Actress To Watch Out For In 2021: Meet The Talented Ashley Fraser

Ashley Fraser’s passion for acting began when she had moved to a new school and met a friend who was doing plays. She first, joined for the fun, friendships, and excitement in a new interest she hadn’t experienced before. She then fell in love with the craft and continued to do musicals and plays in her local theatre for some years. It wasn’t until recently that she started working in film after graduating high school. At the moment, she’s in pre-production for a film she wrote and constantly taking classes to turn her hobby into a career.

StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Ashley to discuss his journey in the entertainment industry and here’s what went down:

Can you tell us more about yourself? How did you get started in the entertainment industry?

I got started in the industry through theatre classes and musicals. I began watching shows at a small theatre in my local town and fell in love with that art of storytelling so I immediately signed up for the Saturday workshops they held. It was only after a few classes that I noticed a poster advertising auditions for “Annie” that would be performed at the Redcliffe Cultural Centre. So, I auditioned, landed the role of Kate, and continued performing in musicals through primary and high school.

What do you like most about acting?

What first drew me into acting, in the theatre especially, were the people. Never before had I experienced such passionate, inspiring and talented groups of people in one place before, and with the amounts of rehearsals and performances we all did together, a community was created on every show I did. Now, as I study the craft more, I am in love with the immersiveness in creating a whole new world that you get to live in! It’s basically playing pretend.

What are your weak points when it comes to acting? How do you try to improve them?

My weak point in acting is probably when it comes to creating characters that I have no similarity to or understanding of. That’s when heaps of reading and analysis help out to create the person.

What are your strong points as an actor?

I’ve been told before that I have a strength in vulnerability, which originally struck me as quite odd because I never thought that was the case though I would say I am quite good at finding the truth in performances.

What have you learned from the directors that you have worked with throughout your career?

I’ve learned so much. Essentially, I’ve learned what directing is – especially on a film set. I’ve always been kind of foggy on what the definition of a director is though now that I have seen so much of their job it’s something I would love to try one day.

What are some of the difficulties of the acting business?

I would say the unpredictability, being a very organised and scheduled person that is something that I’ve found pretty hard to cope with at first because an acting career is not really something you can map out – things just happen.

What’s challenging about bringing a script to life?

Probably finding my choices and how I will bring the script to life. Sometimes, you can read a script and find so many different ways it can be approached. So, choosing your interpretation is something I am figuring out.

What do you do when you’re not filming?

I love to write and create. I recently wrote and produced my own film and it’s something I would like to continue doing. Being a part of a project in another way besides acting can change your perspective on the process in ways I hadn’t imagined.

What has been the most memorable experience of your career so far?

The creation, specifically shooting, my film. Being a part of the creation of something from the very beginning to seeing it all pan out better than you could’ve ever thought is so rewarding.

Who have been the most interesting people you’ve met so far?

Other actors. I hadn’t really been around people who acted as a profession before and getting into it, I found so many similarities, shared passions, and knowledge – whether that be of cinema or the craft itself – with actors. I just love actors!

If someone is going to make your life into a movie, who would play you?

I hope I could play me. I’d probably be the most qualified (lol).

What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it.

I’d just love to travel for my job. It would combine the two things I love most – acting and travelling.

The ‘LIGHTNING FAST’ Round:

1. Last good movie I’ve seen: Promising Young Women.
2. What do you consider beautiful and why? Things that are authentic because there’s no bullsh*t.
3. What haven’t you done yet that you wish you could? Sail.
4. Complete this sentence: “If I had no fear, I’d…” Jump on a random boat and live on the ocean.
5. What is the one “flaw” you wouldn’t change about yourself? My procrastination.