## Kate Sharma’s Eyebrow Scrunch and the Power of Representing Indian Women: An Interview with Simone Ashley
In the last episode of Season 2, Kate Sharma furrows her brow as she glides across the dance floor in the arms of Anthony Bridgerton. It’s a barely perceptible change in expression, yet it conveys so much: longing, vulnerability, trust, and—finally—the admission of love. It was such a captivating detail that women, in the thrall of peak girlhood, began recreating the “eyebrow scrunch” for Instagram Reels.
Sadly, the #Kanthony wedding and honeymoon happened off-screen, robbing viewers of the opportunity to see them start their life together as newlyweds. But our imagination takes flight as Simone Ashley exchanges her Regency robes for a sexy zardozi bralette-miniskirt set. Could this have been the outfit that relieved the viscount of his last remaining vestige of gentlemanliness? Could this have been Kate’s way of getting back at him for all the times he vexed (read: aroused) her? The red and gold embroidered outfit certainly seems like something Kate would wear under the cheeky pretext of inducting her new husband into her culture.
When musician and fan Anoushka Shankar arrives on set to interview Ashley for this story, the actor is in the middle of a shot and doesn’t notice her walk in. “That’s fine, I’m happy to just look at her,” says Shankar, watching appreciatively as Ashley strikes a flurry of poses. Afterwards, they get down to talking shop, growing up South Asian, and representing their heritage through the arts.
Everyone knows this season belongs to Penelope and Colin, but when we meet Kate and Anthony again, she has softened quite a bit. She’s growing into her role as viscountess. Gosh, it feels like we filmed that season a lifetime ago. I’ve done other projects since then and feel like a different person, if I’m being honest. In theater, you have six to 12 weeks to immerse yourself in a character because you go into their world every night. For me, that’s when I can really reach the full potential of a character. Of course, there are movies where you have quite a bit of time to prep before you go in. Cillian Murphy, for example, read and listened to Oppenheimer’s lectures for six months before the shooting commenced.
One of the films I finished last year was a psychological thriller based on a true story with a complicated plot. It’s been a year since we wrapped up shooting, but even now I think of all the different ways I could’ve done it. I learned classical singing and piano when I was young and did a lot of musical theater at the beginning of my career. But I was drawn to film. I started booking more work in movies and fell in love with that world. I’m also fortunate to come of age in the Netflix generation, which gives people the kind of opportunities that they wouldn’t have received earlier, like having an Indian girl as a lead and exploring diverse plot lines that support the LGBTQIA+ community and Black and brown folk.
Recently, I’ve felt like I want to explore my musical roots a bit more. All these different signs have been coming up, indicating I should return to the piano, like the duet I did with Zayn Malik for. I’ve also been auditioning for more stage work. I definitely want to do Broadway. West End theater is one of the hardest things an actor can do. One-and-a-half to three months of performing onstage every single night? I have the utmost respect for anyone who can do that.
I’m keeping my head down as much as I can. Life after has been so exciting. I was doing all these unbelievable things, like going to the Met Gala and shooting fashion editorials. It was a whirlwind. There were days when I would think, “What is going on?” I struggled to admit that I was overwhelmed because I’m a person with such clarity. I know exactly what I’m doing and what I want. I remember sitting with my team at the beginning of the year and saying, “I want to focus on work.” comes out this month, and there’ll be two other films I worked on releasing this year as well, which are very different.
Because I’m interested in music, I want to ask you how it feels to perform the same songs every night when you’re on tour. Granted, they’re different audiences, but what’s the experience like?
The beautiful thing about being an artist is that you grow with your craft. I’m in my 20s, so life in general is a roller coaster of emotions, experiences, and lessons. I’m able to apply all of them to my work.
Not really, because I’m an actor. I’m not traveling far and wide to India to save the country. But when you watch and read up on the history of India and what her people have gone through, it does feel heavy. Representing Indian women has been such a joy. Ninety-nine percent of the people who recognize me and come up to me are women of color, and that’s the best feeling because they’re so excited for me. They’ll hug me and tell me how cool it is to see brown women onscreen. It makes me feel safe and seen, and even though I may be on a street in London, I suddenly don’t feel like I’m part of a minority community.
I know that there can be pressure on women who are representing their communities in the arts. Maybe one day I will do a project where it’s like, But for now, I’m able to just feel happy and celebrate it.
Actually, I came from an incredibly conservative family where nobody spoke about their emotions or feelings. I think that suppressed me so much that I ended up making crazy choices. I spent a lot of my childhood in California and grew up watching Tarantino movies and listening to rock and roll. Neither of those things are conservative and maybe that had an effect on me. I’m quite an expressive person. I felt very comfortable with all my scenes in and. Having said that, there is also beauty in stillness, in what is not said and what is not shown. I would love to play a character that explores the kind of sexuality and confidence that doesn’t have to be so in-your-face onscreen.
I went to Mumbai when I visited India for the first and last time, some 12 or 14 years ago. When I got off the plane and had to get my passport stamped at immigration, I almost felt like apologizing to the officer when he asked me when the last time I’d come to India was. He looked at me like… Yeah. I’ve just been busy and it never came up. But then I landed in Mumbai for the Dior show and it ended up being one of the best trips of my life. I know everyone says this, but there really is something for everyone going to India. It’s that mysterious, beautiful spirit where you feel like you’ve been awakened by something. If you’re an Indian returning to your homeland, it’s really powerful. The Dior show was on my birthday, and my mum was so emotional that I was spending it in India. I want to go back with my boyfriend this winter. I can’t wait to do work that allows me to explore more of the country.
I do. I have a comedy coming out this year—my first time as an executive producer—and it was a nice introduction to that world. I got to have creative input, which felt amazing. So many actors are producing their own things now. People are realizing that they can simply make things themselves. I want to fulfill as many roles as I can and have fun in front of the camera before getting behind it. But when the time comes, sure, writing and directing—why not?
