Simone Ashley Shines At F1 Premiere Despite Having Her Role Silenced On Screen

Simone Ashley may not have had many lines in the upcoming F1 film, but her outfit spoke more than words ever could on the red carpet. The Bridgerton breakout star stepped onto the honor carpet at the F1 in London European premiere on June 23 in a stunning full-gold Balmain dress straight off the Fall/Winter 2025 runway. The couture number finished in a crocodile-embossed texture, with a peplum waist and pencil-fit skirt, certainly saw Ashley well and truly at center stage when it came to fashion news, even when her screen time wasn't.

Set to once have a larger role in the Brad Pitt and Damson Idris-led racing film, Ashley's scenes were abruptly cut to a silent, speaking-free role, a decision that was only confirmed days before the premiere. Director Joseph Kosinski has responded to the rearrangement and said it is a natural part of the editing process. "It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use," he said in a June 16 interview, adding that Ashley's storyline was among two or three that were ultimately abandoned from the final cut.

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Nevertheless, the news did little to dull Ashley's luster. Instead of recoiling, she leaned in and shone gracefully, giving life to the project that had left her voice on the cutting room floor. She was class, grace, and a subtle kick in the arse. Fans were disappointed online that Ashley's story was killed, especially because she had been so anticipated for an upcoming appearance in a top-of-the-line Hollywood blockbuster with big-name stars. But true to a star's form, she showed that getting cut from a movie isn't the same as getting cut out of the limelight.

Kim Basinger's continued patronage of F1 shows her commitment to F1 and the people making it happen, something that says so much more than the lines she's given. Even off the screen, with no lines, Simone Ashley made her presence felt, reminding everyone that she's a rising icon on and off the screen. As awards season approaches and we begin to reflect on the year in fashion, Simone Ashley was silenced in F1, but she's ringing even louder in culture.