Simone Ashley at the world premiere ofPicture Thisin London on March 3, 2025.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage

Simone Ashley attends the “Picture This” World Premiere at the Barbican Centre on March 03, 2025 in London, England.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Simone Ashleyis happily single.

“It’s about self-growth, and I am looking for someone who is so confident in themselves and is really ready to have an open heart in the same way I do. And I think that’s hard to find,” says Ashley, 29.

To that end, “I’m not in a rush,” notes theBridgertonstar. “It can be easy to jump into the next thing immediately, which is something that I am choosing not to do.”

“I want to take my time to find the right person for me and to work on myself — to grow, and to focus on my work,” she continues.

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Simone Ashley in London on Oct. 17, 2024.Dave Benett/Getty

Simone Ashley attends the special screening of “Queer” at The Ham Yard Hotel on October 17, 2024 in London,

Dave Benett/Getty

“I’ve got such an incredible year ahead and I’m up to such exciting things,” Ashley adds. “And I have the most amazing family and friends around me. So I’m working on my heart and on myself and on my confidence.”

The actress first hinted at her romance with Klein in a November 2022 talk withBritish Vogue, saying at the time that she was “very happy.”

“We haven’t gone public yet and we’re having those conversations about how we can get there before anyone else does,” she said. The pair eventually wentInstagram officialin March 2023.

Ashley subtly announced their split when she appeared on BBC’sWoman’s Hourin February and revealed that she had been in her “single era” since January. The star also pointed out with a laugh that it felt “kinda ironic” to be promoting her producing debut, the romantic comedyPicture This,while being freshly single.

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Constantin “Tino” Klein and Simone Ashley in London on Feb. 19, 2023.Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix

Simone Ashley and Tino Klein attend Netflix’s annual BAFTA Awards afterparty at Chiltern Firehouse

For now, Ashley tells PEOPLE, it’s “really exciting” for her to be part of the rom-com sphere withPicture This, as it’s a genre she has always loved.

“I grew up watching rom-coms,” she says. “I loved all those ’90s classic rom-coms; anything withJulia Roberts.My Best Friend’s Wedding,The Other Woman,10 Things I Hate About You,Bend It like Beckham,Bridget Jones.”

“I’m such a hopeless romantic, and I think rom-coms allow people to have that space where you believe in the idea of that love is possible. That’s how I feel when I watch them,” Ashley adds.

Picture Thisis on Prime Video March 6.

source: people.com