Simone Ashley, the actress who portrays Olivia Hanan, one of the mean girls from the clique “The Untouchables”, from the hit Netflix web series, Sex Education is now going to portray the lead on another Netflix web series – Bridgerton. She will be joining the very diverse cast of Bridgerton in the second season of the period drama television series.
The second season of Bridgerton will focus on the eldest Bridgerton sibling, Anthony, which is as per the second book of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novel series (which is what the Bridgerton television series is based on), The Viscount Who Loved Me. Simone Ashley will play Anthony’s love interest, Kate Sharma. The new character has just arrived in London, and seems to turn the heads of many a suitor with her beauty, intellect and boldness, Anthony included. This new couple will now take over the center stage/ spotlight from the first season’s star-crossed lovers Simon and Daphne.
The Shondaland series is set in an alternate history, where people of mixed race heritage did not face discrimination, and many of these characters went on to be well established. With this decision, the Shonda Rhimes produced Netflix series has gone on to break new ground on multi-cultural representation in television history. The original character was named Kate Sheffield, which then turned to Kate Sharma, when the creative team on the show decided to make the character of Indian descent, so as to keep with the continuation of the reimagined world of the Netflix series.
Bridgerton has also gone to become the most watched show on Netflix with over 82 million households having viewed the historical drama series in just the first four weeks. The series is said to be a brilliant mix of Jane Austen and Gossip Girl (a peculiar combination), and with its unique style of storytelling, Bridgerton seems to have captured the hearts of millions.
The first season of Bridgerton is currently streaming on Netflix.