She's swapping one big Netflix show for another
The second season star of 'Bridgerton' will carry on in the period drama, dropping her role in the coming-of-age high school comedy.
Simone Ashley, a supporting actor in 'Sex Education', and who was most recently one half of the leads in 'Bridgerton' season two, has revealed that she's calling it quits on one of the Netflix shows.
Given the worldwide success of the period drama, this is the show that's come out on top for the star. She played the role of one of the newcomers to London, Kate Sharma, who was involved in a messy love triangle between her younger half-sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran) and eldest Bridgerton sibling, Anthony (Johnathan Bailey).
Appearing on 'This Morning' earlier in the week, when asked by hosts Vernon Kay and Josie Gibson if she'll return for 'Sex Education' season four, she answered: "No. I get asked that all the time. No, I'm a 'Bridgerton' girl now."
Season three of the global hit, unlike its most recent season which sidelined the two leads from season one, will still feature both Simone Ashley and Johnathan Bailey as main characters. It's unknown if Regé-Jean Page, who starred as The Duke in season one, will reappear in season three - Phoebe Dynevor's Daphne featured in moments throughout the sophomore season.
Adding she is "definitely" returning as Kate Sharma for the next chapter of her life, she said: "She's the head of the household now, she's the Viscountess and married to Anthony and it's a year later at this point, so I'm very excited."
And so, with Simone Ashley choosing 'Bridgerton' over 'Sex Education', what's next for the high school dramedy? In the series, which stars Asa Butterfield, Emma Mackey and Gillian Anderson, Ashley played one of the "mean girls" of the series, Olivia Hanan. The end of season three saw the closure of Moondale high school due to all of the media attention the school has been getting. Season four is on the way, which is likely to be the series' last.