Plus, the actor and L’Oreal campaign star shares her best beauty advice.
If it feels like Simone Ashley has been everywhere recently, you’re not wrong. The actor has been booked and busy ever since her star-turning role in Bridgerton as Viscountess Kate. When she’s not playing one half of Kanthony, Ashley has been enjoying showing a new side of herself to fans, most recently with her debut EP Songs I Wrote in New York. She is also currently on one of the buzziest press tours of the year to promote her high-fashion role in the Devil Wears Prada 2.
Despite her busy schedule, Ashley is also finding time to champion causes she believes in. The longtime L’Oréal ambassador is starring in a new “Stand Up” campaign to raise awareness around street harassment.
“I found it really important to do because street harassment goes against everything that L’Oréal Paris stands for,” says Ashley. “As ambassadors, we want women to feel worth it, to feel confident, to feel like they can be the best version of themselves and never have to shrink themselves. L’Oréal Paris is known for their amazing beauty products, but it’s amazing that we’re doing something that’s just as important.”
Ashley knows beauty is deeply tied to confidence. It’s how she’s learned to embrace who she is—with or without trends. “I definitely do something bold every now and then,” she says. “But actually, makeup-wise I believe I really try to just have more of an elevated natural look. I feel really confident in my skin and how I look. I’ve grown in confidence in that way and learned more to appreciate my self-worth and really channel it.”
Ahead, Simone Ashley shares her best beauty secrets. Plus, her thoughts on the upcoming seasons of Bridgerton, her friendship with Anne Hathaway, and more.
Glamour: What’s a beauty rule you swear by?
Good sleep and lots of water.
Fill in the blank. I love my hair when…
When I’m using shower water that’s not hard on my hair. So when the water’s really good and it’s gentle on my curls.
Fill in the blank. I feel most beautiful when…
I always say you can bring out the best in someone else and make someone else feel beautiful from the inside, maybe it’s an act of kindness or encouraging someone, supporting them, that’s when I feel beautiful as well.
What is your favorite way to take a moment for yourself?
Just to be grateful that I’m busy and if I can have time to see my friends and take some time to enjoy life outside of work.
Congratulations on your new music. How has it been showing a new side of yourself to fans?
It’s really exciting. I’ve been singing since I was seven years old, and now it felt like the right time to start developing a body of work and slowly releasing it. I’m really proud of it, and I’m really excited to be sharing it with my fans.
Did any friends or colleagues have an advanced listen?
Anne Hathaway heard some actually, and I was very grateful for her advice. I played her some music whilst we were filming. This has been in development for almost three years now, so there was plenty of times that I played it to my friends and colleagues. I think I kept it more to myself and my team the closer we got to release. I’m so grateful to have a friend in her, but also to have worked with her and learned so much from her.
Speaking of The Devil Wears Prada 2, is there anything you can tell us about your character?
Amari is Miranda Priestley’s new first assistant, and I think she’s definitely the voice for the new generation that will be watching this and the new generation that we see in the workspace now. She’s definitely a really strong, tenacious kind of character. Me and the costume department and the hair and makeup department had loads of fun playing with her looks and bringing her to life.
What was the best thing about working with this amazing cast?
I was just such a fan of the first movie. I still am. So just to be part of this, it was kind of like a dream come true. It was insane. And to be in the company of these incredible artists, I learned so much. It was just such an honor.
How excited are you for this upcoming season of Bridgerton with Hannah Dodd and Masali Baduza?
So excited. Every season it just gets better and better. I’m so excited to see what they do and what they bring to their season. I’m excited as well to see what else happens with Kate and Anthony.
Looking forward, I’ve always loved Kate and Eloise’s friendship. Do you have hopes to see them interacting more during Claudia Jessie’s season?
Absolutely. I love working with Claudia, and I love Kate and Eloise’s relationship and their friendship. So yeah, if we can, then I would be so excited to do that.