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Ashley Benson
Ashley Benson 2020 (cropped).jpg
Benson at German Comic Con in 2019
Born
Ashley Victoria Benson

(1989-12-18) December 18, 1989 (age 35)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active 2002–present
Spouse(s)
Brandon Davis
(m. 2023)
Children 1
Relatives
  • Marvin Davis (grandfather-in-law)
  • Barbara Davis (grandmother-in-law)
  • Jason Davis (brother-in-law)
Awards Full list

Ashley Victoria Benson (born December 18, 1989) is an American actress and singer. She is well-known for her role as Hanna Marin in the TV series Pretty Little Liars. She has also starred in movies like Spring Breakers and Her Smell. Ashley has won several awards, including four Teen Choice Awards.

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About Ashley Benson's Life

Early Life and Beginnings

Ashley Benson was born on December 18, 1989. Her hometown is Anaheim Hills, California. Her parents are Shannon and Jeff Benson. She has an older sister named Shaylene.

Ashley started dancing when she was just three years old. She learned many styles, including ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. She also loved singing from a young age. She even sang a solo at her church when she was four. When she was eight, she signed with Ford Models. This led to her appearing in many print advertisements.

Starting Her Acting Career

Ashley began acting in her teenage years. She first became known for her role as Abigail Deveraux. This was in the soap opera Days of Our Lives. She played this character from 2004 to 2007.

Her first movie role was a small part in the 2004 comedy 13 Going on 30. Later, she starred as Carson in Bring It On: In It to Win It (2007). This was part of the popular Bring It On cheerleading movie series.

Working on a movie set was different for her. On a soap opera, she would film many episodes in one day. For movies, she might spend days on just one or two scenes. For Bring It On, she had to practice cheerleading. She said it was hard because she was afraid of heights. But she was happy to do her own stunts.

In 2008, Ashley was in the TV movie Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal. She played Brooke Tippit, a head cheerleader. This movie was based on a real story. She also became good friends with her co-star Tatum O'Neal. Ashley was excited to work with William H. Macy in the movie Bart Got a Room. She also played a witch in an episode of the TV series Supernatural.

In 2009, Ashley starred in the TV show Eastwick. This show was about witches and was based on a famous novel. It only had 11 episodes.

Becoming a Star

Pretty Little Liars and More Movies

Ashley Benson 3, 2012
Benson in 2012

In 2009, Ashley Benson got a big role. She was cast as Hanna Marin in Pretty Little Liars. This was a mystery-thriller TV series. It was based on a popular book series. Hanna is a popular girl in the show. The series became very successful. Ashley's acting was praised by many. She also won several awards for this role. She even appeared as Hanna in two episodes of the spin-off series Ravenswood.

In 2010, Ashley starred in the TV movie Christmas Cupid. In 2012, she was cast in the movie Spring Breakers. She starred alongside Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, and James Franco. The movie is about college students on spring break. It was filmed in 2012 and released in 2013.

In 2013, Ashley appeared in the TV show How I Met Your Mother. She played Carly Whittaker, who was Barney Stinson's half-sister. That same year, she became the face of the fashion brand Faviana.

She starred in the 2015 horror movie Ratter. In this film, she played a girl who is watched through her electronic devices. Also in 2015, she was in the movie Pixels. She played Lady Lisa, a video game character. In 2016, Ashley was in the movie Elvis & Nixon.

In 2018, Ashley starred in the music drama film Her Smell. She acted alongside Elisabeth Moss. Ashley also sang all her own songs for the movie's soundtrack.

Music and Recent Work

In 2020, Ashley Benson sang on a song called "Creep". This was a cover version by G-Eazy. She has also appeared in music videos for other artists. These include NLT, One Call, and Hot Chelle Rae.

More recently, Ashley has continued to act in films. She starred in Private Property (2022). She also appeared in Mob Land (2023) and McVeigh (2024). In 2023, she was in the TV series Wilderness on Amazon Prime Video.

