Photos by Bjoern Kommerell BK Headshots
AINSLEY ROSS is an actress and singer/songwriter originally from Beckville, TX. She started acting at the age of 14. She is best known for playing the lead role of Isabella Santiago in the feature film COLLEGE BOUND: WINDOW OF HOPE. Her other notable film credits include playing the lead role of Vanessa, a strong-willed young lady in A FIGHTING CHANCE. Ainsley also just finished shooting the LEAD role in the music continuance series for SEVEN LIONS, which will release in early 2018. She is also focused on her own music career, and has written 80 original songs and produced 2 music videos, which are currently available everywhere on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Pandora. She has advanced special skills in tactical weapons and martial arts and is a 1st-degree black belt in Taekwondo. Ainsley is passionate about Autism and Aspergers and in her free time, she loves giving back to the community through volunteering with Spreading The Love and Autism Fighters.
We had the awesome opportunity to speak with Ainsley. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Ainsley! It is a pleasure to speak with you. Thank you for granting the interview. What inspired you to become an actress?
It’s an honor! Well, my love for acting started at an early age. To me, there has always been beauty in bringing a story to life. Bringing simple words off of a page and giving them a voice is such an incredible feeling.
Being able to connect with viewers in any method of acting and getting them to feel sad, happy, nervous etc. for the characters that you are breathing life into and giving a voice to… you can impact so many.
I was also influenced by movies and television shows growing up like “Wizards of Waverly Place”, “Narnia”,“Underworld” etc.
We know you have been many roles you’ve played and loved, but which role has been your favorite and why?
I love everything about each character I portray. However, I have a special connection with Isabella Santiago in the upcoming movie “College Bound.” This movie is about human sex trafficking (a very serious subject) however, the storyline of this is unique, powerful and gracefully executed in its delivery. My character, Isabella, whom I love for so many different reasons… The top ones are for her strength, wisdom, and ability to see the good in the damaged. College Bound will be coming out in 2019 so keep an eye out.
Another role I’m super connected to is in the “Should I Do It” series (will be streaming soon). I play one of the leads Mia Hill. I love this character for a different reason. She’s a character that you are following “emotionally.” She takes you on an emotional roller coaster. One moment you love her and the other moment you hate her guts. She has a dilemma she has to face… society and how she is viewed by others. She’s a popular girl who secretly does unpopular things. When she starts talking to the unpopular guy “Burgers” for ulterior motives, she starts to really like him. But I’ll let you find out what happens soon… hehe. Mia is a fun and challenging character to play because she is so complex in her emotions with many different levels.
You just completed a lead role in the music continuance series for “Seven Lions” tell us more.
Working with Seven Lions has been such an awesome set/ crew experience. The team is so much fun and we get a lot of work done quickly! My character’s name is “Ophelia” she is an orphan whose whole species has been destroyed. When the magical book finds her, it unlocks the secrets of her past. In each visual scene sequence that you see, you are truly on the journey of her past and future together being revealed piece by piece and song by song.
In addition to acting, you have written over 80 original songs and produced two music videos. Tell us more.
Well, I’ve always been a writer and a songbird at heart! I was that kid always humming and singing around the house coming up with my own lyrics… I wrote my first complete song with a (verse, chorus, and bridge) when I was 9 yrs old on a paper plate. Ever since that day, the songs keep coming to me! I believe in a positive message behind the lyrics of my songs. Each song comes from a special place in my heart. Being able to express that voice and emotion with others is truly a great feeling. I love creating a song or music video that the audience can relate to and truly connect with. For example, the music video for Shine is about a girl who instead of looking at people on social media, wishing it could be herself… hanging out with friends… it encourages her to create her own fun night and that person to person communication is key!! It shows that she could be the one taking the initiative. The new release that’s coming out is called “We Are 1.” I just filmed the music video for it and can’t wait for the worldwide release. This song is about everyone truly joining together despite the differences in culture, race, and life views. I wrote this song with the intention of taking singers who performed and sang in completely different genres and decided to combine it all together to show that being different and working together despite those differences has a beautiful, meaningful, and powerful outcome. It is with the foundation Team 1RHR which stands for (1 Race the Human Race). Meaning that we are all people with emotions and we can all join together to make the world a better place. Hope you will stay tuned www.team1rh1.org.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E1A7DPgkW0″]
Your 18th Birthday is fast-approaching. You’re having a party on May 19th to benefit the Jonathan Foundation. Tell us more about the Foundation.
I’m so excited! It’s coming up soon!! The Jonathan Foundation is so close to my heart, for a variety of reasons. Let me just start at the beginning.
