If Emily Blunt set the standard for the couture-wearing bitch fashion assistant in the first The Devil Wears Prada 20 years ago, Simone Ashley gives the role a refreshing Gen Z makeover in the sequel.
The “Bridgerton” breakout star plays Amari Mari in David Frankel’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” which 20th Century Studios released Friday, playing Miranda Priestley’s newest assistant, another Brit who takes control of the runway editor’s diary.
Like Blunt’s Emily Charlton, Mari is immaculately dressed throughout and spews provocative and innovative one-liners (one of which Ashley herself has written) against those she considers to be minions. But Mari also has a deep sense of self-confidence and seems largely unfazed by the momentous task of dealing with fashion’s most demanding women. Her inspirations are Rihanna and, perhaps more surprisingly, Richard Gere.
This is Ashley’s biggest role in a major film to date, and it’s also the role that led her to step out of her Malian designer heels and literally move to New York for good. It was also where she recorded her first EP, Songs I Wrote in New York, in between filming, documenting a time when she was “probably the happiest I’ve ever been.”
How did you come across this role and what were the first conversations you had about Amari?
This time last year, I got an email saying they were making a sequel, and then David Frankel wanted to meet me, so I was really excited. They made it clear that they would not imitate Emily Blunt’s portrayal of the first assistant in the first film. I really respected that. With Emily’s character at the beginning, it’s clear that the comedy was born out of this mass of anxiety. She really wanted to go to Paris Fashion Week. She wanted it so badly that all the comedy started working from there. But for Amari, yeah, we wanted to do all the political stuff to represent the younger generation that’s going to be in this movie 20 years from now. But I thought it was really cool to play a character who has a quiet confidence and is always five steps ahead. When I read the lines, I realized that this character is similar to Miranda, who can get away with these sharp, sharp one-liners.
Is there anyone who inspires you?
I thought: How can anyone get away with anything I say? So I posted Rihanna’s best moments on YouTube and watched 20 minutes of her best moments, not to imitate her, but just to give me this inspiration. She’s a person with a sass and confidence and a certain sassiness that I brought to the role. And the character really grew during the costume and hair and makeup fittings.[Screenwriter]Aline[Brosch-McKenna]and I were always talking about this character. I wanted to do the best I could with what I was given. We had all these ideas. But Aline said, “Let’s go see Richard Gere in American Gigolo.” I wasn’t looking, but she said, “He didn’t do anything.” There are also shots where he’s not doing anything. And I think this character is really capable of this. The less the better. Leave it to the costume and let the world around you do it. ”
Amari is probably the best at these mean and sarcastic one-liners. How easy were they? Are you assuming that there is no such thing at all and that it was a purely phenomenal action on your part and not something that happened naturally?
I would like to think so! However, playing the role of first assistant means separating business from emotion. So I think the relationship between her and (second assistant) Charlie was a lot like that. And I think there is that dynamic. In a way, it was great to play a young woman in an office and really play with it. All the comedy was about wrist movements and how the lines were delivered. There was also an untold story that she could be the next Miranda and that she is following in her footsteps.
Of all her lines, was there a particular line that was the most fun to say?
I loved “Who will give Chanel away?” line. Actually, I wrote that! For this scene, I wanted to reference the Chanel boots from the first movie. I think the original line was, “They’re not Chanel boots.” And I actually told you a story a few years ago about when I – naively – gave someone a pair of Chanel shoes. The comedy in this movie works very well and that’s how I felt while watching Stanley and Meryl. Because they play their roles with utmost sincerity, without making fun of their lines or characters. And that’s what makes it so interesting. So I just suggested that line and it worked.
You’ve worked with some great actors in the past, but working with Meryl, Anne, Stanley, and Emily is definitely top class. Did you manage to stay cool?
I did that. I’m a professional. I was clearly genuinely excited and expressed it. But this was a dream. Watching them work was a kind of masterclass and I wanted to absorb as much as possible. So I kept my cool. When I was shooting other projects, especially something like Bridgerton, I was very disciplined, went to bed early, had green juice, yoga, fitness vibes, and just brought my “game” to what I thought was needed for the project. But this was The Devil Wears Prada 2. Set in New York, it’s a comedy, there’s a lot of ad-libbing, and it takes a lot of confidence to go toe-to-toe with Academy Award-winning actors. So I actually moved to New York. I live there now. It changed my life. And I was just going to go with the flow. And I really encouraged myself to go out and meet new people and make new friends.
