Simone Ashley has revealed she is open to playing a Bond Girl as the search for the next 007 intensifies.
The 31-year-old actress, who rose to fame as Kate Sharma in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, told ELLE UK she would answer the call from Bond bosses to follow in the footsteps of previous stars like Halle Berry and Rosamund Pike.
"I would, yeah. If it happens, it happens! I'm not going to talk about it," she said during a photoshoot for the magazine.
Ashley, who starred in the sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2 earlier this year, said she is also looking for other new projects.
"I definitely want to do more movies and find a really delicious TV show to get into. I'd love to do an action movie. Something fantasy, maybe," she said.
Finding love and family
The actress is set to be honoured with the Performer Of The Year award at this year's ELLE Style Awards on Wednesday, September 9.
Speaking about her personal life, Ashley shared that she hopes to settle down and have a family in the future. She was spotted last week with her new boyfriend, Jay Jammal.
"I definitely want to have my own family and I'd love to find my person," she said. "I have all my dreams and ambitions for my career and that will live on, and I trust that when the time is right the other parts of my personal life will find their way, too."
She added that she does not put pressure on anything, but believes in finding the right person at the right time.
"Someone who's kind and has similar ambitions and dreams," she said. "That doesn't have to be career-wise. I think you can have very different ambitions and dreams, but just an understanding and support between them."
Reflecting on her role in Bridgerton, Ashley credited the show with her current success.
"It changed my life and, without it, I wouldn't be where I am," she said. "That show reached near and far. Even in the places you don't think you'll get recognised, you do."
She confirmed she plans to stay with the historical drama until it concludes.
"Whenever it finishes, it's going to be the end of an era. I think they have about four or five more siblings to get through. I'm in it till the end!"
The October issue of ELLE UK is on sale from September 3.
The race for James Bond
As Ashley considers a role in the iconic spy film franchise, casting is underway for the next James Bond. Amazon MGM began work on a new film after purchasing the rights to the series last year.
On Wednesday, bookmaker William Hill predicted the highly sought-after role is a three-horse race between actors Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Jack Barton.
Barton's name was added to the mix last week amid growing speculation over who will be offered the coveted part. He entered the betting at 9/2, immediately becoming the third favourite to replace Daniel Craig.
Turner remains the market leader, though his odds have drifted to 5/4, while Lowden is now available at 7/4.
Company spokesman Lee Phelps said Barton had "certainly shaken up our next James Bond market, going straight in at 9/2 and immediately becoming third favourite for the role of the world's most famous secret agent."
"Callum Turner remains at the head of the betting at 5/4, but with Jack Lowden just behind at 7/4 and Barton now firmly in the mix, there's plenty of competition for the role," Phelps said.
"At 9/2, Barton is now considered more than twice as likely to become the next Bond than names such as Henry Cavill and former favourite Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who are both out at 10/1."
Taylor-Johnson pushed further down the betting to 10/1, alongside Cavill. The rest of the field is currently priced at 12/1 or bigger.
Streaming giants battle over Lowden
The search for the next 007 has reportedly sparked a conflict between streaming giants Apple and Amazon, who were said last week to be warring over Lowden appearing on their screens.
The 36-year-old Essex-born actor currently plays MI5 agent River Cartwright in the Apple series Slow Horses. Apple is reportedly mounting a fierce rearguard action to keep him for its next showing, but Amazon bosses selecting the new suave spy highly rate him for the Bond role.
An insider told The Mail on Sunday that an actor cannot play two British spies almost simultaneously.
"You can't have two franchises and two spies but just one face," the source said.
"Jack is very much in the conversation and there are people who think he would make a fantastic Bond. But the elephant in the room is Slow Horses. Amazon wants its Bond but Apple already has its spy."
The insider added: "There are some huge egos at Apple and Amazon and they do not like to lose out to one another, so the battle is on."
