Reposted from Chaud: The Magazine
How might you know Ashley? Well she plays Remy in the web show Brothers With No Game. We enjoyed interviewing Ashley and we say grab yourself a cuppa and enjoy finding out more yourself by reading this article!
Have you received any formal acting training and have you always wanted to be an actress?
I had always loved theatre and acting at school/college but I did a degree in Psychology and worked within that profession after I graduated from university. I even applied to do my clinical doctorate and got an interview for one of the best courses in the country but did not get a place. I remember being devastated but it was that setback that made me realise that I missed acting so much. I remember being at work one day and just not feeling completely fulfilled. I started sending emails to a few of my friends that I knew were actors and asked about how I could get back into the acting scene. One of my friends told me about Identity Drama School (which run training classes for working/aspiring actors) and I have been there ever since. At first I was doing it for a bit of fun but when they signed me to their agency, I thought ‘wow I could actually really do this’? Not getting on to that course was the wake up call I needed and I haven’t looked back since. I have to say I am in a much happier place now.
What was your first role and did that impact/ influence your choice of future roles? Besides BWNG could you please tell us other characters you’ve played and which one means so much to you thus far?
My first professional role was playing Sheila Asike in BBC’s Casualty for 2 episodes. I was acting alongside veterans like Michael Obiora (playing my brother – series regular Lloyd Asike) and Ellen Thomas (playing my mother) so I remember being really nervous, but they were both so lovely and welcoming. I played quite a feisty character who was very community orientated and campaigning about a man, who had been killed by the police. The story was quite similar to that of the London riots.
I do like playing a strong woman. There really are not enough roles out there like this in the UK for black woman. However I think with the U.S beginning to pick up on this and casting actresses like Kerry Washington as the lead in shows like Scandal, we are beginning to realise gone are the days of black woman playing ‘nurses’ or ‘junkies’ we can be ‘leading ladies’ in mainstream dramas too! It’s a beautiful thing.
What would be your dream role?
My dream role would be playing a female Sherlock absolutely love watching Benedict Cumberbatch on the BBC show , he does a great job and I respect his work. I’d love to play intelligent leading roles for woman because we kick butt too! Love shows like Scandal, Suits, Law and Order etc. Anything which would involve playing an intelligent professional woman.
The US show Scandal has done so well with it’s leading lady being Kerry Washington – it’s taken 37 years for there to be a woman of colour to be lead role again – what is the acting industry like here in the UK for women of colour?
I have to say it’s a topic that saddens me somewhat . I was speaking to a few of my friends who are also black actresses and we were saying how sad it is that when we are asked about Black British Actress we struggle to find people we identify with and say ‘yes I want a career like yours’ , you really inspire me. And that’s not to say there are not a mass of talented Black actresses out there. Naomie Harris and Sophie Okonedo are to name but a few. But I think having a lack of Black woman in leading roles creates a bit of a glass ceiling effect. However I am one to believe that you must have faith that you are a game changer. Adelayo Adedayo (another Identity Drama School student) recently playing the lead in BBC ‘Some Girls’ has proven we are making progress. I have always believed the sky is the limit, who is to say you cant have the career you want?
To read the full interview, click here. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for the final episode of Brothers With No Game, which will be released at the end of the month. Catch up on all the other episodes at www.youtube.com/brotherswithnogame
For regular news, updates and opportunities, follow us on Twitter at @Scene_TV and 'Like' the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SceneTV
