By Christina Radish
The new original ABC Family dramedy Greek is set at fictitious Cyprus-Rhodes University, and focuses on the social minefield that is the Greek system. Week after week, this unique cast of characters will have to navigate their way through this treacherous terrain, as they try to find their place at Cyprus-Rhodes.
As Ashleigh, Zeta Beta Zeta’s Social Chair, and best friend to ZBZ heir apparent, Casey (Spencer Grammar), Amber Stevens tells MediaBlvd Magazine how excited she is about the chance to be a regular character on the television series.
MediaBlvd Magazine> How did you first become interested in acting?
Amber Stevens> I grew up in Los Angeles and I went to high school at Beverly Hills High. I didn’t really get started in acting until after I graduated, but throughout high school, my father was in the entertainment business and I grew up seeing what being an actor was like. My dad was on a sitcom, so I was on the set. My dad was into radio, so I knew a lot about music. I got into music, originally, when I was younger. I started playing piano when I was 4 years old, and I always thought that’s what I would end up doing. As I got older, I realized that I have multiple talents, and I decided that acting would be something really fun for me to do, and something I was really interested in. So, after I graduated, I started taking acting classes and threw myself into it.
MediaBlvd> What was your first professional acting job?
Amber> I started out doing commercials. The first commercial I was in was for Old Navy, and then, in the few years after that, I did three or four more Old Navy commercials. Once I started doing theatrical stuff, the first job I did was for a sitcom called Complete Savages.
MediaBlvd> How did you come to be a part of Greek? Was it through the regular pilot auditioning process?
Amber> Exactly just like any other actor or actress would audition for anything. I went to a regular audition and read for the part of Ashleigh, and I guess they liked me. So, I went back and read for the producers, and then I went back again to read for the ABC Family network, and they decided that I was the best to play Ashleigh. And, it’s a blast!
MediaBlvd> What was it about the script and the character that made you want to be a part of this project?
Amber> I knew that this show was going to be incredible, as soon as I found out what it was about. I didn’t even have to read the script. There’s no other show out there, right now, that depicts what the Greek system and Greek life is, or even college life, within realistic terms. We show everything in the good and the bad light. I knew that this was a project that I would be proud to work on. I know a lot of kids out there are really looking forward to their college experience, and this show will show them what to look forward to. At the same time, I didn’t get to go to a four-year university, so I get to go to college on TV. What’s so great is that the ABC Family Channel is trying to change what the word “family” can mean. It doesn’t necessarily have to be mom, dad, brother, sister, and all that. Greek shows what your college family becomes. When you leave your home and you go to a university, you leave your family. If you join the Greek system, you have your brothers and your sisters, in your fraternity or sorority. That’s the kind of family that the network’s trying to show. But, there’s all different relationships on the show. There are relationships of brother and sister, boyfriend and girlfriend, ex-girlfriend, roommate, best friends, all that stuff. It’s not just for children. All ages can watch the show.
MediaBlvd> Do you think Ashleigh is anything like you were at that age? Do you draw on specific people to play her, since you didn’t have the college experience yourself?
Amber> The character is a little more of a party girl than I am. In real life, I like to go out, but it’s normally just with a few close friends. Ashleigh loves to socialize and make new friends, all the time, and dress up and go to parties, and jump on tables and dance. She’s a little wilder than me. But, I have a lot of girlfriends that joined sororities when they left for college, so I’ve been to a lot of their parties, over the years, and I can draw from the people that I’ve met over time, and reflect what I’ve seen of their college experience.
MediaBlvd> Ashleigh is the person who knows all of the gossip that’s going on. Were you that kind of person, or did you ignore the gossip?
Amber> In real life, I thought it was interesting to hear the gossip, but I was never the one to pass it on. If someone said, “I know something, but I can’t tell you,” I wasn’t the one who was like, “Oh, that’s so mean! Tell me!” I was like, “Okay, it’s a secret. You don’t have to tell me. That’s fine.” But, if I heard it, I would be like, “Oh, that’s interesting.” I’m not much of a gossip queen. I barely read those trash magazines and all the gossipy stuff. I’m just not really interested.
MediaBlvd> Because Greek has such a young cast, once you guys had all been cast on the show, did you do anything to get to know each other better? And, do you guys hang out at all, when you’re not working?
Amber> We hang out almost every weekend. We’ve had girls’ night, where we all go shopping and eat cookies. We clicked right away. There wasn’t even a get-to-know-you process there, at all. Instantly, we were just all best friends. We’re so lucky. There’s not one of us who doesn’t fit in with the rest of the group.
MediaBlvd> Were you worried about meeting them?
Amber> That’s always something that you worry about before you meet new people. You hope that they accept you for who you are and that you can be yourself around them, and that they’re just as kind to you. But, we’re all about the same age. I think I’m the youngest, and no one is over 26. So, I knew that we would all get along and, hopefully, have similar interests because we’re all in the same age group and can do similar things. Thank God, we all clicked right away.
MediaBlvd> Is there anyone in the cast that you feel like you’ve learned the most from?
