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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. |
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"Because of my family, I was
very driven and I really wanted to be where I am today."
"Image is something that people think too much about. When it comes
to style and clothes, it's about feeling confident in what you're
wearing."
"I knew that if I wanted to do a sappy ballad album I could, but it
wouldn't be me. It would be so awkward."
"I think that if you love something so much you have to do it. I
love music so much, there was no choice."
"The first show I did, I was so nervous I tripped during my first
song!"
"This business looks glamorous and fun, but it's so much work. There
are moments when you are like, 'Oh my God, all this work has paid
off and it's so cool.'"
"I would sing behind closed doors growing up. Jessica was so good
and it made me shy about my own voice. But, I don't hide my singing
- not anymore. I sing punk music actually. I love to run around and
scream and rock out and play guitar."
"'Autobiography' is basically a response to people assuming I'm a
Jessica clone. It's like, 'If you wanna know me, just ask me!"
I've always been a rocker. Like ever since I was really young. I had
a crush on the Green Day guys. That's always been what I was like
and been my interest. Then I was in a punk band for a while and we
broke up."
"I've always loved rock music. I went to ballet school and had
orange hair. I've always been out there." |
