Talent: Ashley Suarez, Photographer: Eliana Orly Hair: Peter Gray using OAUSA Makeup: Dani Parkes Stylist: Felicia Disalvo Location: Cellar Dog NYC

Dress & Gloves: Vintage, courtesy of Eleanor New York

Whether she is stepping in front of a camera, crafting a screenplay, or bringing a character to life on screen, Ashley Suarez operates from a singular core principle: pure storytelling. Suarez developed an early creative foundation that naturally evolved into a seamless dynamic between modeling and narrative performance, using physical nuance and emotional authenticity to bridge the gap between disciplines. That vulnerability recently took center stage in her self-written, self-starred short film exploring the high-stakes emotional terrain of falling in love with a best friend—a project that highlights her evolving voice as a multi-hyphenate creator.

Below, Suarez opens up about character breakdown, visual body language, her cinematic inspirations, and what it takes to protect your creative spark amidst the hustle.

How does your mindset shift when you step in front of a camera for a fashion shoot versus preparing for a narrative acting role?

Ashley Suarez: I started acting as a kid, and I’ve always loved writing and storytelling. I think more than anything, I’m a storyteller. Acting helped me so much with becoming comfortable modeling and with being able to have a variety of faces and expressions. Once I realized that modeling is really just a type of acting, it all became much easier for me. When you’re modeling, you’re playing a character. Some shoots are more playful, some are more elegant, some are more intense — you’re still telling a story, just in a different way. And as much as my acting experience has helped me with modeling, modeling has helped me with acting. I really think the two go hand in hand.

What is the first thing you do when you get a new script or character breakdown to start making the role feel like your own?

Ashley Suarez: I always start by breaking down the script and trying to find what the character wants at its core. I like to strip away everything happening in the scene and find the desire underneath it. Is she seeking comfort? Is she trying to help a friend? Once you simplify what’s actually happening, it becomes so much easier to relate the scene to your real life. Even with the craziest plots, I’ve never been fighting to protect my loved one’s life, but I have been in situations where I’m standing up for someone I love. Finding that emotional connection is what makes a character start to feel real to me.

Modeling requires conveying a story or mood without dialogue. How has working as a model influenced your awareness of body language and screen presence as an actress?

Ashley Suarez: Modeling has helped me with my physicality so much. With modeling, something so subtle like the way you hold tension in your fingers or the way you stand can completely influence an image. The same can be said with acting. The camera picks up every slight movement. Being aware of the flow of things with modeling has helped me become much more present and comfortable in my body on screen with acting. I think storytelling happens physically just as much as it happens through dialogue.

Who are the actors, directors, or fashion icons whose careers or artistic choices inspire the trajectory you want to build?

Ashley Suarez: Oh wow. Well, Emma Stone is my all-time favorite. I love that she’s never afraid to make a character weird or unlikeable or completely unexpected. But I really just love women. Greta Gerwig, Chloé Zhao — I find these women so inspiring. Women with original ideas and really strong voices who are hardworking and aren’t afraid to have an opinion.

I also really love women like Olivia Wilde, Kristen Stewart, and Scarlett Johansson, who have been actresses but have also stepped into directing and other parts of the creative process. Booksmart is actually one of my favorite movies, and I love how specific Olivia Wilde’s voice is in that movie. It’s so funny and chaotic, but there’s so much heart and such a strong understanding of the characters underneath it.

I really admire Kristen Stewart because she seems so willing to trust her own instincts. She’s made a lot of unconventional choices and doesn’t seem afraid to do something just because it might not be what people expect from her. And Scarlett Johansson is someone I really admire for her range. She’s been able to move between huge commercial movies, dramas, comedy, action — she never seems locked into one version of herself.

**Bra:** Dolce & Gabbana, **Skirt:** Nili Lotan, **Shoes:** Gianvito Rossi

Bridgit Mendler was someone I grew up watching, and I remember finding out that she went to MIT and eventually Harvard Law School, and I was just so inspired by that — seeing someone who could have this really creative career and also go to school and pursue a completely different interest.

I think that’s probably what connects all of the women I’m inspired by. They have strong points of view, but they don’t put themselves in one box. I really admire people who give themselves permission to do a million different things, and that’s something I want for myself too.

