Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlee Lawhorn
Hi Ashlee, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am an actress, drummer, and boxer who started my journey in Columbus, Ohio. I graduated from Shawnee State University with a bachelor’s in psychology in 2019. After graduating, I threw myself into anything and everything acting related. I started taking in-person and online classes in 2020 with Howard Fine Acting Studio, based in LA, and Broadway2LA, based out of Columbus. I took classes for a solid year before I started to audition for any acting projects. I came in knowing how competitive this industry is so I felt like I needed to educate myself and work on my craft as much as possible before undertaking any roles.
I have been a drummer for about 16 years and have played with numerous bands, as well as marching band all through school. Drumming is something that allows me to reconnect with myself. Anytime I feel there may be a separation in my mind and body I jump behind my drum set and listen to music to kind of tune back in.
Boxing is a passion of mine that I picked up after high school. I’ve trained with some amazing trainers since I started on my boxing journey, one being with Karate World Champion, Tokey Hill.
Since starting my acting journey in 2020, I have been blessed with amazing acting opportunities from dozens of independent feature films, award-winning short films, commercials/industrials, and more recently my first music video for Kyle Gordon, “My Life (Is the Worst Life Ever)”, where I played a punk drummer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I think anyone in the entertainment industry could tell you that this business is anything but smooth. It’s more like a rollercoaster ride, but you aren’t sure where the drops and rises are until you hit them head on. That’s why it is SO important to focus on your mental health and the positives that come along with this line of work.
A few struggles I have dealt with since starting my acting journey are releasing attachment to things I have no control of and figuring out the business aspect of this whole industry.
There are a lot of moving parts in this industry and when you first get started it can be a little overwhelming. I had to rely on mentors, peers, and coaches to help me figure out the business and give me guidance on how I should navigate my acting journey and create tangible goals for myself. One person in particular who helped me gain a better understanding of this business is my mentor and business coach, Anastasia Edwards. She and I have worked extensively with one another for a year now and updated and fine tuned my package, secured two agencies in the Midwest, and am currently targeting the Southeast region with her guidance.
Another part of this is releasing attachment to things we cannot control. There are many aspects of this business that we cannot control; Things like if we book a role, if we get an audition, or if we get signed to our dream agent or manager. It’s important to release our desire to control these things and focus on the things we can control. Some things we can control are our package or portfolio, our networking, and staying consistent with improving our craft.
I also think it is really important to surround yourself with people who elevate you. People that support you and encourage your growth are the ones to keep around. Having a solid support system and team can truly make all the difference in the world when it comes to navigating this industry and life in general.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been fortunate enough to work on dozens of projects with some incredible artists from all over the world. I would say I’m known as a small-town girl with big city bite and play a lot of characters who embody strength, but also have this internal struggle and conflict occurring under the surface. A few of my projects are currently streaming on Youtube. Make sure to check out “Wayward Sisters”, a Supernatural series fan film and “What are the Odds” an LGBTQ+ short film.
Since starting this journey into the world of acting and entertainment I feel like I have truly found my purpose in life. Acting has allowed me to let my inner child play freely and truly reconnect with myself. I think it’s important for actors to become self-aware and to never stop learning about themselves. By knowing ourselves it helps us understand the world around us and how we are affected by that. In turn, you can use that knowledge for the characters you play by knowing what pieces of you fit into the character. It’s really fun to try and figure out.
Through this whole journey something I am most proud of would be my tenacity to never give up. When I set my eyes on something I won’t stop until I have it or have achieved it and I’m proud of that.
I hope this tenacity and hard work will show through my acting and I know I will only get better with time and by having other talented and driven people by my side.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Thankfully my parents were able to give me a really great childhood, so this one is a little tough. If I have to pick one, I’ll go with one of my dad and I.
I have always enjoyed going to the movies and having the whole experience from getting the popcorn, candy, pop, to playing the little arcade games they have off to the side. Seeing all of the posters of upcoming and past movies lining the halls always gave me that thrill that anything is possible.
One day my dad took me to the movies and after our movie was over, we realized that a showtime for another movie we wanted to see was about to start, the 2005 King Kong. We quickly made the decision to sneak into the King Kong showing after our first movie was over and basically spent our whole day at the movies. My dad isn’t the kind of guy to normally sneak into movies so I just thought that was so cool of him and now it’s a memory we can both look back on and enjoy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashleelawhorn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashlee_paige_lawhorn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashlee.lawhorn/
- Other: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm13043953?s=16c84ea8-8c46-0a75-e86d-d89bc1889de2&site_preference=normal
