Ashley Benson
Encyclopedia
Ashley Victoria Benson is an American
film
and television
actress, and model
. She is known for her role as Abigail Deveraux on Days Of Our Lives
(2004–2007), Carson in Bring It On: In It to Win It
, and Hanna Marin on Pretty Little Liars
.
Benson was born and raised in Anaheim Hills, California
. She started dancing competitively in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical
at age 3. She also enjoys singing, and has appeared in several choir groups and musicals. At age 4, she was asked to audition to sing solo at four Christmas services for her 2,500 member church. At 5 years old, she modeled in dance catalogs, and at age 8 was pursued by The Ford Modeling Agency
and worked steadily in print. She made a very small appearance in Zoey 101
in the episode "Quinn's Date". She has also performed in NLT
's music video
"That Girl".
In 1999, Benson started pursuing an acting career. She began working and appearing on a number of commercials, but quickly made the transition into film and television. In 2004, Benson signed a three-year contract with the daytime
television series, Days of our Lives
, and on November 12, 2004 began her role as Abigail "Abby" Deveraux, the oldest child of supercouple Jack Deveraux and Jennifer Horton, until May 2, 2007. She explained that, because of the number of episodes filmed a day, "you can't really mess up; you have to know all of your lines", and that she did not get a break from work.
She played a witch disguised as a cheerleader
in a 2008 episode of the CW series Supernatural
. In films, she was one of the "Six Chicks" in 13 Going on 30
, and appeared as Carson in an installment of the Bring It On
series, Bring It On: In It to Win It
. To land the lead role, she had to terminate her contract with Days of our Lives:
She recalled working on a movie set instead of a soap opera set "definitely weird", because she would spend days working on one or two scenes, whereas on the Days of our Lives set, she filmed two or three episodes a day. For Bring It On: In It to Win It, she had to attend cheerleading practice, which was "hard for [her], because [she is] afraid of heights." Nonetheless, she was "glad" to do her own stunts, even though she "wasn't expecting for it to be so hard."
In 2008, she appeared in the Lifetime TV movie Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal
, where she played head cheerleader Brooke of the Fab Five, which is based on a true story which took place at McKinney North High School
in Texas. She "loved" working with her onscreen mother Tatum O'Neal
, from who she learned about acting. Furthermore, she was excited to land a supporting role in Bart Got a Room
, which aired mainly on film festivals in 2008 before having a limited release in 2009, because it allowed her to work with William H. Macy
.
Benson starred in ABC
's 2009 television series Eastwick
. The show was based on John Updike
's novel, The Witches of Eastwick
, and the 1987 film adaption
of the same name. Her character, Mia, was the teen-aged daughter of Roxie Torcoletti (Rebecca Romijn
).
In December 2009, Benson was cast as Hanna Marin in the TV series Pretty Little Liars
based on the book series
by Sara Shepard
.
Benson co starred in Christmas Cupid
with Chad Michael Murray
and Christina Milian
. She recently appeared in One Call's music video for Blacklight. In April of 2011, Benson appeared on an episode of "When I Was 17" airing on MTV. In November 2010 Ashley also made an appearance at the 2010 annual surfer poll awards held in Hawaii with then current boyfriend "Clay Marzo
"
Music video: That Girl by NLT
(2007)
Music video: Blacklight by One Call (2010)
Music video: We Don't Have to Look Back Now
by Puddle Of Mudd
(2008)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actress, and model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
. She is known for her role as Abigail Deveraux on Days Of Our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
(2004–2007), Carson in Bring It On: In It to Win It
Bring It On: In It to Win It
Bring It On: In It to Win It is a 2007 teen film. First a sneak peek on The Jake Show Season 2 premiere, directed by Steve Rash and starring Ashley Benson, Michael Copon and Cassie Scerbo. It is the fourth film in the Bring It On franchise, which focuses on competitive cheerleading. It was shot at...
, and Hanna Marin on Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars (TV series)
Pretty Little Liars is an American mystery-thriller teen drama television series created by Marlene King. Based on the popular series of novels written by Sara Shepard, the show premiered on June 8, 2010 on ABC Family...
.