What films, TV shows, or performances have recently made you pause and say, “I want to do something like that”?

Ashley Suarez: I recently saw Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, and it sent me down this whole rabbit hole. I was just so inspired by how they made it. They took footage from the web series they made almost twenty years ago and built this completely new, Back to the Future-style movie around it. It’s so creative and so fun, and I just love when people make something because they genuinely have a weird idea and want to see if they can pull it off.

Live theater always inspires me, too. I moved to New York in December and I’ve been trying to see as many plays and musicals as I can, and every time I leave I’m just blown away. Being a theater actor is so much hard work. There’s something about watching someone get up on a stage and perform in front of a live audience that I find really moving. Comedians or really anyone who gets on a stage and performs inspire me for the same reason.

I’ve also been watching a lot of old TV lately, which has actually been influencing my writing a lot. Things like Freaks and Geeks, The O.C., and How I Met Your Mother. I love going back and watching older shows and seeing how they built characters and worlds over so many episodes. It’s made me think a lot about the kind of stories I want to tell myself.

What does your ideal day on set look like, and how do you keep your energy up during long shoot days?

**Top:** AEXAE, **Shorts:** Geel, **Shoes:** Gianvito Rossi

Ashley Suarez: Diet Coke, a good book, and a great playlist. Honestly, my ideal set is just a lovely team of kind, fun, hardworking people — and good catering. Good food can make or break a high-stress day on set. I think when everyone is having a good time and there’s a nice energy on set, even a really long day feels a lot easier.

How would you describe your personal style off-duty, and how does fashion help you express your identity outside of playing a character?

Ashley Suarez: My personal style is kind of all over the place. I love fashion, and I think clothing is such a fun way to express yourself. I’m really inspired by my friends, too. I think all of my friends are so freaking cool and have such amazing, individual styles. My girlfriend especially inspires me a lot. She plays stylist for me pretty often, so if you see me wearing something really fun or different, chances are she dressed me that day.

I think that’s part of what I love about fashion — it gives you the freedom to explore different sides of yourself. You can kind of become a different version of yourself just by putting on a different outfit, and I like that my style doesn’t have to be one specific thing.

What is a genre, character trope, or type of project you haven’t tackled yet that you are dying to dive into?

Ashley Suarez: I think horror would be really fun. I mainly audition for dramas and comedies, so I’d love to do something that feels a little different. I think there’s something really interesting about horror because you can push a character into such an extreme emotional and psychological state. You get to explore fear, physicality, and instinct in a way you don’t always get to with other genres.

On that note, I’m actually writing a fun comedy-horror piece right now that I’m really excited about, and I’m dying to get started on it. I think there’s something really fun about being able to scare people and make them laugh in the same story.

Between auditions, shoots, and travel, how do you maintain a sense of balance and protect your mental space?

Ashley Suarez: It’s hard to have a sense of routine when you’re traveling all the time, so I try to have a few things ingrained in my schedule that keep me grounded. I try to read and journal for twenty minutes after I wake up, and I give myself at least an hour or two a day, if I can, to call my family and people I love and actually catch up with them.

And I need to get my body moving at some point in the day. If I don’t have time to work out, I’ll at least go on a walk. I can rehearse my lines while I walk, call someone, or go get coffee. I just need movement. It helps me get out of my head and feel like myself again.

Looking ahead, what kinds of projects or stories are you most excited to collaborate on in this next chapter?

Ashley Suarez: I’m really excited about collaborating more. I’m writing a feature with a group for the first time, and I’m really loving it. The people I’ve been working with are so great and so smart, and I think we all work together really well. I love working as a team. When you really click with people and everyone is contributing and building off of each other, it’s the best feeling.

I also love working with my friends who are directors. My girlfriend and I shoot together all the time, and those are always some of my favorite days. There’s something really special about making something with people you love and trust.

I’m also really open to taking risks and pushing creative boundaries. I want to work with people who have a strong point of view and aren’t afraid to try something that might not work. I think that’s where some of the most exciting work comes from. I want to keep acting and writing, and keep finding more ways to be involved in telling the kinds of stories I really care about.

The Multiverse of Ashley Suarez: Acting, Modeling, and the Art of Vulnerable Storytelling

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