Ashley Lilley

Ashley-Anne Lilley (born 29 January 1986) is a Scottish actress and singer. She made her debut in the 2008 film Mamma Mia!.

Early life

Lilley was born in Rothesay, Bute. At the age of 12, she won a place with the National Youth Music Theatre. At 15, she enrolled at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, and graduated in 2004.

Career

Lilley starred as Lucille Frank in a production of Jason Robert Brown's Parade at the Edinburgh fringe festival in 2005. She then joined the UK tour of Cole Porter's Anything Goes in the role of Hope Harcourt. She made her film debut as Ali in Mamma Mia!, the film based on the musical of the same name, which is in turn based on the songs of famous Swedish music group ABBA. She also appeared in the romantic drama film Letters to Juliet and in BBC Three's Lip Service and the children's series M.I. High. She returned to theatre in 2011, starring in a new production, Nicked, at the HighTide festival.

Personal life

Lilley married her long-term partner in 2011 and took a hiatus from acting to start a family. She lives in Houston, Texas where she is currently teaching at the British School of Houston