. What was it like when you first met Jonathan Bailey?We met for our chemistry read, and it was so bizarre. We sat on a sofa, and we did three scenes. I think we did the horse riding scene where Kate and Anthony first meet, the library scene and, God, I can’t remember the last one. We just clicked.What were the intimacy coordinators like?We worked with Lizzy Talbot, who was an amazing intimacy coordinator. She really encouraged us to portray what it is like for a woman to be empowered and to communicate that sense of knowing what she wants. And I loved that about Kate — she’s always been a woman who’s very self-realized, and I think she is incredibly sexy in that sense. She has a sense of spirit within her that Anthony is so entranced by, and it’s such a safe space for her to share that with him and to have fun with it and to receive pleasure herself.I found it incredibly empowering, as a woman of color especially. I’m so proud of my body, and I love my body. I’m grateful that it’s healthy and that it’s strong enough for me to get up every day and do the things that I need to do.“We just clicked,” Ms. Ashley said of meeting Jonathan Bailey, her co-star and love interest on “Bridgerton.”Liam Daniel/NetflixWhat were the great romance books or films that influenced how you view love?I grew up watching a lot of Disney classics, a lot of classical movies and a lot of musicals. I think we all just love to see humans overcome whatever it is in life that gets in the way of them following their heart.Which heroines did you look up to?There was something about Uma Thurman’s character in “Kill Bill” that I didn’t completely understand but was entranced by. She was a woman that was so focused on her objective, and that was to get her baby and to kind of get revenge as well, but we won’t dive into that. I thought she was so serious and overcame anything, physically or mentally. And I remember being a kid and watching that — being really inspired by her.Women of color online have spoken about how much it means for them to see you, a dark-skinned Indian woman, starring in such a widely watched Netflix show. What does that mean to you?I’m so grateful and wonderfully overwhelmed by the response that we’ve received. I’m very proud of my heritage, and I’m proud that there are any effects that I’ve had, just me doing my job, especially if they’re positive, and uplifting other women and making them feel seen.The conversation surrounding race in “Bridgerton” seems to have two sides. Some say it’s done wonders for representation, while others argue that colorblind casting isn’t used to make a bigger point in the series. How do you view representation in the series?It’s 100 percent color-conscious casting, and not colorblind. We are acknowledging the fact that these characters are Indian and they are women of color, but it’s so beautifully done because when the Sharmas arrive, they fit in so seamlessly. It isn’t on the nose that they’re from India. And it’s celebrated in so many different ways. We certainly haven’t been brought to this series as two Tamil women for that to be completely ignored. It’s celebrated completely in everything from the costumes to the makeup to the story line to the scenes.“I try not to ever indulge in thoughts of feeling awkward or uncomfortable,” Ms. Ashley said.Rosie Marks for The New York TimesMany South Asian viewers loved the show’s nods to Indian culture, including the conversations about chai, the fabric the Sharmas’ dresses were made out of and the inclusion of “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” in the soundtrack. Did any of these moments, in particular, stand out to you?I love the scene where Kate is applying coconut oil to Edwina’s hair. That scene is such a shift in the story line where you see Edwina’s frustration and determination to become the viscountess. That’s where Kate starts to lose control, and Edwina starts to take the reins of this plan. Everything changes in that moment, but then at the same time, it so happens to be a scene where Kate’s applying coconut oil to Edwina’s hair. I’m sure women from so many different heritages resonate with it. It’s such an intimate bonding moment between two women — two sisters — that I think a lot of women can relate to.What’s a passion outside of acting for you?I love singing. I love cooking. I’m quite sporty and very outdoorsy. The perfect day for me would be just spending hours in the sunshine and going for a swim.What was being at fashion week like?I love fashion. I love clothes. It’s a part of my job that I’m so privileged and grateful to be able to explore. I’ve learned so much about myself and about fashion in general along the way. And I love the few red carpet moments I’ve had. It gets all the more exciting thinking: What am I going to do next? And what kind of things do I want to explore? What kind of message or feelings do I want to convey?Who’s a director you’d love to work with?I’ve got a few. I’d say Greta Gerwig, Quentin Tarantino, Mimi Cave. Jeremy O. Harris is brilliant. I could go on, but I’ll leave it there.Rosie Marks for The New York Times More