Ashley C. Williams Hi Ashley, welcome to Vents! How have you been? Hi, thanks for having me! I’ve been busy, but very good. So congrats on the great reception Julia has been receiving. When you started working on the film, did you ever see this coming? Thank you so much! I had a feeling that when I booked the role, I was going to be a part of something really special. I sensed that this was going to be an opportunity for a next break for sure. Everyone who worked on this film really brought all their skills to the next level. The film draws some influences from I Spit In Your Grave and Last House On The Left. Was this one of the things that caught your attention about the film and make you want to be part of it? I’ve actually never seen those films. When I read the script I didn’t automatically think, ‘oh cool this is a rape revenge flick, I MUST be a part of it!’ I thought ‘wow, what a journey this girl goes on.’ So to me, it wasn’t about what happened to her in the beginning of the film, it was about the dark journey of awakening. That’s what really inspired me to be part of it. What would you say makes this film different to any rape-victim-revenge type of flicks? I haven’t seen any rape revenge flicks except for Irreversible. But I think Julia stands on its own two feet. The film really focuses more on the deeper aspects of what’s going on within this girl and ultimately her finding this extreme beauty in these acts of what most would consider cruel. Instead of focusing on what happened to her, we stay with Julia’s emotions and her inner state pretty much the entire time. Any intelligent viewer will understand that its not about her taking revenge per se, but about taking control and power back into her life from the ones who stole it from her and the beauty of the transformation she goes through to get there. The film also pulsates with this deep dark underground techno music throughout and the neon colors they used, visually it’s just stunning and not at all exploitative or nasty. Its just kickass! On the trailer, Julia seems to yet have some feelings behind all that psychopathic mentality and mission.What was it like to play such a complex character?
I went on quite the journey with this character. It was a big challenge, no doubt but I also found a lot of her within me already, which helped. Her own journey within this film really inspired me and I took a lot of what I learned from her into my own life. Not the murderous acts, but having this internal strength, this ‘being in your power’ way of being. You have played some very intense characters in the past. In what way have all these previous experiences helped you prepare for this role in particular? Do you have a working method? I don’t know if I have a particular method. I think being truthful and in the moment has worked for me. I do tend to draw from very deep inside of me in moments that require challenging emotional circumstances. But it always changes depending on the role or the moment. So while many may know you for your horror films, you have also been featured in some dramas and comedy flicks, do you see these films as a relief to prove yourself and others you can do other types of movies? I don’t purposefully take roles in dramas or comedies to prove myself. It’s more of, if I like the script and the role speaks to me, then I’ll want to be a part of it. It’s hard, but I’ve learned to have a lot of patience in this industry. Julia was a role that is probably not going to come around very often. But I think having people see my performance in it will help with getting work in other genres as well. So you don´t see yourself as one day becoming a popular scream queen? I don’t see myself becoming that. But who knows what the Universe or this industry has in store for me! What else is happening next in Ashley C. Williams´ world? I’ve got a couple other projects in development right now, but they are in the early stages so I cannot talk about them quite yet. I am also in the research process to start writing my own feature film. I am very excited and inspired about a few different stories that I would love to make happen. But finding the time to just sit down and write is not something that is ingrained in me so it’s taking some time. Right now, it’s all about Julia!