‘Bridgerton’ finds its leading lady for Season 2
The historical romance series Bridgerton has found its leading lady for its upcoming second season.
Variety reports that actress Simone Ashley will join the cast of the hit Netflix series. Simone will play Kate Sharma, the romantic interest of Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey.
The show’s second season will follow Anthony, the eldest of the Bridgerton siblings, and his pursuit of marriage. Bridgerton is a drama series set in reimagined, multi-racial Regency-era London based on a novel series of the same name. The show’s second season will be based on the novel series’ second book, The Viscount Who Loved Me.
According to Variety, Kate Sharma is a “smart, independent woman” who is new to London. Simone and Jonathan will succeed Phoebe Dynevor (who plays Daphne Bridgerton, the fourth of eight Bridgerton siblings) and Regé Jean-Page (who plays Duke Simon Basset) as series leads.
The first season of the show introduced viewers to the ensemble cast, including the rest of the Bridgerton clan, the gaudy Featheringtons, the haughty Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), and anonymous gossip maven/narrator Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews).
Simone has appeared in a number of TV shows and movies, including the comedy-drama series Sex Education.
Much is expected from the second season of Bridgerton, which instantly became a massive hit when it premiered on Dev. 25. The show was streamed in over 82 million member households in its first four weeks—making it Netflix’s most-watched original series ever.
Banner photo from Simone Ashley's Instagram account