Motherland: Fort Salem Star Ashley Nicole Williams's Wild Casting Ride

I'm excited to talk to you today.

Oh, thank you. Me too.

How are you doing?

I'm good. How are you co-distancing these days? I'm in Dallas right now.

Ooh, Dallas, Texas.

Yes, Dallas, Texas. Yes. I I forget to say Texas always, but yes, Dallas, Texas.

I know, I know a thing or two about Texas, so I I I picked up on it. First though, you're a full-time student at Baylor, right? University?

I am. Yes.

So now you're all online though.

I'm all online and it is I actually finished my last set of classes yesterday.

Oh, congrats.

So now it's just like, thank you. It's just like. I don't know what that was. So sorry. Um, no, it's, um, it it was really weird transitioning from being in class to everything's online right now. Um, but I think I think we've managed to do it. So,

Yeah, because I was going to ask about that, how did working like filming the show and taking classes and all that, how'd you balance that?

Yeah, so basically, my last week of filming overlapped with my first week of classes. Okay. So, I I originally like took, I guess like two years off from being in Waco at Baylor. Um, but I, um, was still taking online classes and doing everything. So, I was still on track and I ended up being ahead. Um, but coming back to do like my senior year, like, "Who Raw Raw!" it was, um,

Yeah, it was an overlap. And every all your friends at college knew you were filming and everything too, right?

Yeah. Yeah. So it it was like it was really weird and then some people like had heard about it, so they'd like look at me and then like I my teachers would know. And, um, they'd announce it to the class and I'm just like, no, no, no, no, no, no, like, please don't announce it, like, please don't do that. Um, no, but it was cool. It was fun. Um, yeah, I just people are watching it now. I think it would be weirder if I was on campus right now, Yeah. while everything was airing, Um, but it's it's super cool.

Do you kind of wish though that you were a little bit on campus? Like just a little, I don't know.

I don't know because I don't I feel like I'd just like be a little shy, like, little like, leave a little turtle, like. That's so weird to describe myself, but I do, um, I just don't know. I I I don't know how I would react.

Kind of that's so fun though, because it's like people knew about it, but then like you it wasn't premiering yet, but it would have been really cool to see how they would have reacted and stuff.

Yeah, my professors are emailing me, they're like, "You were in the Waco Tribune, like, you were in the paper. Can't wait to watch the show!" And I'm like, "Thanks! So much. I don't know if you want to watch episode four where I get a little racy, but, um," Thanks.

That's a funny, and when you do each week when the show's premiering, do you watch every week? Like do you just turn it on the TV?

Yeah, so basically we, um, we got six episodes. And so I think this past Wednesday, episode seven was the first time we hadn't seen anything. So I actually was watching with the fans and we live tweet at the same time. So it was like, okay, you you're not really watching when you're live tweeting. You're like, okay, I'm hearing this. I remember what's happening. Okay, let's tweet about it. Okay, next scene. Oh, wow. And you miss everything. So, um, luckily Freeform does like a double feature of our show. So I just watch it for real afterwards. But.

Oh my God, that's so fun that you're watching it right with everybody in real time.

Yeah. It it's it's so weird, but at the same time it's just like, whoo. Yeah. It's like seeing yourself because you filmed it so you know what's going to happen, but when you actually see it. It's not weird to me. I don't know. My friends are like, "Is it weird seeing yourself?" And I'm just like, no, like, Yeah. It's just it's what I do. And I'm just like, oh, like, all of my hard work is

How did you find out you were going to cast for Abigail?

Oh, okay, so that's a wild ride. So, initially, I'd say around two years ago is when this whole like casting thing started. Um, and I originally tested for the role of Abigail. Um, and it was down to me and another girl, and then they chose the other girl. And then they shot the pilot. And then Freeform came back to me a year ago and they were like, "We're recasting." And I was like, "Oh." And then within a week, I was cast again. And I was like, "Oh." Um, so yeah, it was it it wasn't as big of a waiting process as it was for like the other girls for me. Um, I guess kind of, but like I I let go of it a little when I didn't get it. And then it was like, I saw that Motherland was picked up and then Freeform was like, "Yep, we're recasting. Hello, Ashley." And I was like, "Oh, it was for me." So.

Aside from acting and everything like that, on your Instagram, I did stalk you, you go to like the football games and stuff. Like what is your favorite thing to just do in like when you're at college or when you're at home?

Oh my, um, college, I definitely, I love the football games. I'm such I growing up in Texas, like, you know, Texas high school football, like Dallas Cowboys, like I'm a sports girl.

And you're into fashion, sneakers. Yes. I read that interview that article you talked all about your sneaker collection. Who's one person you'd want to switch closets with?

Oh my gosh, that's such a great question. I kind of want to say Blake Lively. Have you seen like her press like outfits every time she she pops out? Every time. I'm like.

Every time. It's like subtle like subtle, all of a sudden, she's you're just like, Okay, Blake Lively. Okay. It was like she was pregnant and just like like an outfit impossible.

Yeah, oh, my nails. Quarantine nails right now. You see how how much those are growing out. Oh, don't look close. Don't don't hear like, why did you put it in the camera? Um. Yikes. No, I I'd say Blake is I love Blake's and obviously Zendaya. I just think Zendaya is a fashion icon. So like that's inevitable for me. She's just insane. Like there's no words to describe. Like you just look at her and you're like, I'm just gonna stay at. I I was going to say Zendaya first and I was just like, no, Ashley, no, like, everyone knows you love Zendaya's fashion icon. Don't say it. And I was like, no, it's inevitable.

What about a guy? Who do you think has the best drip as a guy?

I love first of all, I love how you said best drip. Props to you. Oh my gosh. You're putting me on the spot. I think, okay, just because I like love like the swagged-out looks with like the sneakers, I'd say any basketball player dressing up for game day.

Locker room.

Locker room. Yes, there we go. And I think those things are so funny like when you when you see them just like walk they're just like, I'm so just like, what the heck's going on? Things they're wearing. Oh. Like just like.

Yeah, that's why I had to clarify. I was like, the swagged-out look with the sneakers. Yeah. Not when your shirt's just open and stuff like that. None of that.

Back to acting. Yes. No more talking about sneakers. None of that.

If you could write, direct, produce any movie, who would your character be and like what would the theme of the movie be? The plot?

That's such a good question. Um, I actually I do write. Yeah. Um, and I don't know. I there's this a drama with Oh my gosh, this is such a good question. Wow, you're like, I'm going to throw a curve ball at her.

Well, I read that you like wanted to eventually like write and produce and direct movies and stuff as well as act in them. So I was like, what what kind of movie would she want to write and direct and act in?

I I really I love dramas. And of course, like everyone loves a good comedy, but I love dramas because you can showcase so much. And, um, especially for the actor. And I feel like that's a place where you can just like try new things and be free. It's kind of like shooting an indie movie, I feel. Um, so I just a really good drama with a strong lead who has to make a decision. You're like, um, so that's every movie everywhere. Every drama ever. Um.

Well, thank you so much for talking about, you know, your obsessive sneaker obsession and all about the show too.

Thank you so much. I appreciate you wanting to talk to me.

Oh, yes. And when the finale, we'll keep an eye out for the finale, we'll report back and

Thank you. I'm excited for it.

Awesome. Thank you so much.