Simone Ashley joined Barbara Palvin and Pixie Lott at the star-studded premiere of Karma amid The Cannes Film Festival on Friday.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 star, 31, looked nothing short of sensational as she graced the red carpet in a dramatic fishtail gown.
Simone’s strapless dress was tailored to perfection with the fitted bodice hugging her gorgeous figure while the ruffled skirt boasted an eye-catching train.
She added extra sparkle to the look with a diamond necklace as well as patching pendant earrings and styled her raven tresses into loose waves.
Meanwhile Barbara, 32, was epitome of chic as she hid her blossoming baby bum beneath an oversized white shirt and high-waisted black skirt.
The model was joined on the red carpet by devoted husband Dylan Sprouse, 33, with whom she is expecting her first child.
Simone Ashley looked sensational at the star-studded premiere of Karma amid The Cannes Film Festival on Friday
She was joined by pregnant supermodel Barbara Palvin (L) and British songstress Pixie Lott (R)
Pixie, 35, was also dressed to impress as she slipped into a figure-hugging black gown silver floral embellishment.
She was complimented the look with a silver clutch and eventuated her dainty fetaures with glamours make-up.
The songstress was joined by husband Oliver Cheshire, 37, which whom she shares two sons, who cut a dapper figure in a white dinner jacket.
The French language movie stars Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, 50, was also on the red carpet in a black leather Chanel gown.
The official synopsis reads: ‘In a village in northern Spain, Jeanne tries to rebuild her life with Daniel, who knows nothing about her troubled past. One day, Mateo, Jeanne’s six-year-old godson, mysteriously disappears’.
‘In order to escape the police who quickly suspect her, Jeanne takes refuge in France in a religious community where she was born and which she fled a few years earlier. Daniel does not believe in the guilt of the woman he loves and will do everything he can to find her before the police do’.
After getting her big break in Netflix’s Sex Education in 2019, Simone went on to break down cultural barriers as she secured the lead in series two of Bridgerton.
And now she has hit screens with her dream role as Miranda Priestley’s new assistant Amari in the highly-anticipated sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 star, 31, looked nothing short of sensational as she graced the red carpet in a dramatic fishtail gown
Simone’s strapless dress was tailored to perfection with the fitted bodice hugging her gorgeous figure while the ruffled skirt boasted an eye-catching train
She added extra sparkle to the look with a diamond necklace as well as patching pendant earrings
Simone styled her raven tresses in to loose waves
Meanwhile Barbara, 32, was epitome of chic as she hid her blossoming baby bum beneath an oversized white shirt and high-waisted black skirt
She accessorised with a pair of statement diomand earrings
The model was joined on the red carpet by devoted husband Dylan Sprouse , 33, with whom she is expecting her first child
The American actor was suited and booted for the star-studded premiere
Pixie, 35, was also dressed to impress as she slipped into a figure-hugging black gown silver floral embellishment
The songstress was joined by husband Oliver Cheshire, 37, which whom she shares two sons, who cut a dapper figure in a white dinner jacket
Pixie later shared a friendly kiss as she caught up with Barabara on the red carpet
The two ladies enjoed a chat while their partners’ watched on
Andie McDowell, 68, looked gorgeous as she hit the red carpet in a quirky black gown
The gown boasted a harnessed bodice and flowing skirt
The French language movie stars Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, 50, who was also on the red carpet in a black leather Chanel gown
She forwent jewelry letting the look’s hardware speak for itself
Marion oozed confidence as she posed up a storm on the red carpet
Olga Kurylenko caught the eye in a red semi sheer baroque gown
The stunner added a dazzling diamond necklace and pendant earrings
She also sported a glam make-up palette for the VIP event
John Travolta debuted a striking new look on the red carpet
He modelled a new slimmed down appearance with spectacles and beret (pictured right 2024)
The Grease star was joined by rarely seen daughter Ella Bleu Travolta, 26
(L-R) Olga Hoffmann, Kelly Eviston-Quinnett, Edouard Philipponnat, Clark Shotwell, Ella Beau Travolta, John Travolta, Jason Berger and Amy Laslett
Born to first-generation immigrants from India, Simone’s parents pursued more traditional careers, her mother an accountant and her father a pharmacist.
She admits that having grown up in a ‘household full of Indian academics’, her ‘incredibly protective’ parents were not initially keen about her pursuing a creative career, telling Veylex that she’s found it ‘stifling at times.
‘It made me want to escape and do things my own way. I’ve always been a bit rebellious in that sense,’ she said.
But it soon became clear to Simone her passions lay elsewhere after she started singing lessons aged six and realised she wished to pursue the arts.
Speaking to The Times recently , she reflected on her teenage years, saying: ‘I would write my dreams in my diary, or in letters to myself.
‘It was just fact. I never wanted to have a smaller life. It wasn’t if, it was when. I knew that I could do it.’
Meanwhile Odessa A’zion chose to wear a suit instead of a gown
She completed the edgey look with a pair of dark shades
Odessa (R) cosied up to fellow actress Isabelle Huppert (R)
French movie icon Isabelle turned heads in a black leather coat dress
Rahi Chadda cut a stylish figure on the red carpet
French actor Vincent Macaigne carried French actress and model Laetitia Casta along the busy red carpet
The pair collapsed into giggles amid their kooky display
Bella Kim (L) joined Gala Gonzalez (R) on the red carpet
After two years studying at Redroofs School for the Performing Arts for sixth form, she then went on to pursue a degree in Musical Theatre at ArtsEd in London.
She told Harper’s Bazaar: ‘Since I was little, if I wanted something, I would do anything I could to get it. So, I took some modelling jobs to pay the bills and got into acting through that.’
She added: ‘You can’t have a plan B – you’re either all in or not. It’s like a relationship. If you do have a plan B, it’s probably not going to work out.’
Securing small roles in a range of British dramas, including Broadchurch, Doctors and Casualty, her first big break came when she bagged the role of Olivia in Netflix’s Sex Education.
Throwing herself into racy scenes, one episode sees the character climbing on top of her boyfriend to have sex with him while wearing full Indian dress while her mother sips cups of tea downstairs.
Fearing she makes an ugly face whenever she has an orgasm, she covers his face with a pillow, causing Malek to believe that she has a fetish which freaks him out.
She is later seen putting tape onto Malek’s face to make him uglier during sex so she feels at ease.
Addressing her heritage as an actress of South Asian descent, Simone has spoken out about systemic prejudices in the industry.
‘Yes, colorism is an ongoing issue. As is being typecast, being looked over because of the color of your skin, [and] losing roles to girls that are more “relatable” to target audiences and markets.’
She added: ‘If I surrender to all of that, where would I be going? Nowhere’.
And refusing to be cast in certain roles, from Sex Education she went on to succeed Phoebe Dynevor as the leading lady Kate Sharma in Bridgerton and her fame sky-rocketed.
