1. This week **** magazine catches up with exciting new actress, Ashleigh Rivers! She’ll be hitting your
screens soon in new steampunk paranormal romance, Soulless. Here today she talks about slobbing
in front of the TV, Victorian dresses and her role as super kick ass Alexia Tarabotti.
Hey there, Ashleigh! How’re you doing? Been busy?
Hi, yeah I’m doing really well thanks.Yeah quite busy but I love it! But I have recently had a few days
off filming so I’ve been catching up with sleep and spending time with family and friends, it’s been so
nice seeing them after being with the cast and crew for so long... not that I don’t love it *laughs*
That sounds good! You seem to be really close with your family, how do they deal with the whole
actress thing?
Oh they’re great with it, it was hard for my mum at first, what with me being away filming so much
but we speak every day and she loves hearing all the gossip and different things that happen on set.
And my little brother thinks it’s amazing that his sister is gonna be on TV, he keeps asking for people
autographs and asking to be in the film with me.
So have you got anyone’s autograph for him?
*laughs* yeah, I got Gerard Butlers; he thought it was really sweet and drew him a picture too. It’s
stuck on my brother’s wall above his bed, replacing a picture he had of me and him..but I don’t
mind, he thinks he’s made a new friend, it’s super cute!
What’s it like working with Gerard Butler? A lot of girls are very jealous of you!
I have no idea why… No, he’s great, such an easy guy to work with and fun to be around off set too.
When I first found out he would be playing my characters love interest I was so nervous, I mean he’s
such a well-known actor and I’m just little old me, but once we’d starting getting into rehearsals and
everything I completely chilled out, he isn’t as scary as he looks. He spends a lot of time eating in his
trailer, if you can’t find him, that’s where he’ll be. Usually watching some sort of cartoon!
Little old you?! Lots of people will be fiercely disagreeing with that statement!
*laughing* I’m not so sure. I spend too much time in my scruffs with a packet of biscuits, hair a mess
and watching TV or reading a good book. And I’m way too fond of my local take away, I’m becoming
a regular there, it’s just too easy to order and not have to cook anything and I’m so bad at cooking.
Probably safer that I order, my mum isn’t very impressed though, she keeps telling me she’s going to
start teaching me to cook different meals when I go round to she her!
I think everyone loves chilling out in front of the TV! Your new film, ‘Soulless’ is based on a book
by Gail Carriger, tell us a bit about the book, did they stick close to the events in the book or was
quite a lot changed?
The book is about a woman in the Victorians time, but it’s a bt different then the Victorian times you
learn about in school, vampires and werewolves exist and are part of the norm. The leading man in

2. the book, who Gerard plays, is a werewolf alpha and the main girl is a preternatural, or someone
without a soul. But unlike the werewolves and vampires she keeps her supernatural ability a secret
from her family and friends alike. Not gonna give too much away or no body will need to watch the
film! But as for them keeping close to the story thetdefinatly did, a few scenes have been added here
and there for cinematic value but nothing has been taken out. If they’d changed too much from the
book I don’t think I would of agreed to do it.
So did you read the book before you accepted the role then?
I’d read it a while ago actually, I found it on a trip out with my grandad in a little charity shop and I’m
a sucker for pretty book covers. I loved it and I’ve read the whole series since then. But I did read it
again once I’d accepted the role, I thought I’d help with getting into character and it actually did!
So you’d recommend it then?
Oh yeah, defiantly! I seriously loved them and I think other will as well!
Is there any talk about doing the rest of the series?
There has been talk, yeah. But I don’t know anything for definite, Of course I’d love it if they did. I’ve
had the time of my life filming Soulless and I’ve met some amazing people who I hope to work with
again. But if it doesn’t work out, then I’ll have plenty of time for other film roles and I’m in talks with
someone about a role on a popular TV show… but I can’t tell you anymore on that subject.
That’s unfair! Go on, not even a little clue?
Nooo, I can’t! But you’ll know soon enough, if all goes well.
We’ll look forward to it! On reading the book it seems your character, Alexia Tarabotti, is quite
bold and out there, do you like this about her?
God yeah! My favourite thing about Alexia, is that she is so out there and brave with everything she
does. She doesn’t care about getting into fights or what and how she sounds and looks, despite
having to fight against those huge Victorian dresses to do so! They were a challenge getting used to.
But I did love it, it was so exciting getting into them and seeing how different everyone looked. If I
had it my way everyone would still be dresses like the Victorians now.
Imagine! Well, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule and talking to us, we’ve
enjoyed it and we can’t to see you on the big screen in Soulless, anything else to say to your fans
before we leave?
It’s been a pleasure, thanks for having me! Just that I hope everyone comes to see Soulless and
enjoys it as much as I enjoyed filming it.
Well there you have it, it you’re as interested in seeing Soulless as we are, get your butts down to
your local cinema from the 14th June and see Ashleigh in action!