Paton Ashbrook, an American actress born and raised in Los Angeles, California, has successfully followed in her parents’ footsteps pursuing a career in both acting and directing. Paton currently stars as Jenny Sullivan on Starz’s hit drama, “Power Book II: Ghost.” She’s also known for her roles in “Minor Premise” and “Shameless.”

Your parents are both actors. What made you decide to pursue a similar career path? How do your parents feel about you following in their footsteps?
I actually resisted becoming an actor for quite a while; I tried just about every other art form first. I remember feeling shy as a child, but whenever I stepped onto a stage, I could express myself in ways I didn’t feel safe to in the real world. That stuck with me. I always gravitated back to it, even when I’d rather be painting or writing. I ended up majoring in theatre at the LA County High School for the Arts, but it wasn’t until my senior year that I realized acting was a part of who I am and would be a part of my life forever. I was cast as Charlotte Brontë, my first leading role in a theatre production, and the challenge and joy of carrying and collaborating on that play changed everything. I still practice a lot of other creative passions, but acting is homebase, where I simultaneously feel vulnerable, expansive, and playful. And that’s led to a lot of healing for me.

My single mother raised me in the back of black box theaters in Los Angeles and on TV and Film sets throughout my childhood. I grew and learned from watching her work, and she’s still my favorite actor to this day. I believe she wanted to protect me from this business, as she knew from experience that it’s a grueling, exhausting, and at times, maddening industry to work in. She wanted to prepare me by instilling the importance of training and learning the craft of acting. This mentality led me to Juilliard, where I took ownership over my process and presence in the acting world. I’m grateful for her ability to see the big picture and guiding me to where I am today. She's definitely proud and still protective!

What do you love about playing Jenny Sullivan?
As I deepen my knowledge of psychology and trauma, I realize that a lot of the joy I get from playing Jenny is that she embodies certain qualities I’ve rejected or repressed in myself, often subconsciously. Using a character to explore those parts of myself without judgement (which is central to playing any character), helps me do a lot of shadow work around things like ambition, rage, personal power, and judgement. These parts exist in all of us and are often rejected or shamed in our culture and society, especially for women. But they are a valid part of the human experience and the more we pretend to be separate from or “better than” these shadowy parts, the more discord and disconnection we create in ourselves and our relationships. Ideally, we’d be able to accept all our parts without judgement, and playing Jenny allows me to do just that. I could use some more personal power, for example, and channeling that energy when playing her has definitely rubbed off in my life in a positive way. Awareness is key. By accepting who Jenny is (even if I disagree with the crazy, diabolical stuff she does), I end up accepting myself too.

Outfit by Chiara Boni La Petite Robe
Necklaces by Erickson Beamon at Showroom 7
Earrings by Jewellery Bar at Flying Solo

How did you prepare for this role in “Power Book II: Ghost?”
A lot of deep dives into YouTube rabbit holes, watching prosecutors and defense attorneys debate each other for hours about the criminal justice system. I’m a nerd and eat that stuff up. I’m also a visual learner, so I searched for the best documentary or most accurate fictional show about the justice system and attorneys, and “The Good Wife” quickly came up as the show most recommended by lawyers themselves. It also happened to be a show that Courtney Kemp, our original show runner, worked on for years, so it was perfect. I binged all seven seasons in a couple of weeks.

What was your favorite character you have portrayed in the past?
A few years ago, I did a film called “Minor Premise,” a sci-fi psychological thriller. It was one of the most exciting film scripts I’d read at the time, especially as a woman. It’s not terribly often that female roles come across my desk that feel unique, complicated, and three-dimensional, and Alli was all of those things. After auditioning for that role, I couldn’t shake the story from my brain for weeks. I was excited to see the movie one day! So, when I got the offer, I was ecstatic. Alli is an ambitious neuroscientist who helps save her ex-partner, also a neuroscientist, from his experiments on himself. The complexity and resilience Alli possessed was so rewarding to play, and seeing the finished product was special. It’s also the project that introduced me to my fiancé, Sathya Sridharan, whom I played opposite. You can watch “Minor Premise” now, currently streaming on Hulu, Peacock, and more.

I also have to mention, playing Cleopatra at Juilliard was definitely a defining moment-- talk about embracing shadow qualities and releasing self-conscious patterns! Embodying Cleopatra was an exercise in embracing personal power, sensuality, and ferocity. She taught me a LOT.

What challenges did you face when preparing for a character like Jenny?
I had to do a decent amount of law research. I can’t memorize anything I don’t understand on a deep level, so I would cram in the studying like a good law student. I definitely didn’t retain much past each episode though. A real lawyer I am not.

