I Acted With Jennifer Lopez. She Supported Me On and Off Camera

From a young age, I was drawn to the performing arts. I began playing the violin when I was just six years old, and acting through school plays and musicals. I loved every aspect of it—singing, dancing, all of it.

My passion for storytelling developed as I grew older, largely influenced by my father's love for movies. We watched countless films together, and through them, I discovered the power of narrative and the impact it could have on an audience.

Building My Career

Acting was something I always wanted to pursue but was too afraid to do for a long time. It wasn't until I signed up for a college course and stumbled upon an introduction to acting class that I finally took a leap of faith.

I walked out of that class, drove home, and immediately called my mom to tell her I was going to be an actor. And that's exactly what I did. I started taking classes in Los Angeles, and a year later I booked my first professional show in Illinois. After that, I had fallen in love with acting and moved to NYC to attend an acting conservatory.

Initially, I had no interest in directing but as I completed conservatory school, I found myself intrigued by the world of filmmaking. This was a time when independent creatives were producing their own TV shows and web series, thus I found myself involved in various roles on set.

Whether I was working as an assistant director, a production assistant, or simply helping out, I began to understand what it was like to be on the other side of the camera.

The connection between acting and directing fascinated me. The relationship between an actor and a director is incredibly personal, specific, and crucial to the success of any project.

As a director you have the opportunity to tell a story from every angle, the shots, locations, music, wardrobe and more—I want to be involved in every aspect of filmmaking.

The journey into acting and filmmaking is filled with numerous challenges. From the moment you start, you're told that if you don't love it, if it doesn't feel like a necessity, you should pursue something else.

This career demands a lot from you—honing your craft, managing finances for headshots and classes, and maintaining a flexible work schedule for auditions.

Most of us actors juggle what people call "day jobs". We work around the clock to make ends meet, while we continue to perfect our craft, audition, shoot until we are able to sustain ourselves fully through this art form.

Then, there's the personal work—learning to deal with rejection, believing in yourself, and developing confidence are all part of the process. It's about looking fear in the eye and pushing forward anyway. These are real challenges.

It might sound morbid, but that's why it's crucial to be honest with yourself. You need to feel a deep, internal pull towards this career and this craft. It's a lifelong journey of growth and learning, and accepting that can be a tough pill to swallow. Perfection is a myth.

You're embarking on an adventure that will constantly challenge you and force you to grow and learn. If you can find humility in that, it can really support you along the way.

Working With J.Lo

In 2023, I got the opportunity to audition for a film called This is Me...Now through my representation. They sent me an audition for this project, and it sounded like a fun challenge.

This Is Me...Now is a love story—and who doesn't love a love story? I auditioned for the role of a character named "The Idealist," one of Jennifer Lopez's best friends in the project. My character had a hopeful perspective on life, focusing on how things could or should be rather than how they were.

On the day of the audition, I had a hard time finding someone to read the other lines with me. In a stroke of luck, a friend of mine, an amazing woman, pulled over on the side of the road to help me with the audition. I'm incredibly grateful for her support. It's moments like these that remind you of the importance of community in this industry.

I was so excited when I got this role, I can't even explain it! Filming started pretty quickly. We shot on and off for a little over a month, which was great because I really was able to bond with the other actors.

Working with Jennifer Lopez was an incredible experience. It's always interesting to work with someone you've admired for so long, especially when they're an icon in the industry.

Jennifer was wonderful, kind, supportive, and an incredibly hard worker. Watching her work was inspiring. It felt like a dream come true, although I'm not sure I ever dreamed that this could happen to me.

Being on set was an empowering experience. The hair, makeup, and wardrobe were fantastic and tied into the theme of the film—a love story.

On the first day of filming, Jennifer, dressed fabulously yet effortlessly, shook our hands, introduced herself, and talked to us about the project. It was a wonderful way to kick off the project, feeling that support from her both in front of and behind the camera.

There was a scene in the film where we improvised with Jennifer, which was incredibly fun. She's sharp, talented, and funny. It was great to engage with her in an improvisational way and see that side of her. Overall, it was a great and fun experience.

Advocating for Women of Color in Film

Three years ago, I began volunteering for an organization called Made in Her Image, an incredible non-profit that focuses on teaching young women, girls, and non-binary youth of color about the art and business of filmmaking.

I've been fortunate to work with them in many different capacities. Most recently, I was a host on a panel called Fireside Chats, consisting of directors, cinematographers, and even photographers, all sharing their journeys, their careers, and the things they've learned. We offered the knowledge we could to others who aspire to pursue a career in this industry.

My primary focus is to empower young women, girls, and non-binary youth of color. I want them to believe that they belong in this industry, that there's room and space for them, and that there are people out here doing their part to support them. We're reaching down and pulling them up towards whatever success means for them.

As for my future plans, I'm really excited about This Is Me... Now, which is coming out on February 16 on Prime Video. It's a Jennifer Lopez Amazon original and I believe it will be an inspiring cinematic musical experience that people will obsess over.

In addition to that, I'm in the development stages of my next short film, which I'm very excited about. It's a story that's very personal and close to me, centered around motherhood, womanhood, and friendship.

Ashley Versher is an actress, filmmaker, and writer. She played the role of Jennifer Lopez' best friend in the movie, This is Me... Now, which premiered on Amazon Prime on February 16, 2023.

All views expressed in this article are the author's own.

As told to Carine Harb

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