Ashlee Simpson
Biography
Ashlee
Nicole Simpson was born on October 3, 1984, in Dallas, Texas. She's
the daughter of Joe and Tina Simpson, and the younger sister of
pop star/reality TV queen Jessica Simpson. Attending Prairie Creek
Elementary School, Ashlee's talent was apparent early on: at age
4 she started dancing, and by the time she was 11, she was admitted
into the prestigious School of American Ballet, the youngest person
in that school's history. When she was 14, she began to dance professionally,
and the Simpson family moved to Los Angeles. Not long after, Ashlee
went on the road, dancing as part of her sister's stage show. She
supported Jessica's rise to fame from 1999 to 2001, all the while
dreaming of acting and even pursuing her own music career.
In 2001,
Ashlee made her first solo television appearance in a small role
on Malcolm in the Middle, and during this time she appeared alongside
her more famous sibling on Saved by the Bell, The Donny & Marie
Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The View, The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno, and a Disney Christmas show and concert special. Ashlee
also took a part in the Rob Schneider comedy, The Hot Chick (2002).
But it
was on TV that Ashlee first got the role that would catapult her
to greater stardom. In 2002, she was cast as Cecilia Smith, girlfriend
of Simon Camden on the popular WB drama 7th Heaven. While playing
this recurring role, Ashlee took lessons from renowned acting coach
Janet Alhanti. All the same, Ashlee began to take small steps toward
becoming a singer as well, and in between breaks in her shooting
schedule she recorded songs such as "Just Let Me Cry"
for the Freaky Friday soundtrack.
In late
2003, Ashlee signed a recording contract with Geffen Records to
make her first album. At the same time, her father Joe (who produces
Jessica Simpson's Newlyweds reality show on MTV) asked Ashlee if
she too wanted to have a show built around her. Ashlee declined
at first, but agreed when Joe suggested it be about the making of
Ashlee's upcoming album.
The Ashlee
Simpson Show premiered on June 16, 2004, on MTV, and the album,
Autobiography, was released on July 20, 2004 after the show finished
its run. The debut single, "Pieces of Me," was heavily
played on the radio.
Although
Ashlee is now entering her sister's turf, she takes pains to point
out the differences between the two singing Simpsons. She says her
style is more punk and less pop, and that just as she's broadening
her profile, so is her sister. "It's funny 'cause Jess is doing
acting for the first time," observes Ashlee, "and I'm
doing music, so we sort of switched. It's really great."
Currently
living in Los Angeles, Simpson enjoys spending her free time vintage
shopping, writing and recording music and hanging out with friends.
Ashlee Simpson Filmography
Undiscovered (2005) ....
Clea
"7th Heaven" (1996) TV Series .... Cecilia Smith (2002-2004)
... aka 7th Heaven: Beginnings (USA: rerun title)
... aka Seventh Heaven
The Hot Chick (2002) .... Monique |
