Ashley Benson
{{short description|American actress (born 1989)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Ashley Benson
| image = Ashley Benson 2020 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Benson at German Comic Con in 2019
| birth_name = Ashley Victoria Benson
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|singer}}
| years_active = 2002–present
| awards = Full list
| website = {{URL|ashbyashleybenson.com}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|12|18|mf=yes}}{{cite magazine|url= https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/a46683/things-you-didnt-know-about-pretty-little-liars-star-ashley-benson/|title= 13 Things You Didn't Know About "Pretty Little Liars" Star Ashley Benson|magazine=Seventeen Magazine|publisher=Hearst Digital Media}}
| birth_place = Anaheim Hills, California, U.S.
| spouse = {{marriage|Brandon Davis|2023}}
| children = 1
| relatives = {{unbulleted list|Marvin Davis (grandfather-in-law)|Barbara Davis (grandmother-in-law)|Jason Davis (brother-in-law)}}
}}
Ashley Victoria Benson (born December 18, 1989) is an American actress and singer. Her accolades include four Teen Choice Awards, a Young Hollywood Award, as well as three People's Choice Award nominations.
Benson began her career as a competitive dancer at age three, and transitioned to acting in her teens, first gaining recognition for her role as Abigail Deveraux in the soap opera Days of Our Lives (2004{{ndash}}2007). Following her film debut in the 2004 comedy 13 Going on 30, she gained international recognition for starring as Hanna Marin in the Freeform drama thriller series Pretty Little Liars (2010{{ndash}}2017). During this time, she also continued to appear in films such as the crime comedy Spring Breakers (2012), the psychological horror Ratter (2015), the comedy drama Chronically Metropolitan (2016), and the musical biopic Her Smell (2018). She has since starred in the films Private Property (2022), Mob Land (2023), and McVeigh (2024), as well as in the Amazon Prime Video psychological thriller miniseries Wilderness (2023).
Aside from acting, Benson has ventured into music, first in 2018 with the soundtrack of Her Smell, followed by her collaboration with G-Eazy in his cover of the Radiohead song "Creep" (2020).
Early life
Ashley Victoria Benson was born on December 18, 1989, in Anaheim Hills, California to parents Shannon and Jeff Benson. She has an older sister, Shaylene.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2007/12/17/anaheim-hills-teen-stars-in-cheerleading-movie/|title=Anaheim Hills teen stars in cheerleading movie|date=December 17, 2007}}
Career
=2000s: Early work and recognition=
Benson began dancing competitively at age three, studying ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop. She began singing in choirs and musicals at a young age, performing a solo at her church at age four. When she was eight years old she signed with Ford Models, and appeared in a number of print ads.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ashley-benson/bio/221591 |title=Ashley Benson: Biography |work=TV Guide |access-date=April 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029212058/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ashley-benson/bio/221591 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=live}}
Benson appeared on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives as Abigail Deveraux from 2004 to 2007.
Benson made her big screen debut with a bit part in the 2004 comedy 13 Going on 30. She starred as Carson in Bring It On: In It to Win It (2007), the fourth installment of the Bring It On franchise. The role required her to both overcome her fear of heights to perform the cheerleading stunts, and to end her contract with Days of our Lives:
{{blockquote|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 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.{{cite web |author=Loggins, Emma |url=https://www.fanbolt.com/12405/interview-ashley-benson-from-bring-it-on-in-it-to-win-it|title=Interview: Ashley Benson from Bring It On: In It To Win It |publisher=FanBolt |date=December 10, 2007 |access-date=December 29, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229033019/http://www.fanbolt.com/12405/interview-ashley-benson-from-bring-it-on-in-it-to-win-it/|archive-date=December 29, 2016}}}}
She recalled working on a film 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."{{cite web |title=Interview with Ashley Benson, October 2007 |url=http://www.thestarscoop.com/2007/ashley-benson.php|date=October 2007|work=TheStarScoop.com|access-date=September 4, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100815071012/http://www.thestarscoop.com/2007/ashley-benson.php| archive-date= August 15, 2010 | url-status=usurped}} Nonetheless, she was "glad" to do her own stunts, even though she "wasn't expecting it to be so hard."