Benson was born and raised in Anaheim Hills, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She started dancing competitively in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical
Lyrical dance
Lyrical dance is a fusion of ballet with jazz and contemporary dance techniques.You can also get lyrical gymnastics which is gymnastics to music. It has a dance influence to it....
at age 3. She also enjoys singing, and has appeared in several choir groups and musicals. At age 4, she was asked to audition to sing solo at four Christmas services for her 2,500 member church. At 5 years old, she modeled in dance catalogs, and at age 8 was pursued by The Ford Modeling Agency
Ford Models
The Ford Modeling Agency, or as it is known today Ford Models, is a modeling agency in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen and the late Gerard W. Ford.-Company:...
and worked steadily in print. She made a very small appearance in Zoey 101
Zoey 101
Zoey 101 is an American television series that ran from January 9, 2005 to May 2, 2008 starring Jamie Lynn Spears as teenager Zoey Brooks, produced for Nickelodeon and syndicated worldwide. The show was initially filmed at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, then at stages in Valencia,...
in the episode "Quinn's Date". She has also performed in NLT
NLT (band)
NLT was an American boy band whose members were Travis Michael Garland, Kevin McHale, Justin Joseph "JJ" Thorne, and Vahe "V" Sevani. They were discovered by Chris Stokes, who signed them to his TUG Entertainment label in 2006.-History:On March 13, 2007, they released their debut single, "That Girl"...
's music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
"That Girl".
In 1999, Benson started pursuing an acting career. She began working and appearing on a number of commercials, but quickly made the transition into film and television. In 2004, Benson signed a three-year contract with the daytime
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
television series, Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
, and on November 12, 2004 began her role as Abigail "Abby" Deveraux, the oldest child of supercouple Jack Deveraux and Jennifer Horton, until May 2, 2007. She explained that, because of the number of episodes filmed a day, "you can't really mess up; you have to know all of your lines", and that she did not get a break from work.
She played a witch disguised as a cheerleader
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
in a 2008 episode of the CW series Supernatural
Supernatural (TV series)
Supernatural is an American supernatural and horror television series created by Eric Kripke, which debuted on September 13, 2005 on The WB, and is now part of The CW's lineup. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, the series follows the brothers as they...
. In films, she was one of the "Six Chicks" in 13 Going on 30
13 Going on 30
13 Going on 30 is a 2004 American romantic comedy fantasy film starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. It has a similar premise to the classic short story Rip Van Winkle, in which a young person falls asleep and wakes up many years later as an older person...
, and appeared as Carson in an installment of the Bring It On
Bring It On (film)
Bring It On is a 2000 teen comedy film about two competing high school cheerleading squads, starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and Gabrielle Union...
series, Bring It On: In It to Win It
Bring It On: In It to Win It
Bring It On: In It to Win It is a 2007 teen film. First a sneak peek on The Jake Show Season 2 premiere, directed by Steve Rash and starring Ashley Benson, Michael Copon and Cassie Scerbo. It is the fourth film in the Bring It On franchise, which focuses on competitive cheerleading. It was shot at...
. To land the lead role, she had to terminate her contract with Days of our Lives:
- "I got off it, I mean I had talked with the producers about doing this film, and they weren't going to let me do it. I had passed up a lot of other good opportunities this. I really want to do this film. I had just passed up so many opportunities where I could have done a film. So this big thing just came up, and I ended up getting to do this. I'm happier that I got off the soap though. I mean I give all my credit to them, because I have learned so much from being on soap operas and working with amazing actors who've been on there for like thirty, forty years. It was an honor to work with them. It's definitely given me all my background. But getting off the soap opera helped me a lot too, because I can move on to bigger and better things. So I am definitely thankful I got to be on a soap opera though, but yeah..."
She recalled working on a movie set instead of a soap opera set "definitely weird", because she would spend days working on one or two scenes, whereas on the Days of our Lives set, she filmed two or three episodes a day. For Bring It On: In It to Win It, she had to attend cheerleading practice, which was "hard for [her], because [she is] afraid of heights." Nonetheless, she was "glad" to do her own stunts, even though she "wasn't expecting for it to be so hard."
In 2008, she appeared in the Lifetime TV movie Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal
Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal
Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal is a Lifetime Television drama film starring Tatum O'Neal and directed by Tom McLoughlin. The film premiered on August 2, 2008. It is based on a true story, which occurred at McKinney North High School in McKinney, Texas in 2006...
, where she played head cheerleader Brooke of the Fab Five, which is based on a true story which took place at McKinney North High School
McKinney North High School
McKinney North High School is a public secondary school located on 2550 Wilmeth Road in McKinney, Texas, USA. The school is part of the McKinney Independent School District. North was also recently updated to a "recognized" status via the TEA.-Academics:McKinney North operates on a 7:30 a.m. to...
in Texas. She "loved" working with her onscreen mother Tatum O'Neal
Tatum O'Neal
Tatum Beatrice O'Neal is an American actress best known for her film work as a child actress in the 1970s. She is the youngest to win a competitive Academy Award, at the age of 10, which she won for her performance as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon opposite her father Ryan O'Neal...
