Hellter Interviews Ashley Park (Miss Asia USA 2016, Terror Tales)!!
Hello Grue-Lings,
Today we have Miss Asia USA 2016 and Miss Korea USA 2015 Ashley Park. She is a Grammy nominated actress. She made her broadway debut in Mama Mia in 2014. In 2015-2015 she was in the Tony Award winning play The King and I. She started out doing short films. In 2012 she had her acting debut in a short called Charlene Kaye: Human as statue in 2012. She went on to do a couple more shorts called The V Card, Days of Our Lives, and Open House. She landed a role in Horror films called Terror Tales and Trapdoor and stars in Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter. In 2017 she also starred in a tv series called Nightcap as Olivia Cho. You can currently see her on the hit broadway play Mean Girls. Please welcome Ashley Park:
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HELLTER: Describe how it feels to be named Miss Asia USA 2016 and Miss Korea USA 2015?
ASHLEY: Being named Miss Asia USA was such a surreal moment. Confetti sprinkled the stage, and Katy Perry’s “Walking On Air” perfectly matched how I felt in that magical moment. It was truly the epitome of every girl’s dream. The journey to the crown truly was a metamorphosis from the inside out, and I learned so much about myself in the process. This was my very first pageant, and I owe so much to Virgelia Productions for providing the resources and training to perform at such a high level on pageant day. Coming from a long background of competitive athletics, gigantic earrings and 6-inch heels were a foreign concept to me until now. It has been such an incredible experience.
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HELLTER: I can imagine what a great honor that is. What made you decide to get involved with beauty pageants?
ASHLEY: I was recruited by a former Mrs. Asia USA. I actually was very hesitant to do a pageant, but I was persuaded into going for it. I don’t think I will do another pageant, but I am so glad I did Miss Asia USA. It was just meant to be.
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HELLTER: When did you decide you wanted to become a actress and did you go to acting school?
ASHLEY: It’s something I’ve loved the idea of for a very long time, but I placed my focus on competitive athletics for many years. I had quite a few lofty goals as an athlete, which took up a lot of my time. Training became my top priority, and it wasn’t until retirement from the track that the urge to act returned. And I’m so glad that it did! I was an intern at Seventeen Magazine in NYC when I stumbled upon an acting school. I auditioned for them, and the rest is history. I have studied at quite a few places in the LA area.
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HELLTER: That’s really cool. Congrats on that. Who are some actors/actresses that inspired you and why?
ASHLEY: I grew up watching Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson, so I’ve always loved them. I tend to watch more TV shows these days, so Tatiana Maslany from Orphan Black and Robin Wright from House of Cards definitely stand out to me now. I don’t know if anyone necessarily inspires me, though. I tend to draw inspiration from my own life, and the lives of those around me. Growing up, I watched a lot of Disney Princess movies, so I know I’ve drawn quite a bit of inspiration from those, as well as actors from musicals such asSound of Music, My Fair Lady, Phantom of the Opera, Brigadoon and Singin’ in the Rain.
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HELLTER: I love Julia Roberts. Was Days of Our Lives soap opera the first exposure you had on TV, and how did it feel working for a very long running soap?
ASHLEY: Yes, Days of Our Lives was my first exposure on television, and it was such a great experience. The cast and crew made me feel at home right away, and I was surrounded by such a high caliber of talent. I have utmost respect for soap actors! Several of my friends are on General Hospital, and they are all incredibly down-to-earth and talented.
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HELLTER: That’s a very popular Soap to get exposure on. What was the first film you starred in and describe that experience?
ASHLEY: My first film was All American Bikini Car Wash. We had such a great time filming that in Las Vegas, as you can imagine, and it was such a great learning experience for me. The cast had such great chemistry, and I am still friends with quite a few of the actors from that set.
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HELLTER: That’s cool you are still friends with some of them. You are involved in a horror film thats similar to what Creepshow was. It’s called Terror Tales. Describe to us what Terror Tales is about and what character you play in the film?
ASHLEY: My character is Alisha Harding, and we went back to the 80s to film my segment. The best way I can describe it is to say that the abduction of my character by The Sledgehammer prompts a dangerous search for answers. It’s a horror anthology, and we filmed in Colorado. I encourage checking out the film on IMDB, since we have quite a star-studded cast.
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HELLTER: I will check it our for sure. We are friends with one of your co stars in Terror Tales, Felissa Rose. How was it working with Felissa?
ASHLEY: It’s funny, because oftentimes you don’t see other actors on set, even when you’re in the same film. This was one of those instances. Since Felissa and I are in different scenes, I actually never met her!
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HELLTER: Ah, gotcha! I read you’re a big fan of vampires. What are some of your favorite vampire films and tv shows and why do you think people become so obsessed with the vampire lifestyle?
ASHLEY: Like most girls, I fell in love with the Twilight series – both the books and the films. That series still holds true as my favorite, although I will say that True Blood was just incredible. I saw every episode, and could not get enough of Sookie and Bill. I think people become obsessed with the mystery, intrigue and fantasy factor of vampires. They are hard to resist!
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HELLTER: I’m such a huge fan of True Blood. What an amazing tv series. You have just signed on to star in another horror film called Trapdoor. Do you know what that movie is about yet or what your character will be for the film?
ASHLEY: Trapdoor is a female-focused thriller in the vein of The Descent. It brings together action sports and horror in a very interesting and exciting way. My character is Kat, a very outspoken and fearless athlete. It’s a great script, and I’m very excited to see it come to life!
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HELLTER: That sounds awesome. I can’t wait to see it. The film you’re promoting now is called Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter. What would you like to say about the film to help promote it?
ASHLEY: Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter is beautifully done, and has such a wonderful cast. The chemistry between the actors in this film is something that has been mentioned to me quite often since it screened here in LA recently, and it’s my understanding that we have been receiving glowing reviews. I’m very excited to see where the film goes!
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HELLTER: Sounds like a good film. I’ll watch it. Out of all the films you been in, what’s been your favorite film or tv show that you have done?
ASHLEY: They have all been wonderful learning experiences for me, so it is difficult to say! I’ve grown from each experience. It’s hard to top Days of Our Lives, simply because it was my first time on television, but I was recently on Rosewood, and I just adored that experience. I had an absolute blast filming the episode that I’m in, which will air this November.
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HELLTER: Cool. Anything else you would like to discuss or promote? Thank you so much for being a guest on gruemonkey.com.
ASHLEY: Thank you for having me! Season 2 of a supernatural web series I worked on just premiered on YouTube, called Last Life, so I definitely encourage checking it out. Bad Sex With Good People is another series I worked on, and it will be premiering on YouTube very soon. It was produced by Sabrina Bryan and Kiely Williams of The Cheetah Girls, and based on the trailers I’ve seen so far, I think it’s going to be quite funny! I have several feature films in post production right now, and I’m producing some projects as well. I’m also currently working on getting my MBA in Marketing. It’s a busy time, but I’m enjoying it all immensely!
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CHECK OUT ASHLEY’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
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