In 2008, she appeared in the Lifetime original film Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal, where she played head cheerleader Brooke Tippit, a character loosely inspired by Karrissa Theret of the Fab Five. The film is based on a true story which took place at McKinney North High School in Texas. She became good friends with her onscreen mother Tatum O'Neal, from whom she learned about acting.{{cite web |title=Ashley Benson: Learning New Things|url=http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/ashley-benson-learning-new-things|work=myLifetime.com|access-date=September 4, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100731073240/http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/ashley-benson-learning-new-things| archive-date= July 31, 2010 }} 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. She also played a witch disguised as a cheerleader in a 2008 episode of The CW series Supernatural.{{cite web|title=Did You Know These 30 Actors Were on 'Supernatural'?|date=April 19, 2016 |url=http://www.buddytv.com/slideshows/supernatural/did-you-know-these-30-actors-were-on-supernatural-40092.aspx|publisher=buddytv.com|access-date=May 28, 2017}}
In 2009, Benson starred in ABC's short-lived supernatural comedy television series Eastwick.[http://www.poptower.com/eastwick-cast.htm Eastwick cast] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930103924/http://www.poptower.com/eastwick-cast.htm |date=September 30, 2009 }} PopTower[http://abc.go.com/shows/eastwick/bio/mia-torcoletti/274803 Eastwick bios, Mia] ABC.com {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008193951/http://abc.go.com/shows/eastwick/bio/mia-torcoletti/274803 |date=October 8, 2009 }} The show was based on John Updike's novel, The Witches of Eastwick, and the 1987 film adaption of the same name. The series only lasted 11 episodes before ABC cancelled the series due to low ratings but has since gained a cult following.
=2010s: Transition to drama and breakthrough=
File:Ashley Benson 3, 2012.jpg
In December 2009, Benson was cast as Hanna Marin in the ABC Family mystery-thriller teen drama series Pretty Little Liars, based on the novel series by Sara Shepard. Hanna is the "diva" and "It girl" of the group, having taken Alison DiLaurentis' place as the most popular girl at Rosewood High in Alison's absence. The series premiered to 2.47 million viewers with Benson's performance being praised by critics. She also received a number of awards and nominations. Benson reprised the role in the spin-off series Ravenswood in two episodes.
In 2010, Benson starred in the television film Christmas Cupid alongside Christina Milian and Chad Michael Murray, which also aired on ABC Family.{{cite web|url=http://www.abcfamilymedianet.com/docs/2009/12/ABCFam_120709.pdf |title=ABC Family Announces Additional Casting for its Upcoming Pilots "Melissa & Joey," "Untitled Michael Jacobs Project" and "Pretty Little Liars." |publisher=ABC Family Press Release |date=December 7, 2009 |access-date=December 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230064521/http://www.abcfamilymedianet.com/docs/2009/12/ABCFam_120709.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2010 }} In January 2012, Benson was cast in the film Spring Breakers, after Emma Roberts dropped out due to creative reasons.{{cite web |last=Peel |first=Sarah |url=http://www.bsckids.com/2012/01/ashley-benson-replaces-emma-roberts-in-spring-breakers-with-selena-gomez/ |title=Ashley Benson Replaces Emma Roberts in Spring Breakers With Selena Gomez |publisher=BSCkids |date=January 31, 2012 |access-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122132047/http://www.bsckids.com/2012/01/ashley-benson-replaces-emma-roberts-in-spring-breakers-with-selena-gomez |archive-date=January 22, 2015 }} The film centers on four college students who are arrested and bailed out by a drug and arms dealer, who sends them out to do some dirty work on spring break.{{cite web |last=Sartor |first=Ryan |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/rachel-korine-yes-harmonys-wife-joins-spring-breakers |title=Rachel Korine (Yes, Harmony's Wife) Joins 'Spring Breakers' |publisher=IndieWire |date=November 14, 2011 |access-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702222840/http://www.indiewire.com/2011/11/rachel-korine-yes-harmonys-wife-joins-spring-breakers-115252/ |archive-date=July 2, 2016 |url-status=dead }} The film co-starred Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, and James Franco. Filming took place in March and April 2012, and the film was released in March 2013.{{cite web |last=Durbin |first=Jonathan |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/girls-gone-wild |title=Girls Gone Wild |work=Interview |date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517103144/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/girls-gone-wild |archive-date=May 17, 2012 |url-status=live}}
In the January 21, 2013, episode of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, Benson appeared as Carly Whittaker, Barney Stinson's half-sister who dated Ted Mosby. That same month, Benson became the face of eveningwear designer Faviana.{{cite web |last=Stone |first=Rachel |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwfashion/article/Ashley-Benson-is-The-New-Face-Of-Faviana-20130107 |title=Ashley Benson is The New Face Of Faviana |publisher=BWW Fashion World |date=January 7, 2013 |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211300/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwfashion/article/Ashley-Benson-is-The-New-Face-Of-Faviana-20130107 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=live}}
She starred in the 2015 independent horror thriller film Ratter, playing Emma Taylor, a girl who is stalked through her technological devices. That same year, she also appeared in Pixels as Lady Lisa, a fictional game character brought to life. In 2016, Benson appeared in the biographical comedy-drama film Elvis & Nixon as Margaret.
