Aubrey Peeples dishes on Nashville.
Aubrey Peeples is best known for her role as Layla Grant on the ABC hit drama, Nashville. Aubrey recently sat down with Glitter Magazine to talk about her role as Layla, how she got started in the business, her advice for anyone wanting to pursue a career in acting, the upcoming season on Nashville, what she loves to do on her free time and who she’d love to act with. Read on to find out more about the incredibly talented Aubrey Peeples. Did you also know she was just cast as Jem in the upcoming Jem and the Holograms movie? How cool is that?
(Photographer credit: Brandon Kidd)
GLITTER: What can you tell us about your character Layla Grant on ABC’s Nashville? Are you anything like her?
AUBREY: I often say that being Layla is like being on the edge of a cliff. She lives off the cuff of her emotions, and while this doesn’t always go over well in a professional setting, I think there is something beautiful about the youthfulness of feeling things so strongly – and I think everyone’s been out of control of their emotions at times. It’s a part of growing up! As far as other similarities go, I definitely think we share an extreme determination to succeed in our passions – but I’d like to think I’m a lot less manipulative! And hopefully people think I’m a lot nicer!
GLITTER: How did you get started with acting? Was this a career you always wanted to pursue?
AUBREY: My good old parents took me to see my first musical when I was about three or four-years-old, and they have told me that I wouldn’t sit back in the chair. I was just on the edge of my seat the whole time. And that did it. I grew up a theater rat, doing local professional and equity shows from a young age; around eleven I began branching off into film and television. It’s my passion and it makes sense to me. I like to say that acting and music are the closest things we have to magic, and what can I say? I’m still four-years-old at heart, searching for that magic. End cheesy speech.
GLITTER: Getting into the entertainment industry can be tough and require a lot of hard work. What advice can you give to young girls wanting to pursue an acting career?
AUBREY: Exactly how you just put it. It’s tough, and it does require a lot of hard work – hard work is the most important thing, I think, for pursuing any career or goal. And because it takes a lot of hard work, and you have to be prepared for frequent rejection, you have to actually be passionate about the work and really enjoy it – if you are pursuing fame, you are going about it the wrong way. All you can control in any career is your talent and work ethic, so being prepared is key.
GLITTER: You also play the role of Caitlin Maguire in the upcoming movie, Tokarev, alongside Nicolas Cage. What was the experience like?
AUBREY: It was awesome! The project as a whole was a really incredible experience. Watching such an amazing actor like Nicolas Cage work, and seeing how concerned the director, Paco Cabezas, and cinematographer, Andrzej Sekula, were with the metaphor of the way scenes are shot, was such a learning experience. Plus, I became good buddies with my boys, the very talented Max Fowler and Jack Falahee!
GLITTER: Who has been your favorite actor or actress to work with in the past?
AUBREY: I have been so fortunate to be able to work with incredible actors and people like Nicolas Cage, and Jaason Simmons, whom is now my dear friend; and of course I have to mention my best friend, Hannah Marks. We met playing best friends on USA’s Necessary Roughness and became so in real life – it’s so sickening how adorable it is. I’d also have to say that some of my favorite scenes I’ve ever shot are those where Hayden Panettiere and I fight on Nashville – we have way too much fun being mean.
GLITTER: If you could act with anyone alive or dead, who would it be and why?
AUBREY: There are so many. Katharine Hepburn, she was so ballsy and dynamic. Do directors count? I love Alfred Hitchcock. I think we would have been kindred spirits. And of course, Mr. Leo, especially after seeing The Wolf of Wall Street multiple times. His performance in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is also one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen.
GLITTER: What is your favorite part about the spring season?
AUBREY: I actually don’t know a lot of what is to come! We are shooting episode fourteen right now, and so I’m only clued in to a few episodes ahead of the audience. But I definitely have to say I’m very excited for the audience to discover Layla’s emotional past and why she is the way she is.
GLITTER: What do you enjoy doing during your free time? Do you have any favorite hobbies?
AUBREY: I love to play and go listen to music, of course. I’m also the biggest nerd. I always have my nose in a book; I spend a lot of time reading and listening to podcasts. In addition I write a lot – music, poetry, fiction, I’ve been working on a screenplay…Such a cliché actor! Other than that, spending time with good people I love!
GLITTER: What kind of music do you enjoy listening too?
AUBREY: I love the blues, old rock, old country, jazz, and experimental. Some of my favorites include John Lee Hooker, Dave Van Ronk, The Doors, Tom Waits, Patsy Cline, David Bowie, Portishead, Nancy Sinatra, and Skeeter Davis. I could go on for ages.
GLITTER: Are you on any social networks that fans can follow and interact with you on?
AUBREY: You can follow me on Twitter at @aubreypeeples! I also have a business page on the Facebook and YouTube channel, just under my name. My Instagram is @heypeeplesitsaubrey.
Editorial Director | Writer | Tweet me @heatherriccio
