Ashley Jones – You Killed My Mother

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) There is a movie called 12 Days of Giving that will be running throughout the holidays. Then, I have an arc coming in January that I am sworn to secrecy about!

Q) Thank you for your “General Hospital” character as that the storyline has meant so much to people.

A) Oh wow! Thank you! I appreciate you saying that. I feel like I’m just an actor and you feel blessed to get to play certain parts in your life. I can’t really take credit for it because it is thanks the writers. But I appreciate the support and I feel like the fans really feel I connected with the character. So, that’s what matters to me. As long as you aren’t dead…And even if you are dead it doesn’t mean that much! [laughs] You never know what can happen. Christine is the central character and I know this was a fun, interesting and unique (for “General Hospital”) storyline. Just like Bridget on “The Bold and The Beautiful” there are many reasons to bring her back if they choose.

Q) You have played so many multilayered, fierce and relatable characters. What have you taken away or resonated with you from them?

A) That’s a good question. What resonated the most to me about Bridget was her wanting to maintain a moral compass while also following her heart. She wanted to find love. She always wanted her own child. In the end she got it in a very interesting way. I think the love of her life right now is her child. But that desire to want a family, that resonated deeply with me. There have been roles over the year…Even when I played Megan on “The Young and the Restless” I had a lot of similarities to her and just little aspects. You try to create a three dimensional character and I’ve always tried with every character I’ve played, but Parker is interesting. She had some stuff that is so great because she admitted to being a flawed human being. I loved that side to her! She was like, “I’m not perfect. I’m trying really hard, but I fail a lot. I’m getting back up and brushing myself off and I’m going to do the right thing going forward,” to the best of her ability. It’s a vulnerable quality to be able to have the humility to admit that kind of weakness, but to me it was actually a strength.

Q) Please tell us the premise for your Lifetime movie You Killed My Mother and about your character.

A) She’s the Chief of Staff at a hospital so she’s in a very high position at a well respected job. She’s very intelligent and does everything by the book and protocol. She makes a choice based on facts and what the hospital’s protocol and she has to live with that choice. She never in a million years would think that one choice she made would turn around and effect her life and her family so greatly. What is cool about this character is that it brought up the choices we make. You can look back five years later and think, “Wow! If I had just left ten minutes earlier I wouldn’t have said that or done that or wouldn’t have met the love of my life.” It’s just interesting that you can look back and almost pinpoint the time where you made a choice. This choice she made she felt with all her heart was the right choice. It brings up moral ambiguity because she followed protocol, but was it the right thing to do? A woman is in need of a liver transplant and that happens in the first part of the movie. The rest of the movie is a thriller about revenge and the twists and turns and figuring out who is behind you, looking over your should and figuring out who is dying. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. I hope that people will take a break from the Christmas spirit and watch You Killed My Mother. [laughs]

Q) Often in Lifetime movies the cinematography plays a key role in the film as well as setting the tone. How does that hold true with this film?

A) it’s all about the cinematography, lighting and the music! You nailed it completely! They have a lot of flashback scenes that set up the premise as it’s all happening very fast. You see the ominous angles and there is a lot of shots where it looks like someone is looking over the shoulder or you see it from below as if you are peeking down below. You get the feeling that you are there, but you’re not supposed to be there. They set that right up from the beginning as to the motivation of this character Joe. It sets you off on this journey that we hope and pray that the audience wants to go on a two hour journey with us!

Q) Is that what made you want to originally be a part of the film?

A) Yeah, I like a good thriller so it started there. I love the people that I’m working with. Pierre David was the producer on this movie and I wanted to work with him again. So, all of that was a plus. But after reading the movie I loved that it’s a choice that she made and those choices that sets the tone of the movie. I liked that and I also liked the relationship she has with her son. I thought it would be challenging to play a relationship of him hating me eighteen years from now and how I would deal with that, what kind of boundaries I would set and would I let him move forward and live his own life without trying to be the helicopter parent. I put a lot of thought into that.

Q) So much of the movie is about who can live with what you decide.

A) Right! That’s an interesting question for me to tweet during the movie. Did she make the right choice because there is no right or wrong answer here. She follows protocol and in a lot of ways she did make the right choice. This is an older lady who had been an alcoholic and had been in and out of rehab. Her liver failed and there were younger people more deserving. I think that is what most doctors would have done. You hear about people on waiting lists for liver transplants and you have a heart for them. Of course you do! You hope and do whatever you can, but sometimes they have to wait because of the situation or circumstance or what number they are in line. So, I had to see it from my character’s perspective. Now, I think you’re saying it’s the gray area where every day we make choices that aren’t right and they aren’t wrong, but have repercussions. They may not be right and they may not be wrong, but are they the best choice for our life? I think as long as we stay true to ourselves and stay true to our family I think that’s probably the best way to live. I’m a big believer in God, but sometimes we make choices that aren’t right or wrong ,but aren’t necessarily the best choice for our life either.

Q) You worked with Carlena Britch on the film and there was some incredible suspense that comes in with booby traps her character creates. How does that push and pull tug that happens between your characters create chemistry?

A) It was really fun and it was really interesting because we didn’t actually work together that much. The way it is edited you feel like any moment you are going to run into each other. I won’t spoil anything from the film, but she is a lovely actress and amazing to work with. She has a very interesting background and is a professional dancer. I loved hearing her stories. There were endless amounts of stories during our downtime. As far as the way the storylines intertwine, I really hope we compliment each other. I hope you feel a sense of urgency. We’re both smart and that’s what I like about the movie. They are both so smart, but you want to scream at the screen because they are both being so stupid. You would never do that. You think, “Why aren’t you looking right?! Why aren’t you looking left?! If you turn to the right, you’ll see the killer!” It’s a well thought out script and they had to edit it down because it was a lot longer and a lot meatier. I haven’t seen the final cut, but I’m going to watch it with everyone else.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure fans know about the film or upcoming work?

A) The only thing I can think of is that my other project I have going on is I’m contributing some columns for some different things. I’m looking for help. I want to know what people are interested in learning or reading or hearing from me. If they want to go to the blog and leave comments, that would be fun for me. I’d love that. It’s really about the readers and what they want to read. Don’t assume I’m any kind of a writer. I’m just a collector of information and it’s been really fun for me. It’s ashleyajones.com.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Whenever I get a chance to speak to the audience. I’m grateful that they want to stick by me through different characters. Any time I can express my gratitude, I’d like to.