Some time ago, right before Love On A Limb premiered on the Hallmark Channel, I had the honor of interviewing the vivacious and inspiring star of that film, Ashley Williams. I had been a fan of her sister for some time, but this was the movie that truly introduced me to her as an artist, wife, mother, humanitarian, and so much more. This holiday season, we fans have the supreme joy of seeing Ashley not in just one film, but in two Christmas films on the Hallmark Network! And thankfully, Ashley found some time to squeeze in a quick interview about what has been going on in her life since we last chatted!

RH: It’s been a while since our last interview, and Love On a Limb is still a fan favorite that resonated so well with the fans. Any chance for a sequel?

AW: I’d love to do a sequel!! Would need some time to grow my hair back though–lol!! I absolutely loved producing that movie. It was challenging and exhausting. I’d do it again in a heartbeat! My favorite thing about the movie was that it was so literal. She’s passionate about a tree. So she climbs in it to protect it. I always thought the idea was so inherently funny. I’m so glad to hear people loved it as much as we did.

Last year, we saw you in Christmas in Evergreen. What was most memorable about filming that movie?

Christmas In Evergreen

I think what made that movie special for me was the cast. Having Holly Robinson Pete and Barbara Niven by my side was an absolute delight. Those girls are the REAL DEAL! We became so close and I think you can tell on camera. I had a four-month-old and a three-year-old and was very overwhelmed. They were so joyful and supportive, reminding me every day how lucky I am. I needed that. I feel so lucky to know them!

Due to the success of that film, the sequel to that movie is coming out this year. What can you tell us about the plot of this second movie and your role in it?

Behind-the-Scenes
Christmas In Evergreen 2

This movie is so much fun!! Jill Wagner is absolutely stunning, but also a true down-home girl. She fit right in with the other ladies and me and we laughed a lot. This movie has a simplistic conflict— to stay in Evergreen or not to stay in Evergreen? But this one has just a hint more of mystery. It’s very fun to watch the story unfold. People will love it.

You recently filmed Northern Lights of Christmas. Please tell us about this film and what your role is. What is special about this film and story? Also, Hallmark fans want to know–did you meet Teri Wilson when she visited the set??

Ashley Williams, Corey Sevier Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Iden Ford

I met Teri!!! Actually not only did I meet her, she came and WORKED WITH ME as an actress on set!! We should have a game to see who can spot her! She was GREAT to spend time with. She’s very close with her son and I have my boys, so we had a lot in common. I’m also absolutely amazing at how prolific of a writer she is. That woman is so creative!!

Ashley Williams, Corey Sevier Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Iden Ford

I love what she did with this story. I play Zoey, a really cool airplane pilot, who inherits her close friend and father figure’s ranch. The ranch is magical. There is so much history in its land and trees and even their pet reindeer! Zoey is wrestling with the connection she feels with the ranch and her ambition to own her own airplane and start her business. She’s a career woman! But then… she meets Alec and he changes things a bit for her. It’s a completely delicious story. People are gonna love it.

I seem to remember you and your sister Kimberly Williams-Paisley have been working on a project that is supposed to be coming to Hallmark. What can you tell us about that?

With sister Kimberly

Yes!! I love those projects!! We are still working on it. We keep saying if we are going to do this, we want to do it right. We have scripts and we are still working and tweaking them. We would love-love-love to shoot them this winter, but they need to be perfect!

Any other upcoming/current works you would like to mention?

FBI

I just did an episode of the new Dick Wolf show, FBI. It was a real turn from my Hallmark Christmas movies!! I cried a lot on camera, which was actually very fun. My background and training is in drama, so I love getting to flex those muscles.

Recently, I know that you and Nikki DeLoach joined forces for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Could you tell us more about this and why you so passionately support it?

I love my Nikki!!! We’ve been friends for a million years, but have gotten a lot closer since her dad was diagnosed with dementia. My mom died of Alzheimer’s disease last year and I think it’s hard not to feel a sense of hopelessness around the disease. No cure. Nothing we can do. Raising money for this walk is so energizing and empowering— Nikki and I had a great time with it. And we raised a lot of money— thank you so much for contributing, Ruth!! We will find a cure!

In a world that is increasingly divisive and negative, how do you remain positive and focused on the good things in this world? I ask because you seem to have such a positive outlook almost all of the time!

Ashley & husband

I have a lot of trouble with it, to be honest. One thing that really helps is that I have a husband who absolutely takes my breath away still, after fifteen years together. Positivity, ideas, enthusiasm, and a passion for life burst out of him every day. When I’m blue, he truly lifts me.

What is a favorite holiday tradition for your family?

We do a Santa run on Christmas Eve morning on the farm at my sister’s house in Tennessee. We all wear costumes (often superhero ones!) and run around and race each other and get our energy out. They are some of the BEST pictures from the holidays. I love this tradition. There’s nothing like natural endorphins to keep you giggling and in the spirit!

No matter who I talk to about Ashley, I consistently get the same report that only confirms what we fans already believe about this amazing woman. Ashley is one of the most authentic, down-to-earth, REAL people in the world of entertainment today, and exactly what you see is what you get with her both on and off the screen! While I have never had the good fortune of meeting this dynamic artist in person, I have to say that the fact that she is so passionate about each and every project in which she is involved is something that speaks volumes. Additionally, she labors intensively to ensure that everything about these projects is exactly as it should be, and her enthusiasm never permits her to release something that is less than perfect (or at least pretty darn close!). Furthermore, the fact that she acknowledged all of her contributors so personally in her recent fundraiser for Alzheimer’s is another thing that sent me over the moon in my support of her both professionally and personally. She is not a “cookie cutter” celebrity, and the fact that she puts out such diverse but exemplary content on so many levels and works seamlessly with such a variety of personalities, networks, and genres are quintessential attributes of hers that impress me in the extreme and inspire me to support her with even more fervor than I might otherwise. 

I hope that everyone in the U.S. makes plans to tune in for both of her premieres this holiday season, the first of which debuts on the Hallmark Channel this Sunday, November 18th, Christmas In Evergreen: Letter To Santa. (Canadian viewers can watch this premiere on December 9th on the W Network.) Then don’t forget to come back to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries for the U.S. premiere of Northern Lights of Christmas on December 15th. (Sadly, I don’t see this one on the Canadian schedule as of yet.) And while you’re making all these plans to savor Ashley’s films, go ahead and visit her links below and consider following her where applicable (she is pretty active on Instagram). If there’s one thing I am passionate about in this world is recognizing strong, independent women who are living their lives to the fullest, accomplishing their dreams, and still making the time to be wives, mothers, and/or whatever else their hearts so desire. And in the case of Ashley, she is the ideal representation of what a twenty-first woman can achieve, and I believe that she is a role model that women–both young and old–can admire and aspire to emulate in their present circumstances as she stimulates hope, joy, encouragement and more in a world that all too often attempts to dictate what is expected, especially from women. Ashley is true to herself as a person and an artist, and she makes no apologies for who she is. She exemplifies this in the uncomplicated way she chooses to live her life which proves that yes, you can have it all and still have a joyous, fulfilled life. And as far as I’m concerned, that makes her an absolute, unparalleled success in my book, and I can hardly wait to see what her future holds!

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