In 2018, it was announced that Benson would star alongside Cara Delevingne and Elisabeth Moss in Alex Ross Perry's music drama film Her Smell,{{cite web|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/cara-delevingne-ashley-benson-music-video-her-smell|title=Ashley Benson and Cara Delevingne Costar in a New Music Video for Her Smell|work=W|last=Cusumano|first=Katherine|date=April 13, 2019|access-date=May 19, 2022}} and the film received generally positive reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/her_smell|title=Her Smell|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date=May 19, 2022}} For the film's soundtrack, Benson did all her own vocals.
=2020s: Music ventures and later return to film=
In 2020, Benson was featured on "Creep" by G-Eazy, a cover version of the Radiohead song.{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2020/04/22/g-eazy-ashley-benson-cover-radiohead-creep-video/|title=G-Eazy Drops Unexpected Duet Tracks With Ashley Benson: Listen To Their Radiohead Cover|work=Hollywood Life|last=Selleck|first=Emily|date=April 22, 2020|access-date=April 23, 2020}} She also appeared in the music videos previously for NLT's "That Girl", One Call's "Black Light", and Hot Chelle Rae's "Honestly".
Personal life
Benson's former co-star and friend Tyler Blackburn made a revelation about the nature of their relationship during an interview in 2019. He stated: "in navigating our relationship as co-workers and also as friends sometimes the lines blurred a little. We had periods when we felt more for each other". The pair ultimately remained good friends.{{cite web | url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/tyler-blackburn-friendship-ashley-benson-blurred-interview-playboy/amp | title=Tyler Blackburn Said His Friendship with Ashley Benson "Blurred" into More in New Interview with Playboy | date=June 12, 2019 }} From 2018 to 2020, Benson was in a high-profile relationship with English model Cara Delevingne.{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/cara-delevingne-ashley-benson-relationship-sacred|title=Cara Delevingne Just Opened Up About Her 'Sacred' Relationship with Ashley Benson|work=Glamour|last=Gardner|first=Abby|date=September 2, 2019|access-date=September 27, 2021}} She dated rapper G-Eazy from 2020 to 2021.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/music/ashley-benson-g-eazy-split/|title=Ashley Benson and G-Eazy Split After Less Than a Year of Dating|work=People|last=Chiu|first=Melody|date=February 9, 2021|access-date=September 27, 2021}} Benson has been in a relationship with Brandon Davis (grandson of late billionaire Marvin Davis) since January 2023.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alexis |url=https://people.com/tv/ashley-benson-dating-brandon-davis |title=Ashley Benson Is Dating Brandon Davis: They Are 'Very Social People,' Says Source |publisher=People.com |date=February 3, 2023 }} She resides in Los Angeles. Benson and Davis got engaged in July 2023.{{cite web |last=Strohm |first=Emily |url= https://people.com/ashley-benson-is-engaged-to-oil-heir-brandon-davis-my-best-friend-7557901 |title= Ashley Benson Is Engaged to Oil Heir Brandon Davis: 'My Best Friend' |publisher=People.com |date=July 7, 2023 }} That same year, they married.{{Cite web |title=Pretty Little Liars Actress Ashley Benson Marries Oil Heir Brandon Davis |url=https://people.com/ashley-benson-and-brandon-davis-are-married-8362826 |access-date=2023-11-09|magazine=People|language=en-US}} In February 2024, Benson gave birth to their first child, a daughter.{{Cite web |author=A. O. L. Staff |date=2024-02-29 |title=Ashley Benson Gives Birth, Welcomes 1st Baby With Brandon Davis |url=https://www.aol.com/entertainment/ashley-benson-gives-birth-welcomes-135530598.html |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=www.aol.com |language=en-US}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2004
| Six Chick | |
| 2005
| Neighbors | Mindy | Short film |
| 2007
| Bring It On: In It to Win It | Carson | Direct-to-video |
| 2008
| Alice | |
| 2012
| Brit | |
| 2015
| Ratter | Emma Taylor |
| 2015
| Pixels | Lady Lisa | |
| 2016
| Margaret | |
| 2016
| Jessie | |
| 2018
| Roxie Rotten | |
| 2018
| Ask Me If I Care | Alice | Short film |
| 2021
| data-sort-value="Birthday Cake, The"| The Birthday Cake | Tracey | |
| 2022
| Kathryn Carlyle | |
| 2022
| data-sort-value="Loneliest Boy in the World, The"| The Loneliest Boy in the World | Margot | |
| 2022
| Angry Neighbors | Amberson girl | |
| 2023
| Alone at Night | Vicky | Also producer |
| 2023
| Mob Land | Caroline Conners | |
| 2024
| McVeigh | Cindy | |
| {{TableTBA}}
| Good Side of a Bad Man | Ruby | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2002
| data-sort-value="District, The"| The District | Melissa Howell | Episode: "Explicit Activities" |
| 2002
| data-sort-value="West Wing, The"| The West Wing | Girl | Episode: "Game On" |
| 2002
| Nikki | Dancer | Episode: "Working Girl" (unaired) |
| 2004
| April | Episode: "Cape Cancer" |
