Ashlei Foushee

We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed actress, writer and producer Ashlei Foushee; greetings and salutations, Ashlei! Before we meander down the proverbial celluloid Q&A pathway, how do you feel about the recent resolution of the WGA strike, being a respected wordsmith yourself?

Love the intro! I’m very excited about the resolution we’ve reached with the writer’s strike. That is a big win. Now we just need to finish strong. SAG-AFTRA is next up, and let me tell you something about actors. We are not only professional performers, but also professionals in patience. We will not stop until we can reach an agreement that gives us the equity we deserve.

Major congratulations on your upcoming turn in the feature motion picture On Fire which recently premiered in theaters nationwide on September 29! For anyone not in the know, can you explain what On Fire is about and how your character of Kayla figures into the proceedings?

Yes! On Fire is a gritty drama about a family trapped in a forest fire and their fight to make it out. I play a young, somewhat naive 911 operator who is new to the job. She becomes pivotal in the family’s story as they work together to find safety.

Did you know as soon as you saw the Ron Peer and Nick Lyon script for On Fire that this was a production you wanted to be a part of?

Oh yeah. The story is so real and relevant, who wouldn’t want to be a part of it!

Your directors for On Fire are the remarkable Peter Facinelli - who also acts in the film - and Nick Lyon. What was your collaboration process like in working with these two talented people? Are they what some actors might call “an actor’s director”?

They were both so great to work with. Nick is very supportive and collaborative. He’s a big fan of improv and finding new things within the lines and the scene. I felt so free to explore and try different things. I worked with Peter a lot in post-production and that was also a cool experience. He’s an actor just like me, so we speak the same language. I’m so proud of what all of us were able to create together.

You go toe-to-toe with some of the very best actors in entertainment in On Fire, including the likes of Peter Facinelli, Asher Angel, and Lance Henriksen. What was it like exercising your own considerable acting chops alongside this band of accomplished thespians?

All of my scenes take place in isolation, so I wasn’t able to work with them as much as I would have liked. It’s been great getting to know them more during our press run and I’m excited to work with them all again in the future!

How did you become fascinated with the world of acting? Is there an E! True Hollywood origin story you could share with our ever-inquisitive readers?

I come from a very colorful family. I suppose I was just the first one to take the show on the road! My dad loved to tell stories of how I used to stay up past my bedtime putting on one-woman shows in front of an audience of stuffed animals. My parents recognized that passion and put me in dance class early on. I’m forever grateful for their support. The week after I turned 18, I moved to Southern California to pursue acting, and here we are!

Your first work came in the form of 2011’s short film Camp Little Club. Any special memories of that freshman production?

Yes! Camp Little Club was actually a film I created while working with Kids in the Spotlight, a non-profit organization that holds a summer camp for foster youth to develop and produce their own movies. That experience is what I remember most when thinking about that film.

Which actors and actresses inspire your own work?

Oh man, what a question! I love actors so much. I could write a book but the first that come to mind are Denzel Washington, Reese Witherspoon, Angela Basset, Robert Dinero, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Norton, and Margot Robbie. I’m rambling, and the list goes on forever, but we can start there.

You directed a 2018 episode of Jax + James. Is directing something which we can expect to see more of from you in the future?

Yes! I’m finishing up my first feature script and I plan on directing it!

What’s next on your actor’s dance card? Can you give readers a hint or three as to what projects you have forthcoming?

Unfortunately, the strike has my lips sealed. Hopefully when we reach an agreement, I’ll have great news to share!

Final - SILLY! - Question: Favorite movie about the making of movies - Living In Oblivion, The Player, Ed Wood or Barton Fink?

I’m actually going to throw in a different one, The Disaster Artist. That is meta-art at its finest!