Simone Ashley On Ice Baths, Bridgerton Make-Up And Self-Expression

Whether she's portraying the lovable Olivia Hanan in Netflix's Sex Education, Ariel's older sister in The Little Mermaid or a soon-to-be viscountess in Bridgerton, Simone Ashley is proving that, whatever role she assumes, she's a force to be reckoned with.

Soon to add thriller to her CV as she lands a leading role in This Tempting Madness, ELLE UK sits down with the new L'Oréal Paris brand ambassador to discuss red-carpet beauty, the impact of social media and her off-duty wellness rules.

What was the inspiration behind your Cannes red carpet look?

'I wore the most beautiful Stella McCartney dress. It was stunning, black and strapless; a mini dress but with a super long train and pockets. It's so beautifully designed and I feel like it was made for me when I wore it. I was very, very proud and honoured to be wearing it for the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival, a look which we paired with a smokey eye and berry lip.'

Do you consider make-up to be a form of self-expression?

'It depends on what I'm wearing or what season it is; that's how I will use make-up to express myself or how I'm feeling. I would say experimenting for me is a heavier make-up look, such as black kohl eyeliner. That's when I'm being more daring with my make-up and expressing myself in a different way.'

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How has social media impacted your perception of beauty?

'I see more girls that look like me. More beauty influencers, make-up artists, actors, musicians - seeing skin that looks like mine is beautiful to me.'

What does your downtime look like?

'I love spending time with my friends, which is always very recharging for me. I also love going to a sauna or doing an ice bath. I think spending any time with people I love is most important to me and my downtime. Oh, and sleep!'

Who are the beauty tastemakers that inspire you?

'I would have to say Jessie and Farida, my amazing make-up team from Bridgerton. It's the second season I've done with them and I've learned so much from them; I feel so taken care of and I think they really helped create Kate Sharma's identity and aesthetic through make-up. They are masters in their craft.

'Jessie taught me a lot about how to apply make-up with different methods and shades that suit me, from playing with blushes to new lip colours. And Farida has just inspired me with what you can do with hair. She uses lots of different references and styles, and has shown me how creative you can get.'

What's the best piece of beauty advice you've ever been given?

'Don't touch your eyebrows. Leave your eyebrows alone. I used to pluck them far too much.'

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Amelia Bell

Multiplatform Beauty Director

Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.