She came in with a lot of baggage.
The relatively unknown cast of Undiscovered only knew what they heard about their co-star Ashlee Simpson: that she lip-synched on Saturday Night Live, that she could show her burping talents to Jay Leno on The Tonight Show and that her sister Jessica comes across as a little ditzy.
“I came into the movie knowing nothing about Ashlee Simpson other than the media creation that is the Simpson clan,” said Kip Pardue (Driven, Remember the Titans) . “And the first time I met her, it was really obvious that it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be at all. I mean, Ashlee showed up to work, and had done her homework, and was there with her ears open, and was ready to make a movie, instead of just kind of sit back and be Ashlee Simpson, which I really respect.”
Ashlee purposely took a back seat in this small indie film about young wanna-be musicians and actors who are trying to make it in Los Angeles, which also stars Stevens Strait, Pell James, Carrie Fisher, Peter Weller and Fisher Stevens. In an interview with Hollywood.com, Ashlee said she knew that she could have taken a leading role in a movie, but she said she is slowly learning her craft, like she did with the cameos in Raise Your Voice and The Hot Chick.
“I wanted to do a movie where I could work with a great cast, and where I could learn,” said Ashlee. “I eventually will do a movie where I take on the lead, but right now I’m interested in roles that I can just learn.”
Director Meiert Avis, known for videos of U2, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, said “Ashlee was a joy to work with, and she understood the film. It’s amazing how many people come here to L.A. with a dream, and the price that you have to pay to play. Is it worth it?”
The story involves a rising star (Strait) who is facing a decision to give up his singing contract for his girlfriend (James). Ashlee plays the really cool friend who gives advice to both of them.
Would Ashlee give everything up for love? The nearly 21-year-old answered quickly, “Um, not right now.”
Dressed with a white sweater tied around her neck, and her blonde hair pulled back, she said she didn’t mind the dark hair she sported in the film.
“I like being blonde,” she laughed. “It’s my natural hair color. But with black hair I feel like a feisty rock star. And then with blonde hair, I feel a little bit lighter, which is fun.”
Her character of Clea, she explained, “didn’t really care about her outer appearance, and so I just wanted to be dirty. It was a good opportunity to be dirty.”
She also plans to get dirty on her birthday Oct. 3 at a big party in Las Vegas. “I’m so excited, and the reason I have to go to Vegas is because I’ve gotten into clubs since I was like 15, and Vegas is the one place where they always ask for your ID, so I will be there gambling.”
Ashlee is aware of her ups and downs already in her career. “I’ve had my share, and if there’s ever been a moment where, like SNL or whatever, I think that only makes you stronger as an artist. Everybody falls on their face at some point or another.”
Her sister, now with a hit blockbuster The Dukes of Hazzard taught her to focus on her craft. “Jessica taught me to not listen to what people are saying, just be better for yourself, and not buy into what people are saying about you.”
It does bother Ashlee when they say she doesn’t do her own songs. “I don’t really mind what people say about my love life or anything like that, but the one thing is that yes, I do sing and write all my own music, and you know, that is something that I hold really dear. And yeah, I made a fool of myself in front of the world, but it was also great to pick myself back up and go on tour.”
Her second album, “I Am Me,” comes out around her birthday. Then, she plans another tour, and after that maybe another movie. She does hope to work with her older sister someday.
Yet, when asked who she’d like to switch places with, she said Brad Pitt. “I would love every hot woman to love me,” she laughed. “And I know that sounds really weird, but even guys are like, ‘Man, if I could be like Brad Pitt!’ Even guys want to be like Brad Pitt.”
And what about Angelina Jolie?
“Well that would be great, I would love to be Angelina Jolie, too,” Ashlee said. “Either one. I’ll take either one!”
And yes, Ashlee does know how to dish it back sometimes. Her co-star, Kip said one of the first nights of filming, Ashlee asked to leave because she had to do a concert. “I turned to her and I said, ‘I remember my first movie, they let me leave early,’ and she snapped back, ‘Did you sell four million records before your first movie?’ She has a great sense of humor, but minus that one time -”
Ashlee defended herself. “I was just being silly.”
Kip added, “I know, that’s what so sweet about it, and I totally deserved it. I was dishing it out, and she gave it right back to me, and but other than that she worked her ass off, and it shows in the movie.”
