[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Picture This.]

Summary

In the rom-com ‘Pitcure This,’ Pia navigates family pressure and romantic prophecy in a comedic and heartfelt journey.

Simone Ashley’s passion for rom-coms shines through in her role as Pia and as an executive producer.

The contrast between Pia and Charlie adds depth to the storyline, culminating in a heartwarming ending.

In the Amazon MGM Studios rom-com Picture This, Pia (Simone Ashley) is caught up in the whirlwind of her sister Sonal’s upcoming wedding and pressure from their mother to find her own partner. While Pia is struggling to keep her photography studio open, even though the past due bills are demanding attention, a spiritual guru tells her that she will find true love and career success in the next five dates she goes on. But when she runs into her ex Charlie (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), she begins to question her choices, personally and professionally, and the chaos her life has become.
During this one-on-one interview with Collider, Ashley shared her longtime love of rom-coms and how she’s always wanted to be a part of one, and talked about signing on as an executive producer, shooting that speech about how much photography means to Pia, the contrast between Pia and Charlie, being a part of the wedding scenes, the blooper reel, and whether she thinks these characters are still together, years down the road. She also shared her excitement for Season 4 of Bridgerton, led by Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson, and which genres she’d like to do next.
Pia’s Journey in ‘Picture This’ Is One of Self-Discovery and Opening Up Her Heart

“I was really drawn to the comedy in the script.”

Collider: There are so many layers of so many things that this movie has going for it. When this came your way, what was it about the project that got you interested and excited in it?
SIMONE ASHLEY: I’m always really drawn to characters like Pia, who are super passionate, fiery, and ambitious, and it just gave her such a drive throughout the story to go with that. And I loved that she overcame her frustration with the situation in her life by going on a journey of self-discovery and opening up her heart. I was really drawn to the comedy in the script. I was laughing out loud when I was reading it. And I loved that the focus was around family, as well. I grew up watching rom-coms, so I always wanted to be part of that world in that genre. So, as soon as I read it, it was a no-brainer for me.
How involved did you get as an executive producer? Were there things that you specifically wanted a say in or areas that you really wanted to be more hands-on with?
ASHLEY: Ben [Pugh] and Erica [Steinberg] at 42 M&P were just so generous with allowing me to collaborate with them, so I’m super grateful for them and I learned so much from them. There was so much in the script that we flipped upside down and that I wanted to develop. I just wanted to make sure that this was a story about the human heart. Although there was so much cultural celebration that I’m so proud of how we represented, in all its joy and beauty, this is a story about the discovery of self and love, and I think everyone can relate to that.

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One of my favorite moments in this is also a life-changing moment for your character, when she gives that speech about photography and what it means to her. It’s really that passion that sparks so much interest in her business. What was that speech like to shoot? Did that change at all, from the script to actually shooting the scene?
ASHLEY: We shot that on our last few days of filming. We had already done so much of the movie, so there was so much that we had already digested and experienced, leading up to that moment. I think when it comes to scenes like that, it’s just about keeping it real and being as honest as possible, like with any scene that you portray. As an actor, sometimes when you approach a monologue like that, you think you really have to do so much with it. But for me, it was Pia’s moment of speaking from the heart. We saw her as the really hotheaded, fiery female heroine of this movie, so it was really nice to see her in her vulnerability, speaking so honestly.
Do you feel like you have a speech like that in you, when it comes to how you feel about acting?
ASHLEY: Yeah, but I would say not just in acting, I think in life in general or in whatever art form I’m working in, whether it’s music or storytelling. Let’s say storytelling. Because there are so many different ways you can tell a story, I always bring it down to honesty. Humans have a really sharp instinct and we can tell when something’s not genuine.
In ‘Picture This,’ Pia Is the Chaotic One While Charlie Is More Mature and Grounded

“There was such a sharp contrast between Pia and Charlie.”