**Left:**
Outfit by Chiara Boni La Petite Robe
Necklace by Erickson Beamon at Showroom 7
Earrings by Jewellery Bar at Flying Solo
**Right:**
Dress by I love Parlor at Flying Solo
Necklace by La Daje at Flying Solo
Shoes by BY FAR

What do you do to unwind after a long day on set?
I’ll usually go straight home, take a bubble bath, order some sushi probably, light some incense, and ground myself. Jenny has a lot of repressed anger that comes out sideways, so it’s important for me to have cleansing rituals that bring me back to myself. Being with my cats, doing some yoga, getting on my infrared mat, which I cannot recommend enough as an investment for your health and meditating are all important tools I use to release that built up tension in my body from the day, and help move any stuck emotions through somatically.

What social cause are you most passionate about and are currently supporting?
Oh boy, I’m passionate about a LOT of social justice issues. Right now, especially with the fundamental right to bodily autonomy being stripped away from half the country after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, I’d say I’m radically against the direction we are being pulled into by Christian extremism and white nationalists. The separation of church and state and the understanding that we are created equal are supposed to be foundations of our democracy. And today, the attacks on trans bodies, women, queer folks, Black and brown folks, as well as our indigenous communities facing things like the impending decision on ICWA this June at their core. These life and death assaults on our rights were born from white body supremacy, as coined by Resmaa Menakem. The belief that there is anyone “ideal” or perfect human is absurd, but unfortunately, it also happens to be a bedrock of our economy and institutions. This core wound of our nation has been repressed for centuries by design. So, to me, all of these social justice issues are perpetuated by the generational trauma that’s been passed on from central nervous system to central nervous system in the bodies of all Americans since inception. Ultimately, you could say I’m most passionate about eliminating white body supremacy and patriarchy through awareness, healing, and being brave enough to support radical change that creates a better world for us all. One that moves toward connection and repair, and away from isolation and punishment.

What is your favorite attorney lingo to use on set and in real life?
"Let the record show…” because I take great satisfaction in keeping ALL the receipts. Jenny and I have that in common.

Any tips or advice you want to share with people who want to pursue a career in acting and directing?
Know your “why.” Get clear about what you want and WHY you want it. Is it to get external validation? Are you trying to fill a hole? Get curious and don’t judge yourself. As soon as I figured out the real reason I wanted to be an actor and what my broader purpose as a creative person was, navigating the industry got a lot easier. In fact, it led to me accepting and owning that I’m a director, producer, and writer as well. Take ownership over your life by getting clear with yourself about your intentions, and that you’re not just trying to fill some hole— a very human thing to do! But no external validation can fill that hole, only radical honesty and self-validation can.

**Left:**
Outfit by Ramy Brook
Shoes by lhambi at The Confessional Showroom
Ring by Jennifer Fisher
Stacked rings by Cindy Kleist at Flying Solo
**Right:**
Dress by Aziz at Showroom 7
Jacket by Aziz at Showroom 7
Shoes by BY FAR
Ring by Jennifer Fisher
Necklace and earrings by Alexis Bittar

If you were not an actress, what would you be doing right now?
I’d be a somatic therapist and/or teach yoga again full-time. Maybe become certified as a yoga therapist. Perhaps I'd have my Drew Barrymore moment and my podcast FreeBody would turn into a talk show, who knows?

Which character you have played would you love to meet in real life?
Charlotte Brontë and Cleopatra would be a TRIP. I have a lot of questions.

What is your dream role?
I need to continue revisiting the role of Lady Macbeth throughout my life, and I’ve always wanted to play Beatrice in “Much Ado About Nothing.” I’d love to workshop a new musical from the ground up one day, something like “Hadestown” would be a dream. I definitely want to be a super villain ASAP, a spy, and/or a Bond villain. Also, someone please tell the industry I’m hilarious and belong on a great sitcom like “Abbot Elementary.” Put me in coach! Just gimme an amazing role with a great script and I’ll try anything.

Social Media.
Instagram: @patonashbrook and @freebodypodcast. Also, check out my podcast FreeBody, where I talk to guests in depth about their body stories. The current season is personal, as I’m sharing my egg freezing journey from last fall. A new episode is released every Monday; available everywhere you get your podcasts.

Paton Ashbrook,
Host of FreeBody Podcast; anchor.fm/freebodypodcast;

http://www.imdb.me/patonashbrook

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Photographer: Michael Creagh
Talent: Paton Ashbrook
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Hair: Olivia Halpin
Makeup: Ruth Fernandez
Fashion Stylist Interns: Summer Safi
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Associate Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Alexis Yap, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine