Photo by Sam Zachrich
Few would consider Human Centepede a modern classic, but if one good thing can be said about that movie it’s that it gave the world Ashley C Williams. The actress has many accolades in a distinuguished theatre carreer stretching back to when she was ten years old, including the Charles Jehlenger Award for Best Actress in 2005. Her strong presence and apparent willingness to go to dark places has carved out a track record of suspenseful and/or offbeat indie movies like Empty and A Guy Named Rick. FanboyNation readers might know her best (beyond Human Centepede) as Zombie Victoria in the web series Selene Hollow.
Her current project is the harrowing psychological thriller Julia.
Oh, in contrast to her onscreen intensity she’s also a professional lindy hop dancer, body boarder, and fine art painter.
Ashley answers (a little more than) half a dozen questions that give us a peek at her past, present, and future.
Julia appears to be a movie that tests the emotional and physical endurance of its lead. As an actor, figuring out this mind job of a movie had to lead to some dark places. How did you prepare for such a harrowing role? What did you use to anchor yourself?
Yes, playing this role did take me to some dark places. But I knew what I was getting in to. That’s one of the things that drew me to this character in the first place. Her depth and all that was going on inside of her. I knew I needed to find myself within this character and really play her from a deep, dark, ecstatic place. It was tough at times. But I got through it and learned so much about myself through the journey that I went on with her. To anchor myself, I had to keep mentally and physically strong. So I read a lot and kept myself healthy by juicing and running when not on set. But laughter was needed a lot so I made sure to have some fun when I could. I created some deep bonds with a lot of the people who worked on this film.
You have a long and impressive theatre career. The comparison is like apples and oranges but what do you like most about each medium? Any quick advice for those seeking a career on stage? What is your impression of theatre in LA?
I love each medium for different reasons. Theater for me is like the soul of my work. I am able to play a lot more. There is a freedom in it that you don’t really get with film. You basically start the show and you don’t stop and go back because you didn’t like how the scene played out. Its just 2 hours of diving into a world and there is a different kind of adrenaline you get from it. Its so nerve wracking cause anything can go wrong but you have to be so “on” to make it flow no matter what happens. You have a responsibility up on that stage and you and your cast mates are all in it together.
There is a beauty with filmmaking that I’m learning more and more about. It really is a different kind of art and everything an actor does has to be 10 x smaller than what you do on stage. I actually really love that challenge of internalizing everything and kind of letting it all slowly ooz out of you in a very small, controlled unrelenting way as the camera takes everything in… you’re just kind of being instead of having to make everything outlandish and big just so that the audience can hear and see you. So to me it’s actually a more truthful way for actors. I also love seeing the outcome of a film after it’s all finished. The entire process is long and arduous but can be so rewarding once you see the finished product.
Some quick advice I would give to aspiring theater and film actors is, stay true to yourself no matter what. Stay open and truthful. If your drive, ambition and passion for your art is burning inside of you, that alone will keep you going, not matter the ups and downs, and there will be MANY. It is your unique self that people are looking for, not a carbon copy of someone else more famous.
Right now I’m focusing on film, so I haven’t had the chance to scope out the theater scene here. I’ve actually heard that theater in LA is starting to thrive a bit more. So that’s good.
In film you’ve gone from one extreme version of horror, the visceral body horror/torture porn of Human Centipede, to the more emotional and psychological horror that Julia runs on. The former type has seemingly waned while the latter type (other examples being It Follows and The Babadook) appear to be on the rise. Do you see this as a positive direction? Being someone who has been practically at ground zero for both versions where do you think horror might head next?
Those are very good questions. I do see horror going in a positive direction. Each year its like a hit or miss, like with any genre, but I would really like to see studios backing more risky kind of storytelling. The ones you mentioned (The Babadook and It Follows) are ok examples of this, but also another one comes to mind called Under The Skin By Jonathan Glazer. It’s more of a sci fi thriller but that film is risky, it breaks boundaries and I loved every minute of it. Also the film Martyrs by Pascal Laugier, which came out a few years ago was so breathtaking and the explicit scenes were very hard to watch but that was its beauty. My new film Julia for sure is in this mix with its stunning, risk taking, elevated style. Its films like these that stand out to me more because they’ve got balls. I think filmmakers these days are trying to expand and break into more unique ground so I’m excited to see what pops up this next year.
Is Lindy hop as much fun (and physically challenging) as it looks? Does your extensive dance training factor into forming your character?
I love to dance! I’ve been dancing in some form since I could walk. Swing/Lindy hop is challenging at first but so much fun once you know the basic moves and then you can add your own sass! I am a very active and physical person. I think having an awareness of my body and my natural capabilities of freedom through movement and being in tune with it all, definitely plays a part in preparation for the characters I play.
Where is the best place to body board in Socal? (I was always fond of Zuma, but that is some time ago).
Zuma is still the place! That is my favorite place to body board… especially as a beginner. Plus the beach there is gorgeous and the dolphins and seals come out to surf with you.
NiteStar Theater Company – Issue Based Political Theater Techniques sounds fascinating. Especially considering the years you were part of it (2006-08). What was it all about?
Nitestar was an incredible growing experience. We were a traveling company of directors, actors, singers, dancers and writers who would create entertaining shows (musicals) that were about dealing with social issues such as bullying, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, rape, HIV/AIDS, STDs etc. We created these shows to be performed, in schools of all ages to help kids become more aware. Some kids are too scared to talk about them or even approach their own parents/guardians. They see scenarios performed on stage that they might relate to or have been questioning for some time now. It’s an outlet for them to continue discovering who they are and in a safe environment, are free to be able to ask questions and ultimately have an open conversation about it all.
It’s something that I wish I had as a kid. I actually learned so much from this company about myself and it taught me to speak up and be strong. It was challenging and emotional as well, because after each show we would all stay in character and sit on the end of the stage and be there for any questions the kids had for us. I once had a girl come up to me after a show who was about 9 or 10 years old and tell me that she was being sexually abused. She felt safe speaking to me about it because I had just played a character in the play she saw who had been suffering from just that. It is then our responsibility to tell the school counselor for her to get further assistance. That was the most beautiful, inspiring aspect of it all. When we got to a point of conversation with them and they would start really opening up. We would leave beaming, knowing that we might have just changed a kids take on life for the better.
Your film resume skews toward horror and suspense. Your theatre work is more varied. Any plans/desire to do lighter fare in film?
Yes of course! I am excited and open for anything good that comes my way.
Thank you for your time. Julia looks chilling and I hope it kills in wide release.
Thanks so much! Me too!
 a Half-Dozen Questions with Actress Ashley C. Williams){kind=link}