Simone Ashley's journey in the F1-themed film ultimately fell short of the finish line. The Bridgerton actress's role in the Brad Pitt-starring racing spectacle, set to release on June 27th, was scaled down to a silent cameo, for reasons deemed valid by the film's director, Joseph Kosinski. Responding to online uproar regarding Simone's limited screen presence, he told People in an article dated June 16th, "It's a common occurrence in filmmaking; you shoot more footage than you ultimately utilize." He further elaborated, "Several storylines, including two or three, ultimately did not make the final cut."
Joseph insisted that he harbored no ill will towards the 30-year-old actress, whose casting alongside Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, and others was first announced in July 2024. "Simone is an extraordinary talent—an incredible actress and singer," he continued warmly. "I would jump at the chance to collaborate with her again."
Just three months prior, Simone had raved about her "astounding" experience shooting in Abu Dhabi and accompanying the Grand Prix, describing it as "one of the wildest adventures I've ever been a part of." "It was akin to live theater," she reminisced in an interview with Who What Wear published on March 12th. "The roar of the crowd, the fireworks, the cars—everything was so frenetic and loud, and we were a tight-knit unit."
She revealed that although filming wrapped up in December after being halted due to industry strikes and delays, her involvement in the project had spanned a considerable period. "Gosh, this film has been in the works for years," she elaborated. "I think I met for this movie even before Bridgerton premiered."
However, she later acknowledged that her part in the project was "quite minimal." "But I'm thankful for the opportunity to be in that movie," she told Elle. "I got to witness numerous Grands Prix up close. I doubt I'll ever experience anything like that again."