, from who she learned about acting. Furthermore, she was excited to land a supporting role in Bart Got a Room
Bart Got a Room
Bart Got a Room is a 2009 comedy film written and directed by Brian Hecker, and stars Steven Kaplan, Alia Shawkat, William H. Macy, and Cheryl Hines. Also appearing in the film are Ashley Benson, Brandon Hardesty, Kate Micucci, Jennifer Tilly, Dinah Manoff and Chad Jamian Williams as Bart. The film...
, which aired mainly on film festivals in 2008 before having a limited release in 2009, because it allowed her to work with William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
.
Benson starred in ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's 2009 television series Eastwick
Eastwick (TV series)
Eastwick is a 2009 screwball comedy series based on John Updike's novel, The Witches of Eastwick. The series was developed by Maggie Friedman, and starred Paul Gross as the infamous Darryl Van Horne, alongside Jaime Ray Newman , Lindsay Price, and Rebecca Romijn as the eponymous...
. The show was based on John Updike
John Updike
John Hoyer Updike was an American novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic....
's novel, The Witches of Eastwick
The Witches of Eastwick
The Witches of Eastwick is a 1984 novel by John Updike.-Plot summary:The story, set in the fictional Rhode Island town of Eastwick in the late 1960s, follows the witches Alexandra Spofford, Jane Smart, and Sukie Rougemont, who acquired their powers after leaving or being left by their husbands....
, and the 1987 film adaption
The Witches of Eastwick (film)
The Witches of Eastwick is a 1987 American horror comedy based on John Updike's novel of the same name. Directed by George Miller, the film stars Jack Nicholson as Daryl Van Horne, alongside Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer as the eponymous witches...
of the same name. Her character, Mia, was the teen-aged daughter of Roxie Torcoletti (Rebecca Romijn
Rebecca Romijn
Rebecca Alie Romijn is an American actress and former fashion model. She is best known for her role as Mystique in the X-Men films, and for her recurring role as Alexis Meade on the television series Ugly Betty.-Early life:...
).
In December 2009, Benson was cast as Hanna Marin in the TV series Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars (TV series)
Pretty Little Liars is an American mystery-thriller teen drama television series created by Marlene King. Based on the popular series of novels written by Sara Shepard, the show premiered on June 8, 2010 on ABC Family...
based on the book series
Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars is a series of more than 10 young adult novels by Sara Shepard, from 1981–present, which have been made into a television show . The series follows the lives of four girls — Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily — whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their leader,...
by Sara Shepard
Sara Shepard
Sara Shepard is an American author known for the bestselling Pretty Little Liars series of young-adult novels.-Biography:Shepard graduated from Downingtown West High School in Downingtown, Pennsylvania in 1995, and got her undergraduate degree from New York University. She later received an MFA...
.
Benson co starred in Christmas Cupid
Christmas Cupid
Christmas Cupid is a television film starring Chad Michael Murray, Christina Milian and Ashley Benson and directed by Gil Junger. It premiered on ABC Family on December 12, 2010 as part of their 25 Days of Christmas programming block...
with Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray is an American actor, former fashion model and spokesperson. Murray is well known for portraying Lucas Scott in The CW young adult drama series One Tree Hill, in addition to the commercially successful films A Cinderella Story, Freaky Friday and House of Wax...
and Christina Milian
Christina Milian
Christine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....
. She recently appeared in One Call's music video for Blacklight. In April of 2011, Benson appeared on an episode of "When I Was 17" airing on MTV. In November 2010 Ashley also made an appearance at the 2010 annual surfer poll awards held in Hawaii with then current boyfriend "Clay Marzo
Clay Marzo
Clay Marzo was born on July 17, 1989, in San Diego, California. He was raised in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii where he currently still resides. Clay is an accomplished professional surfer and aquatic athlete....
