Simone Ashley used to be too "afraid" to leave her house for fear of being recognised, after Bridgerton catapulted her to global fame

Speaking to Harper's Bazaar magazine, she said: "When Bridgerton came out, those were some of the best years of my life, but I also had a lot of anxiety.

"I was coming to terms with what I wanted and what I didn't, learning lessons about what really matters to me, taming my ego, listening to my heart ... life has changed and there are certain things I can and can't do now.

"There was a time when I didn't leave the house often because I was afraid of being recognised. But it's a journey and I've reached a point where I just don't care as much."

Simone and her co-star Jonathan Bailey - who portrays her on-screen husband Anthony Bridgerton - have shared several intimate scenes in the show, but the Sex Education star feels "very safe and comfortable" on the Bridgerton set.

She added: "It's fantasy: it's about 'What if?' and how love conquers all.

"Bridgerton represents nudity with a sense of romance, and I felt very safe and comfortable in what I was choosing to show to the world."

Simone recently wrapped on her Bridgerton series four scenes, and whenever she returns to the show she feels like "time hasn't moved".

She said: "That show just gets bigger and bigger. Everyone has gone off to do incredible things, but we come back and it's like time hasn't moved.

"Every season, someone new will join, and we're all as supportive as we can be - if they want to have a chat or if they have any questions - because we understand how thrilling it is."

Simone previously quit Sex Education - in which she portrayed Olivia Hanan - because she was too busy shooting Bridgerton.

When asked in 2022 about her future on Sex Education, she said: "I get asked that all the time. No, I'm a Bridgerton girl now."