New Women in Film Conference Highlights Bridgerton‘s Simone Ashley

Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley, Surface’s lead Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative founder Dr. Stacy L. Smith will headline the Women in Film Conference, held at Oxford University on May 12.

Women in Film is a non-profit organization that “advocates for and advances the careers of women working in the screen industries—to achieve parity and transform culture.” To celebrate change and encourage further progress, the conference will be a day-long event hosted at Oxford’s Sheldonian’s Theater.

Smith, whose Annenberg Inclusion Initiative co-sponsores the event alongside Oxford University’s Cultural Programme and the Ghetto Film School, will interview Ashley, who was most recently featured in Amazon Prime Video’s rom-com Picture This. 

Smith told Variety, “Simone is a multi-hyphenate who is clearly the future of the entertainment industry. As we celebrate women’s work across entertainment, Simone’s voice represents the newest and next generation of leaders. Giving her the stage to talk about her career, her ambitions, and her vision of success will undoubtedly inspire our audience and elevate the conversation on women in film.”

Ashley will appear on stage following Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who is known for her work in Belle, Concussion, Beyond the Lights, and Beauty and the Beast. 

“Gugu brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to her work and conversations like these,” added Smith. “She has embodied film and television roles across the U.S. and U.K. and worked with incredible talent on screen and behind the camera. By joining us at Oxford, Gugu can share her unique knowledge of the entertainment ecosystem by discussing her career journey, how she has navigated the industry, and provide our audience with insights on what it is like to be an artist in the film and television business today.”

During the conference, Smith will also present new findings on the status of women across global films. She expresses, “There has been significant progress for women in cinema and for content focused on women. Through research and data, we can see where there is more to do, particularly for women of color in entertainment.”

The Women in Film Conference is set for May 12 at Oxford University. The organization has not released information about attendance; however, to learn more about Women in Film, click here.