Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Ashley Snow .
Hi Jennifer Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Pennsylvania but spent much of my childhood in Wilmington Delaware. Roller blading, playing with Barbies and watching television & movies were some of my favorite hobbies growing up. My mom said I would make up very dramatic, elaborate stories when playing with my Barbie dolls. I think that’s when my love for storytelling began. My parents decided to move us to Florida when I was 9 years old. In 5th grade I fell in love with acting when I was cast as Laura Ingalls in a “Little House on the Prairie” play at school. As soon as I put on that pretty pioneer dress, had my hair in braids, and stepped on stage, I knew that this was what I wanted to do. I went to a magnet middle school so I could be involved in the arts more. I attended Tap, Jazz, Modern dance classes and continued to perform in school plays. Shortly after graduating High School, I attended The Performer’s Studio Workshop in Tampa, FL. It was a scene study class in a black box theater taught by Kathy Laughlin. She not only taught her students how to create multidimensional characters but also about the realities of working in the industry.
Under her guidance, many of my classmates were (and still are) successful working actors. Seeing my classmates on television & on the big screen was such an inspiration to me and made this career path seem much more attainable. I continued acting in plays and booked the lead role of Catherine in Proof by David Auburn at The Heather Theater. My television debut was on Discovery ID’s Murder in Paradise (Season 2) as Michelle Rogers. I became a member of the Actors Union SAG-AFTRA in 2014. I went on to book the role of Jessica in a multi-award-winning short film called Katia that is now available on Amazon Prime. It’s a powerful story that centers around three strong women sharing their experiences around friendship, love, and loss. It was written and directed by Naida Joanides, an ambitious female director. The brilliant cinematography and editing was done by the very talented Joey Durango. I moved to Los Angeles in 2019 and began studying with a phenomenal acting coach, Craig Archibald at The Archibald Studio. Craig has created a safe, uplifting space for actors to collaborate and to grow both artistically & personally. Recently, I booked the role of Penelope in a comedic short film called I Propose We Break Up written and produced by Vanessa Boss. It’s a beautiful, very relatable story about social media influencers falling into the trap of perfectionism and seeking validation from others until they realize that choosing themselves and being their most authentic selves is the most fulfilling. I love living in Los Angeles and look forward to continuing to pursue my creative career here.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest challenge thus far has been navigating the many ways in which the industry has changed since the Covid Pandemic. It was very difficult for me to stay motivated creatively during the lockdown and a lot of auditions/callbacks are over Zoom which was a challenge to get used to. I only had one normal year in LA before the Pandemic, so it was definitely a big setback since I was just getting started here. Luckily, I had a self-tape studio already set up in my apartment so going from live auditions to self-taped auditions was a very easy transition for me. My acting coach Craig Archibald continued his group classes online and I attended a beginners stand-up comedy class called “Fresh Faces” taught by Lesley Wollf via Zoom as well. I’m grateful to have still had those creative outlets to keep my head above water during such a tough time.
An important lesson I’ve learned is to keep yourself as creatively involved as possible. Try not to limit yourself to just acting if you’re an actor; put yourself out there in any creative art form and be open to trying new things. This practice will help you stay motivated and curious during the challenging times in your career.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I recently had the opportunity to work with AFI, The American Film Institute, as a supporting character in a student film. I enjoy collaborating with and learning from students who are dedicated to their craft. I am a SAG-AFTRA actress known for my portrayal of Jessica in the short film “Katia” available on Amazon Prime. I’m most proud of my work in the short film “I Propose We Break Up” as Penelope because I love doing comedy. Although I believe dramatic acting is my strong suit, comedy is so much fun. There is something about making people laugh that is so special and lights up your soul. I would say my capacity for empathy is what sets me apart from others. I truly love people and I’ve always been so curious about and fascinated by the human experience. I’ve been told that I am too sensitive by many people since I was a little girl, and I used to be ashamed of that. Now that I am older, I see it as a gift that I’m very fortunate to have. I believe it helps me a lot as an actress.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I’m noticing that television is the new film. I was amazed to see one of my favorite actresses, Meryl Streep, on the very popular television series “Big Little Lies”. The majority of her work is in film, so I can see a big shift happening there. I also noticed that video games have become a lot like movies. I see actors becoming more and more involved in video games in the future as technology advances.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jenniferashleysnow
- Other: imdb.me/jenniferashleysnow
Image Credits
Headshot taken by Samantha Annis “Proof” poster directed by Kathy Laughlin, C.S.A. starring Jennifer Ashley Snow, Gene Michael Kachurak, Leslie Maine, Shrey Vyapari Pictures taken on the set of the film “Katia” taken by Nicole Joanides Title Image of the film “Katia” on Amazon Prime directed by Naida Joanides starring Jennifer Ashley Snow, Carolyn Michael, Nicole Joanides “I Propose We Break Up” pictured Jennifer Ashley Snow, Vanessa Boss (Actor, Writer, Executive producer), Eliana Rubin
