Ashley Palmer (actress)

Ashley Elizabeth Palmer is an American actress[1] and singer best known for her appearance in the 2007 hit horror film, Paranormal Activity.[2]

Ashley Palmer
Ashley Palmer, Hollywood, California on March 28, 2013
Born (1978-11-13) November 13, 1978
Naperville, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationActress

Early life and education

Palmer starred in her first play at age 5 while growing up in Naperville, Illinois, and spent her childhood performing and studying theater, dance and music.[3] Before high school, her family relocated to Loveland, Ohio.[4] While attending Loveland High School,[5] she also studied singing, dancing and acting at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music prep program.[6]

Her first professional acting job was in 1995 when, at age 16, she played the lead role of Polly Browne in The Boy Friend on the showboat Majestic. The following year she played Luisa in The Fantasticks at a historic Over-the-Rhine theater. She earned several scholarships to study Musical Theatre and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio.[7]

Career

In 2000, Palmer moved to New York City where she worked in summer stock, regional and children’s touring theatre and independent film before being selected for the original cast of the Off-Broadway show Pieces (of Ass). Despite her part getting cut in her first TV job, a restaurant hostess in the final season of Sex and the City, she relocated to Los Angeles in 2004 to pursue film and television work.

Once in Hollywood she studied film acting and also took improv classes at the famed Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. In 2005 was cast in the pilot episode of Kitchen Confidential, which was based on the life of Anthony Bourdain, and could be seen canoodling with the star Bradley Cooper.[8] She performed with a comedy group and played funny roles in several web series before being considered for the lead role in the hit horror film Paranormal Activity, which she had submitted herself to, hoping to combine her improv skills with dramatic acting.

In 2007, when she didn’t land the role played by Katie Featherston, Oren Peli offered Palmer the memorable part of Diane, who is seen in an online video having the same demonic possession as the main character.[9] The role was gory and intense which drew attention at Screamfest Horror Film Festival and Slamdance Film Festival but was shortened significantly in the changes made by Steven Spielberg and Paramount Pictures before the film's theatrical release in 2009.[10]

In 2010, she played Marla in the poker movie Hitting the Nuts, and appeared in on television on Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, State of the Union and Big Love.[11] In 2011, Palmer was seen as a dancer in Water for Elephants and a young mom on NBC’s Love Bites[12] and shot the feature film A Strange Brand of Happy with Rebecca St. James and Shirley Jones, released in 2013.[13] When not acting she hosts shows and events, conducts red carpet interviews and does travel writing.[14]

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage Work

Off-Broadway
  • Pieces (Of Ass) Ashley (2003)

Regional Theatre

References
  1. Internet Movie Database Retrieved 2012-01-12
  2. USA Today, 9 October 2009, by: Claudia Puig, "Watch scary 'Paranormal Activity' with the lights on" USA
  3. Naperville Sun, 23 October 2009, by: David Sharos, "Horror Hit Boots Career of Naperville Native", Naperville, IL, USA
  4. Gibson, Chuck (January 15, 2010). "'Paranormal' Actress Comes Back Home for Christmas". The Loveland Herald. Loveland, Ohio: The Community Press.
  5. Gibson, Chuck (February 6, 2013). "Is it something in Loveland's water?". The Loveland Herald. Loveland, Ohio: The Community Press. Retrieved February 7, 2013. It was a surprise, but no accident for the 1996 Loveland High School graduate.
  6. Kiesewetter, John (October 28, 2009). "For actress, 'Paranormal' Stirs Career Activity". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio: Gannett Company.
  7. Chordas, Nick (October 25, 2009). "Tiny part boosts Otterbein grad". The Columbus Dispatch. Columbus, Ohio: Dispatch Printing Company.
  8. The Tolucan Times, 29 April 2009, by: Pat Taylor "Two Productions to talk about this week", Toluca Lake, CA, USA.
  9. 'The New York Times, 9 October 2009, by: A.O. Scott, "Ghostbusters on a budget: If things go bump in the night, grab a camera", USA.
  10. The Hollywood Reporter, 24 September 2009, by: Kevin Lally "Paranormal Activity - Film Review" USA
  11. Chicago Sun-Times 17 June 2011, by: David Sharos, "Naperville's Ashley Palmer an Actress Fit for Cameo Roles", Naperville, IL, USA.
  12. 'The Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 June 2011, by: John Kiesewetter, "Ashley Palmer on NBC's Love Bites", Cincinnati, OH, USA
  13. The Loveland Herald, 1 December 2011, by: Chuck Gibson, "Moviemaking a Family Affair", Loveland, OH, USA.
  14. Supermodels Unlimited, January 2010, "Most Beautiful Celebrities" USA, pg. 28
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