Bridgerton star Simone Ashley on 'normalising' the narrative for South Asian actors

British actress Simone Ashley says she believes the industry has “come a long way” in terms of diversifying – but says the process is ongoing.

The Bridgerton and Sex Education star says that growing up she loved watching Hollywood royalty Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Anne Hathaway take on romcom leads.

But the 29-year-old South Asian – who is of Indian Tamil descent and grew up in Surrey – says she never really saw people like her in those roles.

Ashley told Sky News: “I always wanted to play a character like that.

“So, when we got the script, I just jumped on it – because I wanted to fill those shoes, and kind of bring back that 90s romcom world.”

Simone’s new film Picture This sees her in the starring role as London photographer Pia, who’s navigating a struggling business while dealing with the societal pressures of finding love.

Though the character is more than content with the life she’s built, a prediction from a spiritual guru threatens to throw that into chaos as she’s set up on five blind dates.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin – star of the After film series and nephew of Ralph and Joseph Fiennes – and British comedian Asim Chaudhry also join the Picture This cast.

Ashley goes on: “What was so important about this film is that we celebrated and enhanced the culture, and any aspects of comedy were just from the characters themselves – it wasn’t making fun of the culture.”

‘Part of the change’

And while the film is centred around a South Asian family, Ashley says that’s not what she wants viewers to take from it.

“This is a story that is a classic romcom – and I want that to be the selling point, that’s how we normalise this narrative.

“The billboards aren’t ‘Indian girl in the movie’.

“I’m just super proud, super pleased and I just hope that universally all women – not just South Asian women – can see themselves in this character.”

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Not only does the movie mark Ashley’s first romcom role, but also her first as executive producer.

Since being named one of Variety’s 2021 Brits to Watch, she’s made her stamp on the acting world – most notably as leading lady Kate Sharma in the second season of Netflix period drama Bridgerton.

And she recently confirmed she’ll be releasing her first music album soon.

Ashley has previously picked apart what she’s described as the “restrictive” nature of being an Indian actress – and how it took her longer to break into the industry compared to her white peers.

But she says the industry is changing.

“I think we’ve come a long way – I think we’re part of the change and I think more movies like [Picture This] – more women like you in your seat, more women in my seat – I think that’s part of the change.”

Picture This is available to watch on Prime Video now.

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