Simone Ashwini Pillai (born 30 March 1995), known professionally as Simone Ashley, is British-born actress of Indian ancestry. She is known for her breakout role in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton (2022–present) and Sex Education (2019–2021). She pursued formal training at the Identity School of Acting in London, where she honed her skills and prepared herself for a career in the industry. In 2016 she made her acting debut in the popular British drama series "Doctors" in 2016, then went on to showcase her talent in various TV shows, including "Broadchurch," "Casualty," and "Sex Education," where she portrayed the character of Olivia Hanan. In 2022, Simone gained international recognition and acclaim for her role as Kate Sharma in the second season of the Netflix series "Bridgerton." Besides her acting prowess, Simone is also a skilled pianist and a trained opera singer.