Simone Ashley

Simone Ashley, born Simone Ashwini Pillai on March 30, 1995, is a British actress known for her roles in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton (2022–present) and comedy-drama Sex Education (2019–2023). Born to Indian Tamil parents Latha and Gunasekharan Pillai, Ashley grew up in Camberley, Surrey, along with her older brother Sean Pillai. Despite coming from an academic household, Ashley was always drawn towards the creative fields, which her parents initially hesitated about. She has a background in classical music, opera, and piano playing. Ashley attended Beaconsfield High School and later studied at Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead. She has quickly gained recognition for her notable performances in both film and television.