Hey, what's up? It's Mustafa Ariano and you're listening to The Times, Daily News from the LA Times.

It's Wednesday, July 20th, 2022.

For the next couple of weeks, we're going to be featuring an episode of our sister podcast, The Envelope, because it's Emmy season and we're the LA Times and we run Hollywood, at least a car, which you know.

Today, we hear from Simone Ashley from the Netflix Smash Bridgetton.

Now, I'm not a fan of Regency stuff, like, you know, sense and sensibility and Emma.

Too many wigs for me.

But I do think Shonda rhymes is a genius, so I'm excited to hear Simone's thoughts about her character on the show and on-screen representation.

Enjoy.

Mark, it's finally the moment. We've reached the Bridgeton episode of our season because we can't talk about TV without acknowledging the much anticipated return of Netflix's popular period drama.

Does it mean anything to you when I say, you are the bane of my existence?

Well, I hope that you're quoting something.

Look, I've already seen the season about three times for work, I swear, but we're going to have to schedule a viewing party clearly.

Yeah, I'll check my calendar.

Okay, fine.

But in the meantime, let me get you up to speed.

So the show is based on Julia Quinn's popular Regency era of romance novels.

And after a triumphant debut that had fans obsessing, I can't stress that enough, Mark, obsessing over the love story between

socialite Daphne Bridgeton and the brooding Duke of Hastings, the series shifted its steamy

focus in season two to Daphne's eldest

brother Anthony, played by Jonathan Bailey.

And he's navigating his reluctant feelings for a new woman in town, Kate Sharma, played by

Simone Ashley.

...