I had some medical issues growing up from 6yrs old to 13yrs old. My antibodies in my body (that fight off sicknesses) were literally attacking my brain (#notcool) causing many issues (like brain swelling, seizures, etc) and so many learning disabilities. When the swelling would go down I would be normal, however, when it was present it was terrible. It was so bad that I needed to attend a school specifically for kids with autism, and Aspergers etc. It was so hard for me in school. I wish there would have been a foundation back then that would’ve helped my parents and I better understand how to navigate the rocky, medical and educational challenges we’d face. Thankfully enough there is one now and it’s the “Jonathan Foundation.” I like to say “Everyone faces Goliath’s in their life… But no one’s Goliath’s are bigger than the another’s.” We all have hardships we go through. It’s just the matter of how you choose to overcome it. For me, it was medical etc. It is different for everybody! you have to rise from the ashes of your situation, and stand firm in who you are!
The Jonathan Foundation’s mission is “to help children with learning difficulties thrive and reach their full potential” The Jonathan Foundation’s start is the culmination of a journey Raja Marhaba and her two gifted sons Omar and Jonathan experienced. While attending school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Raja sought resources to help her sons succeed. At the time identifying resources was difficult and even harder to acquire. The knowledge gained from the personal experiences of each family member serve as a roadmap used to help Children with Learning Difficulties. This map is responsible for empowering many children by providing the tools and the right type of help of putting them back on a road aimed at success. The primary focus of TJF is to provide each child with an equal opportunity. ~From www.thejonathanfoundation.org
We have a few readers who are aspiring actors. They would like to know what is the difference in playing a lead role than a playing a supporting role?
First off, give yourself a pat on the back … You are on the route to making your dreams a reality. Being brave enough to pursue them and doing what you love and are passionate about takes faith and courage!
The differences between Playing a lead role and a supporting are:
Lead Role: Playing the lead role is one of the biggest honors you can have as an actor. Being the lead role means having more responsibilities such as; arriving earlier than your other cast mates, learning –usually- more lines, being prepared to be in ALL scenes, working longer days, continuing the energy for your supporting actors to react off of. Leads are held to extremely high expectations from all directions at all times. The lead will usually be paid more as well.
Supporting Role: As the supporting role, you have to bring the individual uniqueness to the character you are portraying, while at the same time enhancing and highlighting the skills of the lead role. As the supporting role, you have to play off the reactions of the lead, as well as work less set hours, and usually, you won’t have as many lines. The Leads are the focus and the supporting roles are enhancing and highlighting the lead. An extremely important part, as the lead could not do their job without the work from the supporting. They have to work as a team.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Doing my extreme martial arts, and working on sword routines, and watching Goal casts inspirational speeches… However, for me, the best feeling is to go support charities and volunteer at places like the LA Mission, Cinderella, and Prince Charming events. The Cinderella and Prince Charming event for an example give Prom dresses and suits, to kids who don’t have the money to afford a Prom dress or suit… I encourage you to apart of something bigger than yourself. Think about others volunteer, smile, learn and have fun!!! I also like to fish and ride ATV’s!!!!!
You also have a director’s credit for It Can Happen Anywhere (TV Series). Will you be directing more projects?
I will definitely be directing more in the very near future. I love being a part of a show’s / movie’s transformational process. I love getting down to the nitty-gritty logistics that help the production in itself run like a finely oiled machine.
Are there any projects you would like to add that we haven’t mentioned?
The worldwide release of my new song “We are 1.” Also, I have a BEYOND INCREDIBLE project that is potentially in the works… I can’t talk about it yet …but PLEASE send good vibes, and thoughts my way
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do ___________.
A combination of acting and my extreme martial arts with stunt skills tied in with my singing and public speaking to inspire, and encourage kids and people all around the world to never give up on their dreams and Just Be You! I want to be a successful, well known (for the right reasons) actress, influencer, model, public speaker, singer/songwriter, an experienced director, and writer. I want to use these skills and my passion to help guide and talk to kids and teens about “How to be themselves” in a world of conformity… and I want to offer the world more love and kindness! There can never be too much of the right kind of love.
Connect with Ainsley:
Instagram: @ainsley_ross
Facebook: @ainsleyrosstheartist
Website: www.ainsleyross.com
IMDb: www.imdb.me/ainsleyross
Charity Information as discussed above:
Web: www.thejonathanfoundation.org
Instagram: @thejonathanfoundation
Team 1rhr: www.team1rhr.org
Instagram: @team1rhr
Featured Image Credit: Bjoern Kommerell BK Headshots.
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