Ashley's Personal Life

Ashley Benson has been in relationships. She dated Brandon Davis, the grandson of a billionaire, starting in 2023. They got engaged in July 2023 and later married that same year. In February 2024, Ashley and Brandon welcomed their first child, a daughter. Ashley lives in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Film Roles

Year Title Role Notes
2004 13 Going on 30 Six Chick
2005 Neighbors Mindy Short film
2007 Bring It On: In It to Win It Carson Direct-to-video
2008 Bart Got a Room Alice
2012 Spring Breakers Brit
2015 Ratter Emma Taylor Also camera operator
2015 Pixels Lady Lisa
2016 Elvis & Nixon Margaret
2016 Chronically Metropolitan Jessie
2018 Her Smell Roxie Rotten
2018 Ask Me If I Care Alice Short film
2021 The Birthday Cake Tracey
2022 Private Property Kathryn Carlyle
2022 The Loneliest Boy in the World Margot
2022 Angry Neighbors Amberson girl
2023 Alone at Night Vicky Also producer
2023 Mob Land Caroline Conners
2024 McVeigh Cindy
TBA Good Side of a Bad Man Ruby

Television Roles

Year Title Role Notes
2002 The District Melissa Howell Episode: "Explicit Activities"
2002 The West Wing Girl Episode: "Game On"
2002 Nikki Dancer Episode: "Working Girl" (unaired)
2004 Strong Medicine April Episode: "Cape Cancer"
2004–2007 Days of Our Lives Abigail Deveraux Role held: November 12, 2004 – May 2, 2007
2005 7th Heaven Margot 2 episodes
2005 Zoey 101 Candice Episode: "Quinn's Date"
2006 The O.C. Riley Episode: "The Summer Bummer"
2008 Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal Brooke Tippit Television film
2008 CSI: Miami Amy Beck Episode: "..."
2008 Supernatural Tracy Davis Episode: "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester"
2009 Eastwick Mia Torcoletti Main role
2010 Christmas Cupid Caitlin Quinn Television film
2010–2017 Pretty Little Liars Hanna Marin Main role, 160 episodes
2012 Punk'd Herself Episode: "Heather Morris"
2013 How I Met Your Mother Carly Whittaker Episode: "Ring Up!"
2013–2014 Ravenswood Hanna Marin Special guest star, 2 episodes
2014 Family Guy Dakota (voice) Episode: "Brian's a Bad Father"
2015 Barely Famous Herself Episode: "Bananas Foster"
2023 Wilderness Cara Parker Main role, 4 episodes

Web Series Roles

Year Title Role Notes
2011 CollegeHumor Originals Ashley Episode: "Secret Girl Language"
2020 Lady Parts Herself Episode: "How to Survive Puberty"
2021 Sorry Charlie Miller Charlie Miller Voice role; podcast series

Music Videos She Appeared In

Year Title Artist(s) Role Ref.
2002 "True Love" Lil' Romeo featuring Solange Knowles Girl #1
2007 "That Girl" NLT Love Interest
2008 "We Don't Have to Look Back Now" Puddle of Mudd The Girlfriend
2010 "Black Light" One Call Love Interest
2012 "Honestly" Hot Chelle Rae Girl
2019 "Can't Wait" The Akergirls Roxie Rotten
2020 "Imagine" Gal Gadot & Friends Herself

Discography (Music)

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Stars Go Out" (as Cindy Ultra) 2017 None None
"Breathe" 2019 Elisabeth Moss, Agyness Deyn,
Gayle Rankin, Cara Delevingne,
Dylan Gelula and Amber Heard
Her Smell
"Can't Wait" Cara Delevingne and Dylan Gelula
"Creep" 2020 G-Eazy None
"All the Things You're Searching For" G-Eazy and Kossisko Everything's Strange Here

Songwriting Credits

Title Year Artist(s) Album Credits Written with
"Every Night of the Year" 2020 G-Eazy Everything's Strange Here Co-writer Gerald Gillum, Dakarai Gwitira, John Michael Rouchell

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2011 Young Hollywood Awards Cast to Watch (with Troian Bellisario, Lucy Hale and Shay Mitchell) Pretty Little Liars Won
Youth Rock Awards Rockin' TV Actress Won
2013 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards Actress Most in Need of a New Agent (with Rachel Korine, Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens) Spring Breakers Nominated
Capricho Awards Best Make Out (with James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens) Nominated
Best International Actress Pretty Little Liars Nominated
2014 MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss (with James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens) Spring Breakers Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star – Female Pretty Little Liars Won
Candie's Choice Style Icon Herself Nominated
2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Cable TV Actress Pretty Little Liars Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star: Female Won
2016 People's Choice Awards Favorite Cable TV Actress Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Drama Won
Choice TV: Chemistry (with Tyler Blackburn) Won
2017 People's Choice Awards Favorite Cable TV Actress Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Drama Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ashley Benson para niños

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