Actress Simone Ashley is still open to returning to her role as Kate in Netflix’s hit series “Bridgerton,” which released its fourth season earlier this year. Since finding love in the second season of the regency period drama, Ashley’s character has only appeared in a handful of episodes. Even though she is not the focus of the story, as each season focuses on a new Bridgerton sibling romance, she would “love” to return for future seasons.
Simone Ashley Discusses Her Relationship With ‘Bridgerton’
While promoting her new role in the sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada,” Ashley talked about returning to her “Bridgerton” roots in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter. She revealed that she has already discussed her return as Kate with showrunner Jess Brownell despite her busy schedule.
“I can only speak for myself. I would love to keep returning to the show until the end,” Ashley said. “It’s a show about family and I think it changed my life and it’s such a joy and an honor to be a part of this show.”
“So I’ll always try my best to make it work with my schedule when I’m on other projects or doing other things,” she continued. “And Jess is our showrunner at the moment and she’s been so cool in talking about the future of Kate and what her role in future seasons is going to look like.”
Nicola Coughlan Is Taking A Step Back From ‘Bridgerton’
Throughout the show’s past four seasons, actress Nicola Coughlan has been in the spotlight for her dual role as Penelope Featherington (now Penelope Bridgerton) and Lady Whistledown. Although she decided to retire her gossip column in the last season, it appears that someone else has taken up the Whistledown mantle.
Unfortunately, the Irish actress revealed that this means that she will also be taking a step back from the spotlight. “Season five had started filming already, so I won’t be in it very much,” Coughlan noted on Dish. “I’m always happy to come back. I think it’s a genuinely lovely job to come back to.”
Jess Brownell Reflected On Penelope’s Character Arc
During the show’s third season, Penelope reveals her identity as Lady Whistledown after tying the knot with Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). The two were shown to have welcomed a child at the end of the show’s third season, although their new role as parents didn’t factor much in the last season of the show, which focused on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) romancing Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).
Brownell reflected on Penelope’s character growth in a conversation with Tudum, saying, “She’s not the powerless girl who needs Whistledown to take back her voice anymore. While she stands by everything she believes about gossip being information, gossip being power for the voiceless, she realizes that it’s time for her to stop being in that role.”
Phoebe Dynevor Has Not Been Asked To Return To ‘Bridgerton’
Actress Phoebe Dynevor was thrust into the spotlight due to her role as Daphne Bridgerton in the show’s first season. Although she made a guest appearance in the show’s second season, she hasn’t been seen since. In April 2026, Dynevor gave a very honest answer when she explained why her character had not returned.
“I just want to say I have not received a call,” she told Collider Ladies Night in an interview published April 11, “and when I get that call, I will be there if I can.”
“When the first season came out they didn’t know what they needed to put in place,” she explained. “So we were like the ones that got away I think, in a certain way. But like we would—I can only speak for myself—I would always come back if I was asked.”
Simone Ashley’s Role In ‘F1: The Movie’ Was Cut
Simone Ashley can also relate to waiting for a phone call to return to a coveted role. Before starring in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” she was supposed to star in “F1: The Movie.” However, her role was left on the cutting room floor before the film made it to theaters.
“I had such a blast making that movie. I’m such a fan of Formula One,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “To work with Joseph Kosinski was such an honor. He is a wonderful director and someone that [remained] so confident and calm in such a chaotic environment.”
“I loved working with Damson [Idris], Callie [Cooke], who’s just killing it at the moment, the whole crew. I got to travel the world,” she continued. “And it was such a joy to go to the premiere and celebrate everyone and reunite with everyone. And the movie was awesome.”
When asked if she would be open to returning to a potential sequel, she replied, “Oh God, I’d love to.”
