How Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley Could Have Larger Role Again After Backlash Over Kate’s Absence

Simone Ashley‘s character Kate could have a larger role on Bridgerton again after a controversial absence.

Showrunner Jess Brownell hinted that Ashley might have more screen time when Eloise (Claudia Jessie) is the lead, telling People on Tuesday, March 3, “I also am really partial to the relationship between Kate and Eloise. That’s something that I’d like to continue following in the future.”

She continued: “So when we eventually get to Eloise’s season, Kate is someone I’ll be very interested to have around, if I can.”

Kate’s romance with Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) was the focus of Bridgerton season 2. Since most of the season was focused on Anthony getting out of a courtship with her sister, Edwina (Charithra Chandran), before getting together with Kate, viewers were expecting the pair to play a large role in season 3.

Season 3, however, featured Anthony and Kate sharing only a handful of scenes before disappearing on a second honeymoon. They returned toward the end of the season to announce Kate’s pregnancy, which is when the pair decided to take a trip to India. Season 4, meanwhile, explained Anthony and Kate’s continued absence by keeping them in India after the arrival of their first baby.

“I think the strength of sending them off to India for a little while is that it does leave the door open for them to come back, schedules allowing,” Brownell told Teen Vogue of the characters in June 2024. “I think, understandably, when any of our lead actors have given over their lives for their season, in future seasons, we want to be supportive of the fact that they do have other projects coming in, and to ask actors to come back just to be in the background is not really fair to them.”

At the time, Brownell explained the planned vision for Kate and Anthony.

“I think after all they went through in their season, obviously, the focus for us this season was just showing them in a more loving place. But we also wanted to underscore how they’re still the Kate and Anthony you know,” she continued. “They still banter with each other and get annoyed at each other. We wanted them to show up in that way … They’re in a much wiser place, both of them, in their relationship to relationships.”

Brownell clarified why Anthony and thus Kate were barely in season 4, telling People, “I think for [Luke Thompson’s]Benedict in particular, it was important for Anthony to be elsewhere in part 1, to give Benedict a moment to struggle with the weight of being the second son who’s filling in for the viscount.”

She added: “For Anthony to be in India — or later in Aubrey Hall — it allows Benedict the chance to rise or to fail. It also felt incredibly important to bring Anthony back, because the relationship with Benedict is so key between the first and the second [parts of season 4].”

Bridgerton is currently streaming on Netflix.