Interview with Ashley Wren Collins, an Up-and-Coming Professional Actress

This is an interview with a friend of mine, Ashley, whom I've known since grade school. I haven't talked to her in years until I found her on MySpace and noticed that her acting has really taken off. I decided to ask her for an interview about her experience as an up-and-coming actress and she agreed to do it.

Ashley Wren Collins is truly a great person to interview, as she's living her dream. She has had a lot of stellar training at the University Of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, and with many teachers and coaches. Her performing career has been just as exciting. Ashley has done it all from live stage, commercials, radio, voice acting, TV shows, like Sex and the City, to soaps, movies, and more.

The future is bright for this gifted actress.

Without further ado, let the interview begin!

Thank you for your time, Ashley.

Why did you decide to pursue acting?

Ashley: I was a dancer almost from the minute I was born; constantly in ballet, tap and jazz classes. In the 4th grade, my mother saw how much I loved giving oral book reports in school and decided to sign me up for acting classes at a new community youth theatre. My stage debut was as a boy munchkin in The Wizard of Oz - we had too many girls and I was on the taller side. I was immediately hooked and knew it was what I would do with my life. I had never known anything so simultaneously invigorating and challenging.

Do you think that the ability to act is more inborn, more learned through education, or a combination of both? Also, could you briefly describe your training?

Ashley: I really think it is a combination of both and each informs the other. The natural passion, drive, and instinct - they must be present. But an actor has to learn how to access his instrument and this can only been done by learning technique in a class or conservatory. Training is also very personal; what works for one actor might not work for another. I started acting classes and acting in musicals and plays at the age of 9. After high school I went to the University of Pennsylvania, where I got a BA in Theatre Arts and English. I then spent 3 years acting in New York City and then went back to school for 2 years to get a MFA from the American Repertory Theatre / Moscow Art Theatre School Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University. Since graduation, I've been working in New York.

How is stage acting different than on-camera acting?

Ashley: Stage acting requires infinitely more stamina and endurance. The ability to make it through a 2 hour play or musical - to be well rehearsed and ready with your technique and performance, yet leave enough room to listen and to respond honestly in the moment, as though you are doing everything for the very first time that night is crucial - you just never know what will happen in live theatre, so you have to be ready to react. The stage also requires greater understanding, range, and flexibility in using your voice (to reach to the back of the theatre) and your body. On-camera acting is so much smaller and subtle - the expression that "the camera doesn't lie" is very true - it picks up absolutely everything. Also, the majority of frames on TV and film are close-ups, so an actor often is not using his body as much. Similarly, there is a microphone inches from your face, and it picks up your voice - there is no need to project. And, if you don't get it right, you can go back and do it again. There are no "do-overs" in theatre.

What is your most memorable or favorite role?

Ashley: Whatever I happen to be working on at the moment becomes my most favorite, so it's always changing. Right now I'm in pre-production for a comedy series for the web that I am creating and acting in with some friends from graduate school called The Suzy & Duddy Show, and we are very excited about the project.

Do you ever get stage fright? If so, how do you combat it? I hear picturing the audience nude helps but I have my doubts.

Ashley: I've never even tried picturing the audience nude! I think that would be awfully distracting. I wouldn't say I get stage fright at all, but for some reason, just before an audition or a show, I find myself burping almost nonstop, so I'm pretty sure that is some sort of manifestation of nerves. I always feel bad for the witnesses - it's not very ladylike.

What is your favorite venue as an actress (stage, TV, movie, commercial, Voiceover, etc.)

Ashley: I really love doing all of them - they all require different levels of concentration and skills. But there is nothing like live theatre.

If you can give other actors one piece of advice, what would that be?

Ashley: The same advice I try to follow myself and I believe applies to everyone, not just actors. Keep growing, learning. Stay positive. Say "yes" to everything until there is a reason to say "no." Be honest, professional, and gracious. Be a good person - try to live your life and chase your dreams - do not give in to fear. Give back to people and your community to enrich your world and those around you - this will inform your life artistically, too.

Who has influenced or motivated you most in acting, and why?

Ashley: Some of the teachers I had in graduate school (Robert Woodruff, Scott Zigler, Nancy Houfek, Anne Bogart) have been very influential in my work and I am grateful to them. I find stories of great actors and directors and their struggles and successes very motivating. Right now I am reading the biography of the great director Sam Fuller - A Third Face: My Tale of Writing, Fighting, and Filmmaking, and his passion and tenacity are inspiring.

What was it like to be in three scenes with Susan Lucci on the soap, All My Children?

Ashley: I had met Susan several times, so it was great to finally have the opportunity to work with her. She is lovely - very petite, very beautiful, and very warm, friendly and professional. Everyone likes working with her. She apologized for having to be so mean to my character, which was quite funny.

Where do you see yourself in ten years in your acting career?

Doing even more of what I love and having the opportunity to really pick and choose the projects I want to work on.

Do you need to travel a lot as an actress? If so, what is it like?

Ashley: An actor's life can be very transient and he has to be ready to pick up and go at any moment. Every day and every project is different. Sometimes you book a commercial and need to fly to South America for shooting that night. Sometimes you learn about an audition on the west coast in 2 days and you have to fly out there right away. Even more than all of that, though, traveling and experiencing other cultures is so important because you will inevitably bring those experiences with you into your work, thereby making your work richer and more complex. I have been really fortunate to live in Russia and to travel to places like Japan, the UK, and Europe. I love traveling. It is really important to see the world through other people's eyes.

Web-site: http://www.ashleywrencollins.com