Amber> I definitely do work with some people more than others, but that’s just due to who Ashleigh is, who she’s friends with and who she sticks by. I probably work with Spencer Grammar the most, and I’ve learned so much from her. But, I’ve learned from every single person. I feed off of everyone’s comedic timing. I’ve also learned a lot from the directors because we have a new director for every episode and they all direct differently. I appreciate anytime they have some advice. I’m a newbie. I don’t really know how things work. This is my first real experience doing anything like this.
MediaBlvd> Without giving anything away, what can viewers expect as the season progresses, and how will your character be growing?
Amber> You’ll learn a lot more about who Ashleigh is. In the pilot, you get to see who Ashleigh is and what her relationship is to everyone, but you get to know my character a lot more, over time. She’s definitely a lot of fun. There’s a lot of great, funny moments that Ashleigh and Casey (Spencer Grammar) get into. There’s a lot of cool, themed parties. And, the wardrobe department on our show is incredible. Something’s always going on, where we have to dress up, so you get to see a lot of fun stuff like that. There’s a lot of crazy relationship stuff that goes on with the characters. There’s just really fun stuff to look forward to, and a story that you can really throw yourself into.
MediaBlvd> Now that you’ve had some time to explore your character, what do you enjoy most about playing Ashleigh?
Amber> She’s just a really good friend, and I enjoy playing someone who is kind-hearted and looks out for people and wants the best in every situation. She always wants everyone to be happy. I just enjoy playing someone who’s a good person and who enjoys life. And, I get to wear the best clothes, in my opinion. She’s very fashionable. People can also look forward to seeing what I’m going to wear next because Ashleigh could definitely start some trends.
MediaBlvd> Are you able to give input into things you’d like to see happen with Ashleigh, or do you prefer to leave all of that up to the writers?
Amber> The scripts are so incredible that I’ve never even felt like I need to say anything. Every single time I’m given a script, I’m so happy with where it’s going, and what I, personally, get to do, and what everyone else in the show gets to do. I guess if I wanted to, I could suggest something, but I don’t think I would. I’m really impressed with, and proud of, the writers on this show.
MediaBlvd> Is comedy something that just comes easy for you, or is it something you’ve had to work at?
Amber> There’s a lot of different things that go into being a comedic actor. Parts of it come naturally and easy for me. Thinking quick on my feet wasn’t something I was best at, though. I took improv classes at Groundlings, which is world famous for working with huge name comedians, and I learned a lot from them about how to think on your feet and trust your instincts. Most of the time, if you just trust your instincts and don’t doubt what you’re going to do next, it’s probably funny. So, there were some skills that I had to learn. I do prefer comedic acting over drama, but I like when I get to do both, like with Greek. This show is so funny, but I definitely have some moments where I get to be dramatic and yell or be sad, or whatever.
MediaBlvd> Prior to doing Greek, you had done several guest appearances on various TV shows. Did that help prepare you at all for the rigorous schedule of a regular television series?
Amber> The schedule thing is always changing, and it’s never easy. But, before the show, I was going to a community college and acting and modeling, all at the same time. I had to learn how to schedule myself before this show, and I think that has helped me be prepared for how to handle the schedule now.
MediaBlvd> Since this is the most prominent project that you’ve been a part of so far, have you given any thought as to how this might change things for you? Are you prepared for the likelihood that you’ll be recognized by fans on a regular basis now?
Amber> I think it will be weird. People I know will say, “Oh, I saw you in that commercial,” but other than that, I’ve never been recognized by someone I don’t know. So, it will be strange, but kind of exciting because then I’ll know that people are enjoying what I’m doing and that we’re doing well on the show. In that way, it will be nice, but I don’t know how anyone can prepare for that.
MediaBlvd> Are you hoping that the visibility you get from this show will help you transition into more film roles?
Amber> Most definitely. I hope that a lot of people can watch the show and think that I’m doing a good job. During hiatus times on the show, I’d like to put myself into some other projects and expand my resume, and just try something else.
MediaBlvd> Are there any particular types of film roles that you’re looking for, or is there a dream project that you would jump at the chance to do?
Amber> There’s definitely a dream role I’d love to play, but it has nothing to do with television or movies. Because I’m also in music, and I’ve taken a little bit of theater, I would love to be Mimi in a production of Rent on Broadway. That is a goal of mine. That would be a dream come true. But, other than that, for television and movies, I’ll take any project that intrigues me. If it sounds like a fun time, and it’s something that I want to do, then I’ll go for it.
MediaBlvd> Are there any specific actors or directors you’d like to work with?
Amber> It’s a huge list, but my favorite show of all time is Friends. I know that show backwards and forwards. I own every episode. I tell jokes from them, all the time. I feel like I know them. It’s almost pathetic, how I quote them all the time, as if they’re my real friends. So, I would die to work with any cast member of Friends. That would be incredible.
MediaBlvd> Since you’re also a singer, do you have any desire to record an album in the future? Do you write your own material?
Amber> I do write some songs. I had a friend that I was writing a lot of music with, at one time, and I’d love to get all that stuff produced. And, maybe one day, I will go on some sort of tour, or something. That’s another goal of mine that I’d love to accomplish. Music is something I never want to give up, but we’ll see what happens.
