'Sex Education' Star Simone Ashley Will Play Anthony Bridgerton's Love Interest In Season 2 Of Netflix Series — Everything To Know
Feb. 16 2021, Published 3:39 p.m. ET
Rejoice, Bridgerton fans! It looks like Anthony Bridgerton’s love interest has finally been cast, and it’s none other than Sex Education star Simone Ashley.
“Get ready to fall in love with Simone Ashley, who will play Kate in season 2 of Bridgerton, Kate is a smart, headstrong young woman who suffers no fools — Anthony Bridgerton very much included,” Netflix wrote on Monday, February 15.
The Netflix series, which was released in December 2020, is based on Julia Quinn’s novels. The first season focused on Daphne’s (Phoebe Dynevor) love life and how her relationship with the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page) unfolded. However, season 2 will focus on Anthony’s (Jonathan Bailey) relationship with Kate.
Besides Ashley joining the cast, showrunner Chris Van Dusen revealed there will be plenty of new faces that will pop up along the way. “We have a bunch of new characters we are going to be introducing,” Van Dusen said on the Today show in January. “Anthony is going to have a love interest next season, and I think it’s going to be as sweeping and moving and as beautiful as viewers of the first season have come to expect from the show.”
Meanwhile, Bailey seems ready to explore a different side to his character. “Having read the second book, if Anthony gets to meet anyone half as brilliant as Kate Sheffield is, then he’s going to be a very lucky man,” he said in late January. “It’s just going to get more exciting and convoluted and sexier, I think. … That the story is going to be really exciting."
He added, “I think Chris Van Dusen has got this amazing ability to take Julia Quinn’s extraordinary books and her amazing worlds that she delicately filled with excitement and sexiness. And he takes it to a whole other level. “So the fact that we’re following Anthony’s pursuit for love shows that you know there’s definitely going to be some similarities.”
Luckily, Quinn also approves of the newcomer. “WE HAVE OUR KATE!!!!!” the author wrote on Instagram alongside two photos of Ashley. “Welcome to #Bridgerton, @simoneasshley! I couldn’t dream of a more perfect Kate. I mean, just LOOK at her expression in that first photo!”
Netflix hasn't announced when season 2 will air just yet, but one thing is for sure — Lady Whistledown has definitely heard the news about Ashley's new role!