ASHLEIGH COMES HOME
ASHLEIGH BREWER THE GORGEOUS ACTRESS IS BACK FROM LA – TO SET UP HOME IN SUMMER BAY
Walking along the beach on a sunny Sydney afternoon, Ashleigh Brewer’s blue eyes shine. The newly blonde actor looks every inch the Hollywood star – but one who couldn’t be happier to be back on our shores. Former Queenslander Ashleigh, who headed to Los Angeles four years ago to portray the glamorous jewellery designer Ivy Forrester in US mega-soap The Bold And The Beautiful, has returned to Australia for a major new role in Home And Away. In soon-to-be-seen episodes, Ashleigh will move into our favourite coastal town as mysterious police officer Chelsea Campbell, a young woman with a yet-to-be-revealed connection to fellow officer Colby Thorne (Tim Franklin).
Certainly, it’s a pivotal role that will place the 27-year-old star front and centre in the internationally cherished long-running Australian drama.
And Ashleigh, who played Neighbours good girl Kate Ramsay for almost five years from the age of 17 before landing a full-time gig on Bold in 2014, didn’t hesitate to pack her bags when the Home And Away opportunity came knocking.
‘I auditioned for the role and sent a tape from LA,’ says Ashleigh. ‘It all happened pretty quickly. I was so ready for an injection of home soil and I’m loving every minute of it.’
For now, though, Ashleigh’s partner Zac and their beloved pooch Cools have remained behind in Los Angeles.
‘But I’ve been lucky enough that my boyfriend has been here a few times and I’ve been able to go back a couple of times too – so it hasn’t been so bad,’ says Ashleigh.
‘He’s not an actor, thank God,’ she adds, with a laugh. ‘It’s the best thing! He’s definitely a big support to me.’
As for Cools, Ashleigh reveals
‘I WAS SO READY FOR AN INJECTION OF HOME SOIL AND I’M LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT’
he’s a mini Goldendoodle: ‘A golden retriever crossed with a poodle, which is hilarious and makes no sense because he’s so tiny!’ she says, laughing again. ‘He’s the tiniest dog ever.’
Ashleigh admits she’s also loving her new golden locks.
‘I went blonde just before I got the role – straight after I left Bold,’ she says. ‘I was actually going to take it back [to brunette] but I thought “I actually like this!” so now I’ve just stayed blonde. It’s fun! I’ll probably keep it.’
Ashleigh concedes there was much she missed about Australia during her time in LA.
‘It’s just a different living environment over there, so there are so many small things you miss,’ she says, adding with a smile, ‘Everyone also says I must have missed Australian coffee, but if you live anywhere for long enough, you’ll find good coffee. There are also a lot of Australian cafes popping up over there.’
There’s no doubt Ashleigh has always had the support of one of her oldest and closest friends - her former Melbourne flatmate, fellow Neighbours actor-turned-hollywoodsuperstar Margot Robbie – along with that of many other Australian performers making a name for themselves in the US.
‘I feel so lucky that over there I do have voices and friends around me whose opinions I really trust,’ she says. ‘They’re all doing so well. It’s just nice to have that support as a bit of a backbone. There’s always a good shoulder to lean on.’
How does the Home and Away schedule compare to that of Bold?
‘There’s a lot of similarities, but then there’s a lot of differences as well,’ she reflects. ‘ Bold, for me, tended to start a bit later in the day, and more often than not I would be finished within a few hours of my start time, whereas here it tends to be much more spread out. But that may not be the case for everyone. That’s only my experience. I just really love working in television so much and I feel it makes sense for me.’
And Ashleigh hopes that we like her new alter ego Chelsea as much as she does.
‘I’ve really grown into her,’ she says. ‘She’s very different from the previous roles I’ve played. They’ve all been quite different, so I’m lucky. Playing a police officer is definitely a first for me, too.
‘Chelsea turns up in the Bay with Colby on the brain and pretty much him alone. She knows what she wants out of life and she’s going to keep going until she gets it. Colby’s definitely a big part of the plan. They have
a lot
‘OH MY GOODNESS. I FEEL SO LUCKY TO BE WORKING WITH TIM’
of history together and you feel that straight away.’
Ashleigh promises we’ll be enthralled by the plot developments.
‘There are some amazing storylines coming up,’ she says. ‘I’m being challenged the whole way. I’m really learning so much on this show.’
Speaking of Colby, Ashleigh has found a kindred spirit in the character’s portrayer, Tim Franklin.
‘Oh my goodness, I feel so lucky to be working with Tim,’ she says. ‘We hit it off from the very first second.
‘He welcomes anyone with a giant hug and you instantly feel very safe and welcome. He’s the best person to work with. I know that we’ll be friends forever – without a doubt.’
Ashleigh is also happy to report that the entire Home And Away family instantly took her under their wing when she arrived on the set.
‘I’d never really spent much time in Sydney until now, and I don’t have any family here,’ she says. ‘But everyone has just been incredible. I love being part of a big ensemble cast.
‘I think I needed this time on home turf even more than I’d anticipated. It’s been so amazing.’