If, like us, you're completely obsessed with all-things-Bridgerton, then rejoice! as it seems there's no end to the period-drama gossip surrounding the show. From the cast revealing that one scene was quite literally "cursed", to newcomer Simone Ashley – who plays Kate Sharma – teasing whether or not she will return for series three. And that's not all Ashley has to say about the hit Netflix show, as she's also opened up about how filming in a corset changed her body shape.
Thankfully, in 2022, the attitude towards wearing a corset everyday has changed, although Ashley questions if the way women are treated by society has as well. In fact, speaking to Glamour, the actor notes that while "a lot has changed" since the 1800s – the era in which Bridgerton is set – there's "still lots of room for development."
"Now, women just have more freedom to be whoever they want to be. There’s not a small, tiny box that we have to fit into any more," she says, referencing the restrictions women living in the 1800s faced, which included not being allowed to own their own property and not having the right to vote. "I probably have dealt with a lot of sexism in my life," she points out. "I don’t really feed any energy into it, and maybe there’s a problem in that?"
Noticing when she's being discriminated against because of her gender is something she's keen to work on. "Maybe there are things happening that I should acknowledge," she says.
As for how this plays into the TV and film industry, Ashley has welcomed the shift we've seen of late in light of the #metoo movement. "I definitely think women are sharing this microphone more fearlessly now and supporting one another," she said. On that note, she encourages women to embrace their power, much like her headstrong character on Bridgerton, who she admits she's trying to channel IRL.
"Don’t be afraid to be difficult," she says. "It’s a word that we hear a lot these days, 'Oh, she’s being difficult or tricky,' when, actually, maybe someone’s just following their instincts and speaking out for themselves, and I think why not? Why wouldn’t you? It’s not a bad thing. You’re just taking care of you."
We couldn't have said it better ourselves!
