Check Out Ashley Campbell’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Campbell.

Hi Ashley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Like most kids, I loved to play pretend, creating imaginary worlds where I could live a million lives. Unlike most kids, I was never able to let that love of pretend go. The solution was to become an actor. I began with playing Annie due to my red hair and then graduated to playing a dying pig in the third grade, both incredible gigs. Throughout the years, I held on to acting as my creative outlet and escape from the difficult stuff life throws our way. I learned pretty quickly that performing allowed me a unique insight into humanity and the role emotion plays in our lives. Ever since, I have fixated on these ideas of what makes us human and how that answer varies from person to person. I have spent a lot of my upbringing as an actor performing in live theatre, but I have found that Film and TV allow me to explore the subtle nuances we often overlook in ourselves. I have been in LA since August where I hope to continue exploring these themes and taking advantage of every opportunity I can.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think smooth road would be the term I’d use. I moved to New York right out of college certain I’d be able to hit the ground running as an actor. Well wouldn’t you know it, it wasn’t that easy. I auditioned for what was available to me, which wasn’t much, and did the grind most actors in New York do. Very slowly, but surely I’d get new opportunities and began building my professional career, always with plenty of hope. However, hope became a little harder to hold onto when the pandemic hit and the industry pretty much shut down. Out of work, I moved home to Boston where I lived and worked for the year, wondering what I was supposed to do next. Unsure if the industry would ever be accessible to me, I decided to apply to grad school for education and would reevaluate my career aspirations. When I got into the school, I felt nothing but doom and realized it wasn’t possible for me to call it quits on a career I barely got to begin. Instead, I bought a cheap duct-tape clad car and drove across the country to give acting everything I had. My faith was certainly shaken during 2020, but I’ve already learned that this was the right choice and have been very lucky with my opportunities.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My favorite thing to do as an actor is to observe. Perhaps creepy, I like to sit in the park, on the subway, or in a coffee shop and watch how people interact with one another, how they hold eye contact or command the space around them. It’s a lot of fun to have a scene where I can break down in tears or scream with everything I have, but I find the subtle moments we often take for granted to be much more interesting. How we use our hands as we talk, the way we crease our foreheads or nod aggressively to let someone know we’re listening actually sets us apart from each other more than we realize. And, these social cues become a part of the blueprints for who we are. I’m most proud of my own weird quirks and bizarre mindset because they’ve allowed me to channel a realistic and human element into my work.

What does success mean to you?
Well, I did promise my Mum a villa in France when I was four, so I suppose that would be success. More realistically and ever so slightly less glamorous, success to me is being able to exclusively work as an actress on projects I am passionate about. This work brings me so much joy, so to be able to surround myself with happiness and play would not only make me very proud but would also be quite a fulfilling life.

Contact Info:

• Email: ashley.campbell365@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.ashleyscampbell.com
• Instagram: ashley_campbell97