Biography
Name : Ashlee Simpson
Date of birth : October 3rd, 1984
Place of birth : Dallas, Texas, USA
Birth name : Ashlee Nicole Simpson
Height : 5' 7
Education : School of American Ballet
Nationality : American
Profession : actress
Siblings : Sister of pop singer Jessica Simpson
Ashlee Simpson reprises her role on The WB's 7th Heaven for her
second season as Cecilia, Simon Camden's love interest. Simpson
started dancing at the age of 4 and, by the time she was 11, enjoyed
the status of being the youngest person ever admitted to the prestigious
School of American Ballet. By 14, Simpson was dancing professionally
on the road with her older sister, singing sensation Jessica Simpson.
Simpson spent three years on tour supporting her sibling and garnering
her own fan-base. Despite the fact that she hasn't put out an
album of her own, she already has 50 websites devoted to her.
Having recently celebrated
her 18th birthday, Simpson is now set to stake her own claim in
the entertainment world. She appeared on the big screen last year
in the film The Hot Chick alongside Rob Schneider. She already
has television appearances under her belt, including a guest-starring
role on Malcolm In the Middle. She has also appeared alongside
her sister 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.
During her
summer hiatus from 7th Heaven, Simpson was busy at work on her
first album, which should be released sometime next year, and
served as co-host of MTV's Beach House in the Hamptons. She has
also been training with renowned acting coach Janet Alhanti. Currently
living in Los Angeles, Simpson enjoys spending her free time vintage
shopping, writing and recording music and hanging out with friends.
"I'm a simple girl in a complex world," sings 19-year-old
Ashlee Simpson on "Autobiography," a track from her
debut Geffen Records album. But that description doesn't begin
to sum up this multi-talented performer's accomplishments at her
tender age.
With a regular
role as Cecilia in WB's hit TV Seventh Heaven, upcoming The Ashlee
Simpson Show reality series on MTV and debut album bowing July,
Ashlee is about to emerge from, like the name of another new song
on the album, this one about her famous family, the "Shadow."
"I've always been obsessed with music," says Ashlee,
who adds her tastes--and album--are not at all like older sister
Jessica's. "We're into totally different bands and artists."
Produced by John Shanks (Michelle Branch, Sheryl Crow, Melissa
Etheridge, Alanis Morissette, Unwritten Law), the new album has
elements of rock, punk and pop, recalling Ashlee's own favorite
bands--ranging from Janis Joplin and Steve Nicks to Pat Benatar,
the Pretenders and Blondie through Fiona Apple, Hole and Green
Day.
Ashlee co-wrote
every song on the album. "I just wanted to go in and make
a record and not worry about what genre it would be," she
says. "I went in to have a good time and did. It's a rock
record, with a cool edge to it. It's the first time people are
getting to hear what I sound like."
The first
single, "Pieces of Me," is a full-throttle rocker about
a best friend who brings comfort at the end of a long, stressful
day of work. "It's like a sigh," she says. "When
I finally see him, all the other dramas fade away." "Autobiography"
plays around with her public image, daring those who want to know
her to walk up and ask. The tongue-in-cheek rave-up "LaLa"
is about sexual fantasies, with Ashlee role-playing as an alley
cat and a French maid, but it's all in fun. "There's a lot
of sarcasm in that song," she says. "It's something
every girl thinks about, so I decided to make a joke about it.
It's one of the songs you can dance around to."
The Waco,
TX-born Ashlee has been dancing since she was 3, and by 11, she
was the youngest person ever admitted into the prestigious School
of American Ballet. She moved to L.A. with her parents and Jessica
when she was 14, pursuing an acting career and dancing in her
sister's stage show, but dreaming of doing music all the while.
She went on
to make appearances on Malcolm in the Middle and The View before
landing a regular role in Seventh Heaven. Last year, she had the
track "Just Let Me Cry" on Disney's Freaky Friday soundtrack,
and then began recording earlier this year on breaks from filming
the TV show.
"I've
been working on the album for five months now, and I'm just so
excited for it to come out," she says. "I feel like
it's very true to who I am. I was there every step of the way.
My acting experience really helped me get into the characters
of the songs and be in the moment with them. I was able to go
back to the events I'm singing about and bring them to life."
Coinciding
with the release of the new album, Ashlee is also starring in
her own MTV reality series, which will track her through the whole
process.
"Jessica
said she couldn't believe I was doing a show also," she laughs.
"Now, when I come over, I bring over my cameras, while there's
always a crew around her house. It's actually quite funny. Jess
taught me it's cool to be yourself." With the album done,
Ashlee looks back and calls the experience "therapeutic."
"Anything I held on my shoulders, I got to put it out there.
It enabled me to find out who I am, to discover my identity in
the world."
The world
is set to learn all about the latest multimedia Simpsons star
on both disc and TV.
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