🚥 Why ‘Bridgerton’ Star Simone Ashley Was Erased From Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’

When F1 was gearing up to be one of the biggest cinematic spectacles of the year, led by Brad Pitt, directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, and filmed during actual Grand Prix events, there was also excitement around its supporting cast. Among them is Simone Ashley, best known for her breakout role as Kate Sharma in Netflix’s smash-hit series Bridgerton, who was poised to bring her magnetic charm to the rip-roaring world of Formula 1. However, as the final cut of the film reached the theater, something became glaringly obvious: Ashley’s character had all but disappeared. Despite being officially cast, filming on location, and even attending the premiere, Simone Ashley’s role had been quietly cut. No lines, no subplot, just a blink-and-miss-it shot of her at one of the races. It was disappointing to see such a talented actress completely cut from a film that would help elevate her star power. Speaking to People, Kosinski openly explained the real reason behind completely cutting Ashley’s character out of F1. So, what happened?

Believe it or not, Simone Ashley’s journey with F1 started before her season of Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton was released. The actress revealed to Who What Wear that she met for the movie before audiences were introduced to her character of Kathani “Kate” Bridgerton, and was thankful just to be a part of such a big production. With the success of her lead performance in a globally successful show, it begs the question of why any major Hollywood feature would remove such a talented and in-demand actress. At the end of the day, the choice was ultimately a creative one.

According to director Joseph Kosinski, Ashley’s removal from the final cut wasn’t about performance, chemistry, or star power — it was simply the brutal process of post-production editing. Kosinski explained to People that Ashley’s scenes were among “two or three storylines” that had to be trimmed to serve the larger arc of the movie. “It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use,” the director comments. F1 — clocking in at over two and a half hours — had to streamline its narrative around the central mentor-protégé relationship between Brad Pitt’s aging racer, Sonny Hayes, and Damson Idris’s rising star, Joshua Pearce. Ashley’s role, rumored to be a budding love interest for Idris’s character, was sacrificed in the service of narrative cohesion. That reasoning, however, doesn’t erase the sting of watching one of television’s brightest young talents be reduced to a silent cameo in a blockbuster she was announced to star in.

Simone Ashley’s Cut From ‘F1’ Is Disappointing

While Kosinski’s reasons are understood from a structural filmmaking perspective, in Simone Ashley’s case, it’s hard not to feel a sense of déjà vu. She’s a critically acclaimed, BAFTA Rising Star-nominated actress with a global fanbase thanks to Bridgerton. Her role in F1 was announced by Variety in July 2024. She filmed on location. She was present at press events. And then, just like that, Ashley was a whisper in the background of a film built on spectacle. The result isn’t flattering — not for the film, nor for the industry still wrestling with inclusive storytelling and using popular celebrities for promotional hype.

A similar situation occurred during the making of Top Gun: Maverick. Filipino-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto, star of The Acolyte, was frustrated when his scenes were entirely cut from the Tom Cruise-led film after undergoing extensive pilot training and filming. “It’s up to us—Asian Americans, people of color—to be that…If we want bigger stories out there, we have to make them for ourselves,” Jacinto voiced to GQ.

Still, where some stars might have quietly bowed out of the spotlight after being cut from a high-profile film, Simone Ashley did the opposite. She walked the F1 London premiere red carpet with grace and poise. Her message to the press and fans was one of positivity: “Go see this movie!” she urged, calling it a “crazy” and unforgettable experience. “I got to experience many Grands Prix, Ashley told Elle, “I don’t think I’ll ever do anything like that again.”

Simone Ashley Is a Creative Force to Be Reckoned With

The disappointment was not only shared by the public but with the director as well. Joseph Kosinski admitted to ET that he personally called Ashley in advance and told her of the “brutal” decision to cut her. “But Simone, she’s an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again,” Kosinski added to People. That said, it’s a shame. With her growing star power and clear talent, Ashley is the kind of ambitious actor audiences want to see more of.

At just 30 years old, Simone Ashley has a production company already in motion and a rumored musical project on the horizon, positioning herself as a creative force in Hollywood. There’s still hope, though. Kosinski has already hinted at the possibility of revisiting characters and storylines in a sequel, so Ashley’s role could be part of F1’s cinematic future. Whether in a sequel or elsewhere, her momentum doesn’t appear to be slowing down. And if the world still isn’t giving Simone Ashley enough space in the frame, there’s every indication the actress will build the camera herself — and direct the shot.