In a twist worthy of a Netflix drama, “Bridgerton” star Simone Ashley has revealed the ironic timing of her personal life mirroring her professional one in reverse. The actress, who found fame portraying the passionate Kate Sharma in the hit series, disclosed her split from race executive Constantin “Tino” Klein while promoting her upcoming romantic comedy “Picture This.”
“It’s kind of ironic I’m promoting a rom-com,” Ashley shared on BBC’s Woman Hour podcast, “and as of January this year, I’ve been entering my single era.” The 29-year-old actress’s real-life romance concluded just as she steps into a new professional chapter centered around on-screen love, creating a poignant parallel that hasn’t escaped her notice.
Their romance, which began at the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2022, seems particularly fitting given Klein’s career pivot. According to Yahoo Entertainment, Klein transitioned from corporate law to becoming CEO of GP Ice Race, a winter car racing competition held on actual ice tracks, shortly before the pandemic.
When Passion for Racing Sparked Romance
The couple’s meet-cute at one of motorsport’s most glamorous events aligned perfectly with Klein’s professional passion. “Having come to Ice Race for two years as a paying visitor and now being part of the team, one of the things that stayed constant throughout is there is nothing in the world at that time of year… that got them as excited as this,” Klein once told Highsnobiety about his love for ice racing.
The relationship progressed from private beginnings to occasional public glimpses, with Ashley first hinting at her new romance to British Vogue in November 2022, saying, “We haven’t gone public yet, and we’re having those conversations about how we can get there before anyone else does.” When asked about potentially living together, she replied, “I’d like to but, you know, one day.”
By December 2022, Ashley had posted a photo of Klein blowing out birthday candles on Instagram, captioning it, “The best birthday surprise for the best person.” Their relationship became “Instagram official” in March 2023 when she shared a photo of them laughing together at a Netflix BAFTAs after-party in London.
Happy Birthday to our wonderful Lady Bridgerton, Simone Ashley!! 🎂🎂🎂pic.twitter.com/MSlHiOeElh
— The Hook (@thehook) March 30, 2025
From On-Screen Romance to Real-Life Transition
Ashley’s career has mirrored interesting transitions similar to Klein’s professional pivot. She rose to fame playing Olivia in “Sex Education” before achieving global recognition as Kate Sharma in “Bridgerton,” where her enemies-to-lovers storyline with Jonathan Bailey’s Anthony Bridgerton captivated audiences worldwide.
As E! Online reports, the actress is now embracing this new chapter with positive energy rather than dwelling on heartbreak. “I’m focusing on me and focusing on my work and my inner confidence,” she explained. “It feels like a different chapter from when Bridgerton came out, where things were just so crazy.”
The couple made their final public appearance in October 2024 at a London art exhibition curated by fashion designer Marco Capaldo, approximately three months before their January split. The breakup comes just as Ashley steps further into film work with her romantic comedy “Picture This,” creating a fascinating contrast between her personal reality and professional portrayal.
Family Connections and Future Focus
Throughout their relationship, the couple had reached significant milestones. Klein had met Ashley’s family, with her brother photographing them during a hike in images she shared on social media in August 2023. Klein also organized what Ashley described as “the best day ever” for her birthday celebration in March 2024, suggesting a deep connection before their eventual parting.
Klein himself comes from an academic family, once sharing that his mother is a professor with initially little interest in his racing passion. He recalled taking her for a slow drive on an ice track: “I was going super slowly, sat in a car without seat belts, without a roof, without anything, and got out of it and she was just glowing.”
As Ashley navigates her self-described “single era” while promoting a romantic comedy, she joins several “Bridgerton” cast members experiencing their own relationship journeys in the public eye. From Phoebe Dynevor’s recent engagement to Nicola Coughlan’s rumored new romance, the ensemble cast’s off-screen lives continue to fascinate fans almost as much as their on-screen personas.