Image via Amazon MGM Studios

There was something really fun about your character reconnecting with her first love at her sister’s wedding. There’s just so much drama with weddings anyway and it’s such a vibrant setting. It was also really interesting that Charlie has a date with him, but he makes it a point to say he just met her and that they don’t really have much of a connection. Was that something you guys talked about? Did that feel tricky to get right?
ASHLEY: There was such a sharp contrast between Pia and Charlie. Pia is the more chaotic one that’s really on her journey to self-discovery, and that’s the journey we go on with her throughout the movie. And Charlie is the more mature, grounded one who’s really found his feet and knows what he wants in life. So, in that sense, everything that he was doing was really possible and innocent. It didn’t feel like there was anything manipulative or dishonest happening there, or any form of betrayal. There was clearly a big separation and a lot of time between them. That plays into the chaos when he turns up and has the girlfriend with him. Pia is just not prepared for that moment, as much as she tries to pretend that she is.
What was it like to be a part of the wedding scenes and to even get to do a little bit of the dancing and be involved in such a big, fun celebration? What is it like to capture the vibrancy of all of that?
ASHLEY: Oh, it was so much fun. From the rehearsals to shooting it on the day, it was so much fun. I was surrounded by such talented, amazing dancers, who were all so supportive and enthusiastic to just have so much fun with this and bring that joy to the screen. I absolutely loved it.

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There’s so much that we learn about Pia through all the different relationships in her life, with her family, her best friend, all these guys she goes on dates with, Charlie, the potential customers that walk into her studio. What did you enjoy most about having all those different interactions? How much fun was it to get to play with all of those moments?
ASHLEY: So much fun. When I was playing along with my co-star Luke Featherston, who plays Jay, he was just amazing. He’s so talented. We had such a vibe on set together. It was like playing tennis.
Some of the moments with some of the dates, I don’t know how you got through them without totally cracking up.
ASHLEY: Oh, no, I definitely did. There’s a blooper reel out there somewhere. There wasn’t a day we didn’t crack. I’m sure that there’s a bucket load of footage out there of us breaking.
As somebody who is a fan of rom-coms and who wanted to do one, what was the reality of it like? How do you feel, now that you were able to make this happen? Did it live up to the idea of what it could be?
ASHLEY: Totally. I absolutely loved it. Every project I do will always have a place in my heart. I had such fond memories doing this project, collaborating on it, developing it, shooting it, and now promoting it. For me, the biggest lesson, especially during a rom-com where we really leaned into the comedy, was to let it be and allow the comedy to just sit there and not override it, or feel like we have to do too much or tamper with that too much. There was a lot of trust there, and trusting the simplicity of everything.
Simone Ashley Was Sold on the Opportunity for a Second Chance in ‘Picture This’

“That’s the trope that I really loved about this rom-com.”

Image via Amazon MGM Studios

At the end of a rom-com, you always have the happy couple, but we don’t typically know what happens to them after that. Do you think Charlie and Pia were meant for each other? Do you feel like, 10 or 20 years down the road, they’re still together?
ASHLEY: I do. Once you get a second chance, that’s it. They’re on their journey. That’s the trope that I really loved about this rom-com, that it was about the world of second chances. Two people can be on different paths, but then, clearly, they will align onto the same one, eventually, when they reunite.
For the fans of Bridgerton that have been waiting for what seems like ages for new episodes of that show, what would you say to tease what’s to come for Season 4? Do you get excited to return?
ASHLEY: I’m always excited to go back. I was there filming a few weeks ago with the girls and it always just feels like coming back home. Life goes on, but there’s this time capsule on set where nothing really changes. It just keeps growing and growing and growing. All I have to say is how excited and proud I am to see Yerin [Ha] and Luke [Thompson] lead their season. Each season is so special within itself, and I’m really excited for everyone to see what they’ve been up to.

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Have you gotten to shoot any scenes with Yerin Ha?
ASHLEY: Yes. I’m not really allowed to say anything though. Sorry. I’m gonna get in trouble.
Returning to ‘Bridgerton’ Feels Like Coming Back Home for Simone Ashley

“What a gift that is.”

Image via Netflix

Is it fun, as an actor, to have an experience like that, where you can go off and do these other projects in between, and then keep returning to your Bridgerton character? Does it feel like she’s an old friend that you get to catch up with every so often, in between these new people that you play?
ASHLEY: Totally, yeah. And what a gift that is. I’m so grateful. We just step back in and it’s like coming back home and filling in some very familiar shoes.
Do you know what’s next for you? Do you have that next thing lined up, or are you thinking about what that next thing is?
ASHLEY: I would absolutely love to do an action movie one day, or perhaps a musical.

Picture This

Release Date

March 6, 2025

Runtime

100 minutes

Director

Prarthana Mohan

Writers

Nikita Lalwani

Cast

Picture This is available to stream on Prime Video. Check out the trailer: