Bridgerton Star Simone Ashley Shows Support for F1 Movie Despite Cut Role
Simone Ashley, known for her role in the popular Netflix series "Bridgerton," attended the London premiere of the Formula One movie on June 23, 2025, despite her part being cut from the final film. The 30-year-old actress was originally cast in the racing drama in July 2024 but was recently informed that her character would not be included in the final cut. Director Joseph Kosinski confirmed to PEOPLE that Ashley's character was one of several that ultimately didn't make into the final film. He explained that this is a common occurrence on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use. Despite the setback, Ashley showed her support for her F1 collaborators by attending the European premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square in London. Ashley had previously been photographed filming F1 scenes and recently appeared at a Miami event alongside costar Kerry Condon and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Speaking to ELLE earlier in June, she said, "I have a very small part, but I’m grateful to be in that movie… I got to experience many Grands Prix. I don’t think I’ll ever do anything like that again." Kosinski called Ashley "an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again." He also told Entertainment Tonight that he had broken the news of Ashley’s removal to the actress herself. The F1 movie, written by Ehren Kruger and produced in collaboration with real-life F1 athletes like Lewis Hamilton, stars Brad Pitt as a retired racer returning to Formula One in a fictional team. The film also features Damson Idris, Tobias Menzies, Kim Bodnia, and Javier Bardem. The movie is set to be released in theaters on June 27. Despite her role being cut from the final film, Ashley remains grateful for the opportunity to be part of the project and to have experienced the thrill of filming at Grands Prix. She showed her support for her F1 collaborators by attending the premiere and sharing her excitement for the film's release.
