Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins (née Featherson; born December 4, 1987)[2] is an American actress. She is best known as the co-creator and star of Black&SexyTV's Hello Cupid. She also appeared in the web series Roomieloverfriends, the film Bad Hair, and was a main cast member on the Netflix series Dear White People (2017–2021).[3]
Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins | |
|---|---|
 Featherson in 2017 | |
| Born | Ashley Blaine Featherson December 4, 1987 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Dear White People |
| Spouse |
Darroll Jenkins (m. 2021) |
Early life and education
editBorn Ashley Blaine Featherson, she was raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland.[4] She first acted at age four in a school production and enjoyed it from that age.[5] When she was 14 she began to perform at the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. and studied under costume designer Reggie Ray.[3]
Featherson attended Howard University and graduated from the Fine Arts department, where she majored in musical theater.[5] She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[3] Featherson has stated that she most admires the career and work of Vanessa Williams.[6]
Career
editFeatherson co-created the web series Hello Cupid with Lena Waithe in 2012.[2] The show was distributed by Black & Sexy TV and eventually rebooted.[5] Featherson also starred in the series opposite Hayley Marie Norman.[3]
Her first feature film role was in Justin Simien's Dear White People in 2014.[3] She reprised the supporting role of Joelle in the 2017 Netflix television series adaptation of the same name.[7]
She co-starred in the 2018 web series Leimert Park, which premiered at Sundance.[8][9] Featherson also appeared in the re-creation of the photograph "A Great Day in Harlem", organized by Netflix's Strong Black Lead initiative.[10]
In 2020, she collaborated with Simien again on his comedy horror film Bad Hair. That year she also worked with The Lip Bar on a makeup campaign.[11] She also helped develop a three-piece collection for dark skinned women with Mented Cosmetics.[11][12]
Personal life
editFeatherson announced her engagement to sports agent Darroll Jenkins in September 2020, and married him on September 5, 2021, at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Santa Susana, California.[13][14][1] Longtime friends, they began dating in 2018.[15]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Bonds | Simone Bancroft | Short |
| 2014 | Dear White People | Curls | |
| David's Reverie | Dancer | Short | |
| 12 Days of Christmas | Zene | Short | |
| 2015 | Doors | Morgan | Short |
| Stages | Skye | Short | |
| 2016 | Paint It Black | Shirley Mae | |
| Drew | Stephanie Lloyd | TV movie | |
| 2020 | Bad Hair | Rosalyn |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | State of Georgia | Student #3 | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2012 | My Gimpy Life | Lady in Orange | Episode: "Inspirational" |
| 2013 | The Number | Whitney | Episode: "The Slumberette Party" |
| My Crazy Roommate | Leslie | Episode: "The Puppy" | |
| 2013–2014 | Hello Cupid | Whitney | Main cast |
| 2014 | Glee | Shaynice | Episode: "Bash" |
| Roomieloverfriends | Whitney | Recurring cast: season 3 | |
| 2015 | Mann & Wife | Ms.Lincoln | Episode: "Undercover Mann" |
| 2016 | The Number: The Reboot | Whitney | Episode: "The Intro" |
| 2017–2021 | Dear White People | Joelle Brooks | Main cast |
| 2022 | Grand Crew | Talia | Recurring cast |
References
edit- ^ a b Macon, Alexandra. "The Bridal Party Wore Pink for Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins's Wedding at Hummingbird Nest Ranch". Vogue. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Ashley Blaine Featherson". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ a b c d e "Dear White People Interview: Actresses Talk Netflix Series". Vibe. 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ Wills, Cortney (2019-09-25). "Ashley Blaine Featherson is even cooler than Joelle Brooks". TheGrio. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- ^ a b c "Vixen Chat: Ashley Blaine Featherson's 'Hello Cupid' is Back For V-Day". Vibe. 2014-02-14. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ "10 THINGS - Ashley Blaine Featherson". REGARD MAGAZINE. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ Nguyen, Hanh (2019-02-13). "'Dear White People': Justin Simien Reveals Season 3 Directors, Including Cheryl Dunye and Kimberly Peirce". IndieWire. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ "'Dear White People' Star Ashley Blaine Featherson Signs With ICM Partners (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ "'Leimert Park' Gives Us A Girlfriend's Guide To Love, Sex And Navigating A Gentrifying Los Angeles". Essence. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ Anderson, Tre'vell. "Everything you need to know about that Netflix 'Strong Black Lead' spot you saw during the BET Awards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ a b Kai, Maiysha. "Dear White People's Ashley Blaine Featherson Is Our Best Friend in Our Heads—but She's Nobody's Sidekick". The Glow Up. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- ^ Franklin, Ericka (2019-07-24). "Ashley Blaine Featherson Talks 'Dear White People' Season 3, Mented Cosmetics Collaboration | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- ^ Corinthios, Aureli (2021-09-21). "Dear White People Star Ashley Blaine Featherson Is Engaged: 'Most Precious Moment of My Life'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- ^ "'Dear White People' star Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins marries longtime partner". TheGrio. 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
- ^ Penn, Charli (2021-04-05). "Love Is Looking Good On Actress Ashley Blaine Featherson". Essence. Retrieved 2021-06-03.