| 2004–2007
| Role held: November 12, 2004 – May 2, 2007 |
| 2005
| Margot | 2 episodes |
| 2005
| Zoey 101 | Candice | Episode: "Quinn's Date" |
| 2006
| data-sort-value="O.C., The"| The O.C. | Riley | Episode: "The Summer Bummer" |
| 2008
| Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal | Brooke Tippit | Television film |
| 2008
| Amy Beck | Episode: "Bombshell" |
| 2008
| Tracy Davis | Episode: "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester" |
| 2009
| Eastwick | Mia Torcoletti | Main role |
| 2010
| Caitlin Quinn | Television film |
| 2010–2017
| Main role, 160 episodes |
| 2012
| Punk'd | Herself | Episode: "Heather Morris" |
| 2013
| Carly Whittaker | Episode: "Ring Up!" |
| 2013–2014
| Special guest star, 2 episodes |
| 2014
| Dakota (voice) | Episode: "Brian's a Bad Father" |
| 2015
| Herself | Episode: "Bananas Foster" |
| 2023
| Cara Parker | Main role, 4 episodes |
=Web=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2011
| CollegeHumor Originals | Ashley | Episode: "Secret Girl Language" |
| 2020
| Lady Parts | Herself | Episode: "How to Survive Puberty" |
| 2021
| Sorry Charlie Miller | Charlie Miller | Voice role; podcast series |
=Music videos=
Discography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Title
! Year ! Other artist(s) ! Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Stars Go Out" {{small|(as Cindy Ultra)}}{{cite web|url=http://www.beautifulballad.org/2017/12/16/ashley-benson-releases-new-song-from-her-upcoming-untitled-film/|title=Ashley Benson Releases New Song From Her Upcoming Untitled Film|work=Beautiful Ballad|date=December 16, 2017}}
| 2017 | {{N/A|None}} | {{N/A|None}} |
| scope="row"| "Breathe"
| rowspan="2"| 2019 | Elisabeth Moss, Agyness Deyn, | rowspan="2"|Her Smell |
| scope="row"| "Can't Wait"
| Cara Delevingne and Dylan Gelula |
| scope="row"| "Creep"
| rowspan="2"| 2020 | G-Eazy | {{N/A|None}} |
| scope="row"| "All the Things You're Searching For"
| G-Eazy and Kossisko |
=Songwriting credits=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:160px;"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Artist(s) ! scope="col" style="width:180px;"| Album ! scope="col"| Credits ! scope="col"| Written with |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Every Night of the Year"
| 2020 | G-Eazy | Everything's Strange Here | Co-writer | Gerald Gillum, Dakarai Gwitira, John Michael Rouchell |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="width:2em;"| Year
! style="width:9em;"| Award ! style="width:18em;"| Category ! style="width:8em;"|Work ! style="width:6em;"|Result |
|---|
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2011
|Cast to Watch {{small|(with Troian Bellisario, Lucy Hale and Shay Mitchell)}} | rowspan="2"|Pretty Little Liars | {{won}} |
| Youth Rock Awards{{cite web |url=http://prettylittleliars.com/12082011-ashley-benson-wins-2011-youth-rock-award-for-best-actress/ |title=Ashley Benson wins 2011 Youth Rock Award For Best Actress" Announced |publisher=Youth Rock Awards|date=December 8, 2011 |access-date=December 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025846/http://prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/ashley-benson-wins-2011-youth-rock-award-for-best-actress/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}
| Rockin' TV Actress | {{won}} |
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |2013
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards | Actress Most in Need of a New Agent {{small|(with Rachel Korine, Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens)}} | rowspan="2"|Spring Breakers | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| Capricho Awards
| Best Make Out {{small|(with James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens)}} | {{nom}} |
| Best International Actress
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |2014
| Best Kiss {{small|(with James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens)}} | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"|Teen Choice Awards
| Choice Summer TV Star – Female | {{won}} |
| Candie's Choice Style Icon
| Herself | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2015
| rowspan="7"|Pretty Little Liars | {{nom}} |
| Teen Choice Awards
| Choice Summer TV Star: Female | {{won}} |
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |2016
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"|Teen Choice Awards
| {{won}} |
| Choice TV: Chemistry {{small|(with Tyler Blackburn)}}
| {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2017
| {{nom}} |
| Teen Choice Awards
| {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20190425181554/https://faviana.com/blog/celebrity-prom-dress-inspiration Ashley Benson spokesmodel for Faviana]
{{Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actress Drama|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Ashley}}
Category:People from Anaheim Hills, California
Category:American child models
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