Live like Amari?
Completely. within reason. But I brought that energy, that excitement, that thrill of being in the city, and that really helped give me confidence.
I’ve noticed that you have a sizable fan base online, and when a project is announced, they often campaign for you to get the role. You should know them too, right? Did this start with “Bridgerton”?
“Bridgerton” changed my life and opened doors for me in so many ways. I’m learning this through music and filmmaking, which is temporarily an art, and when it comes out into the world, it connects communities and people. That’s actually what I like most about my job. And the fact that I have a community of mostly girls that look like me or look up to me…it’s really amazing and I’m so proud of it. So it’s a motivation for me, how I carry myself, what message I want to convey, what projects I want to be involved in. That’s something I’m very, very grateful for.
Does your fan have a name yet?
we are working on it. There are several. But I think that’s probably for people to decide.
Your fan base was understandably upset to find out your role was cut from F1. There was a lot of buzz about it at the time, but what was that experience like for you as an actress just as you were about to star in your first major film?
I really loved working with Joe Kosinski. He’s one of the greatest directors. So we were at the Grand Prix live, filming the athletes there at work. I have traveled all over the world and participated in six or seven Grand Prix races. And I’m a fan of the sport, so it was incredible. And I got to work with a great cast and crew and Joe and Jerry Bruckheimer. I was so excited to be a part of it and learned all the trades. I learned a lot from Joe’s support, kindness, and generosity. I would love to work with you again.
So did that experience make up for the disappointment of not making the final film?
Well, it was a great memory when I took the photo. Every job I do changes my life in some way, and that job certainly did. I was able to see the world and really learn about more than just the sport I’m passionate about. And F1 Academy, I love everything Susie Wolff is doing. I would like to see more women involved in sports. So it’s a real honor to be there.
You mentioned music. You recently released your debut EP. Is this a hobby that runs parallel to acting or is it something more?
It’s never just a hobby. And it’s just something I like to get out and about, it’s not a hobby. I have been training and singing since I was 7 years old. And I started playing classical, singing opera, playing reed piano, Italian piano, music theory, like writing and reading music. And as I grew older, I gravitated toward more soulful pop. And I think it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do professionally and felt like now was the right time. I’ve been working with Fraser T. Smith and Mark Robinson at Universal over the last few years. He really believed in me and I recently signed with them. Oh yeah, I’ve got an EP coming out and a debut album coming out at the end of the year, and I really love it. I feel very privileged to be able to make a living doing what I love. But most importantly, I have a lot of fun doing it, especially when it comes to music. I’m really proud. And that’s just the beginning. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this evolves over the years.
The title of the EP is “Songs I Wrote in New York,” which I thought meant “songs I wrote while filming The Devil Wears Prada.” Was it?
that’s right! I had been developing the music with Fraser for several years before that, and when I moved to New York for this film, I had a really great experience both on and off set. I think it was probably the happiest I’ve ever been. And I think happiness is something worth recording. That energy and inspiration was a gift to bring into the studio. And then all of a sudden, the lyrics came out and the ideas came out. Yeah, I was filming movies, rapping, working night shifts at studios, and recording at studios in Brooklyn on my days off. Or if Fraser was in town, we’d go to the uptown studio. And, yeah, I felt like that was the catalytic moment, the moment that really created the story and the arc of all the songs.
In a perfect world, wouldn’t you want to combine both film and music? Why not star in a musical?
I think you’ll absolutely love it. But I don’t know which one it is. I don’t know if it will be an original musical, something like “Ragtime,” or a film adaptation of something historically famous. But yeah, I really hope that happens. It embodies that.
What will appear on the screen next?
I just finished “Peaked.” It’s an A24 movie. Molly Gordon stars in and directs the film, and she and SNL’s Ari Levitan wrote the screenplay. A reunion for the first time since “Sex Education,” starring Emma Mackie? absolutely. And Dua Lipa, Connor Story…the whole cast. It was a really fun experience to do something that was just like adult sophisticated comedy and the strongest ensemble, and we just had fun working together. I think I had a feeling it was going to be something crazy, so I’m looking forward to it.
And with Bridgerton, do you plan on continuing to appear in the series?
I think the beauty of Bridgerton is that each season spotlights a different love story. So Johnny and I knew that once we were done with our work, we would come back to support our families and support our cast mates. And I can only speak for myself, but I definitely want to go back to the end. That show gave me a lot. Staying true to that is definitely something I value.