"
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | 13 Going on 30 13 Going on 30 13 Going on 30 is a 2004 American romantic comedy fantasy film starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. It has a similar premise to the classic short story Rip Van Winkle, in which a young person falls asleep and wakes up many years later as an older person... |
Six Chick | |
| 2005 | Neighbors | Mindy | |
| 2007 | Bring It On: In It to Win It Bring It On: In It to Win It Bring It On: In It to Win It is a 2007 teen film. First a sneak peek on The Jake Show Season 2 premiere, directed by Steve Rash and starring Ashley Benson, Michael Copon and Cassie Scerbo. It is the fourth film in the Bring It On franchise, which focuses on competitive cheerleading. It was shot at... |
Carson | |
| 2008 | Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal is a Lifetime Television drama film starring Tatum O'Neal and directed by Tom McLoughlin. The film premiered on August 2, 2008. It is based on a true story, which occurred at McKinney North High School in McKinney, Texas in 2006... |
Brooke Tippit | |
| 2008 | Bart Got a Room Bart Got a Room Bart Got a Room is a 2009 comedy film written and directed by Brian Hecker, and stars Steven Kaplan, Alia Shawkat, William H. Macy, and Cheryl Hines. Also appearing in the film are Ashley Benson, Brandon Hardesty, Kate Micucci, Jennifer Tilly, Dinah Manoff and Chad Jamian Williams as Bart. The film... |
Alice | |
| 2010 | Christmas Cupid Christmas Cupid Christmas Cupid is a television film starring Chad Michael Murray, Christina Milian and Ashley Benson and directed by Gil Junger. It premiered on ABC Family on December 12, 2010 as part of their 25 Days of Christmas programming block... |
Caitlin Quinn | ABC Family Original Movie |
| 2011 | Ten Year | Anna | Announced |
| Television | |||
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Nikki Nikki (TV series) Nikki is an American sitcom that aired on The WB from 2000 to 2002. Nikki was a starring vehicle for Nikki Cox, who had previously starred in another WB sitcom, Unhappily Ever After, which ran for five seasons... |
Dancer | Episode "Working Girl" |
| The District The District The District is a television police drama which aired on CBS from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s Police Department .-Premise:... |
Melissa Howell | Episode: 'Explicit Activities' | |
| The West Wing The West Wing (TV series) The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006... |
Girl | Episode: 'Game On' | |
| 2004 | Strong Medicine Strong Medicine Strong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and... |
April | Episode: 'Cape Cancer' |
| 2004–2007 | Days of our Lives Days of our Lives Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around... |
Abigail Deveraux | 175 episodes, November 12, 2004-May 7, 2007 |
| 2005 | 7th Heaven 7th Heaven 7th Heaven is an American family drama television series, created and produced by Brenda Hampton. The series premiered on August 26, 1996, on the WB, the first time that the network aired Monday night programming, and was originally broadcast from August 26, 1996 to May 13, 2007... |
Margot | 2 episodes |
| Zoey 101 Zoey 101 Zoey 101 is an American television series that ran from January 9, 2005 to May 2, 2008 starring Jamie Lynn Spears as teenager Zoey Brooks, produced for Nickelodeon and syndicated worldwide. The show was initially filmed at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, then at stages in Valencia,... |
Candice | 1 episode | |
| 2006 | The O.C | Riley | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Supernatural Supernatural The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature... |
Tracy Davis | 1 episode - 4x07 "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester" |
| CSI: Miami CSI: Miami CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.... |
Amy Beck | 1 episode - 7x05 - "Bombshell" | |
| 2009–2010 | Eastwick Eastwick (TV series) Eastwick is a 2009 screwball comedy series based on John Updike's novel, The Witches of Eastwick. The series was developed by Maggie Friedman, and starred Paul Gross as the infamous Darryl Van Horne, alongside Jaime Ray Newman , Lindsay Price, and Rebecca Romijn as the eponymous... |
Mia Torcoletti | Regular role, 13 episodes, Series Cancelled |
| 2010–present | Pretty Little Liars Pretty Little Liars (TV series) Pretty Little Liars is an American mystery-thriller teen drama television series created by Marlene King. Based on the popular series of novels written by Sara Shepard, the show premiered on June 8, 2010 on ABC Family... |
Hanna Marin | Main role, ABC Family Original Series |
Other works
Music Video: True Love by Lil' Romeo feat. Solange Knowles (2002)Music video: That Girl by NLT
NLT
The abbreviation NLT may stand for:* National Literacy Trust, a UK charity set up to improve literacy standards in the UK* Nepal Leprosy Trust, a UK charity working in Nepal* New Living Translation, a modern translation of the Bible...
(2007)
Music video: Blacklight by One Call (2010)
Music video: We Don't Have to Look Back Now
We Don't Have to Look Back Now
"We Don't Have to Look Back Now" is the third single by post-grunge group Puddle of Mudd off of their album Famous. The single has been released on the radio and has charted on both rock charts, but the date of release for the single is not currently known...
by Puddle Of Mudd
Puddle of Mudd
Puddle Of Mudd is an American rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, USA. To date the band has sold over 7 million albums, and have had a string of #1 mainstream rock singles in the United States. Their major-label debut Come Clean has sold over 5 million copies...
(2008)