Ashley was born in 1968 in East London, South Africa, where he spent his childhood surrounded by the sea, with a brother, sister, and two loving parents. He attended Selborne Primary and College, a traditional school with a rich history dating back to 1879. The school's vast history, which saw many of its pupils fight and die in both World Wars, inspired Ashley's interest in the arts, music, and literature.
As a relentless reader, unstoppable performer, and natural musician, Ashley developed his talents at a young age. He completed school at 17 and was chosen for the Rotary exchange program, which took him to Australia in 1985. During his time in Australia, Ashley promoted South Africa, a challenging task amidst the turbulent 1980s. Upon his return to South Africa, he enrolled at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, where he spent four years studying drama and completing a Bachelor of Arts and Honours degree in Dramatic Arts under the guidance of renowned writers and playwrights.
Ashley's university years were marked by impressive performances at the International Grahamstown festival, including lead roles in productions such as "Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean," "The Crucible," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." He was awarded a coveted bursary, which allowed him to pursue a Higher Diploma in Education at the University of Cape Town. Although his passion for the arts remained strong, Ashley decided to indulge his love of teaching and spent the following year teaching English at Selborne College.
In 1993, Ashley opened the A.R.T Studio in East London, which became a hub for budding young actors and musicians. However, the allure of stage and screen eventually proved too strong, and he packed his bags to head to Johannesburg in search of fame and fortune. His success has been remarkable, with a career spanning television, film, and theatre.
Ashley has made a name for himself as a soap star, voice-over artist, writer, and natural comedian. His portrayal of an everyman mine captain in the award-winning soap "Isidingo" earned him a best actor nomination. As a prolific writer, Ashley has created hilarious advertising campaigns, showcasing characters from South African society, which have left the nation in stitches for over five years.
Ashley has toured internationally with theatre productions like "Hair," "The Buddy Holly Story," "Mojo," and "African Tales." He has appeared in numerous international advertising campaigns and is renowned for his delicate and measured character portrayals. He has also performed lead roles in international television series such as "Soldier Soldier," "The Black Velvet Band," and "The Switch."
As a voice-over artist, Ashley has worked with National Geographic and Discovery Channel, earning him recognition as one of the country's leading voices in radio and television. He has completed a novel and screenplay, which he is confident will find success in the coming months. His most notable film credit to date is his lead role in "Stander" (2003),which promises to further his already impressive career.
