First Impressions: Ashley Aufderheide
Just like her on-screen counterpart, That 90s Show’s Ashley Auferheide loves hanging out with her friends down the street.
Text by Dio Anthony
Just one month and a few days after the premiere of Netflix's That 90s Show–-the anticipated spinoff of the beloved 70s Show, 17-year-old Ashley Aufderheide’s life has been turned upside down, and up again. Aufderheide, who stars as the rebellious but kind-hearted Gwen Runck on the series, steps into big shoes as one of the six Point Place teens, looking for something to do in suburban Wisconsin–on any given night. She’s the second one of the pack we meet, and undoubtedly one of our favorites too. Gwen is confident and inviting. IRL, so is Ashley.
KULE rugby shirt, EMMA MULHOLLAND ON HOLIDAY pant, AGL shoes,
Meeting her during these times will prove to be special. A time of change and growth, and most excitingly real world experience, as she inches closer to her real life high school graduation and a sophomore season of her show—by now an instant and certified hit. American Studies braces themselves for a first impression.
KULE rugby shirt, DEMARSON Earrings, YOUNG FRANKk Necklace
AMERICAN STUDIES: We meet your character and the rest of the gang as they are maneuvering their boredom in a small town in the midwest. What’s your town like?
ASHLEY AUFDERHEIDE: It's pretty small, I would say. I've gone to the same school for 13 years, so I pretty much have known the same people my whole life, and have also had the same friends. So it’s a lot similar in that way to the series. I think the difference is I live near a big city, so I'm able to venture out during the weekends. Which I don’t think Point Place really has.[laughs] Outside of that though, I love hanging out with my friends down the street.
KULE sweater, Earrings MEJURI, Necklace MAISON MIRU
AS: Your character helps Leia out of her comfort zone and onto new experiences. Do you have a friend that's done that for you? Or are you that friend to other people?
AA: Friends come to me for advice a lot because I'm pretty good at keeping secrets [laughs]. As I said before, all of us have known each other for a long time, so there hasn't really been many situations where I'd have to introduce a new friend to another friend at my school or anything like that. However, I think definitely, in any situation where my friends need advice, or if there's any sort of conflict, friends do come to me, and we figure out a plan to find a solution.
KULE sweater, DAUPHINETTE loose jean in acid potpourri, Shoes CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
AS: One thing that’s so fascinating about sitcoms is the fact that they're shot with multiple cameras at once. Did that take some time for you to get used to?
“ I’ve gone to the same school for 13 years, so I pretty much have known the same people my whole life, ”
AA: It can feel a bit under pressure, but it's good pressure, you know? You’re trying to get the take and are also trying not to look at the audience when they’re laughing. I think I got used to it pretty quickly. It was more fun than anything else. And above all an amazing experience.
AS: What's one thing about your life today that has stayed consistent despite all these life changes?
ROWING BLAZERS blazer, ARTHUR ASHE track pants, ELIZA FAULKNER shirt, DAUPHINETTE Rose Fangs necklace, YOUNG FRANKK ring, ARME DE L'AMOUR earrings
AA: There's this coffee shop a few minutes from my house—which I started going to about a year or two ago. I still go all the time, and find time to get my Chai Iced Latte. I’m in there so often that everyone knows both me and my order by now.
DAUPHINETTE Rose Fangs necklace, YOUNG FRANKK ring, ARME DE L'AMOUR earrings
ROWING BLAZERS blazer, DAUPHINETTE Rose Fangs necklace
AS: Like many kids your age, you’ve entered the college admissions process. What’s that been like for you? Has it been a challenge mapping things out with season 2 on the horizon?
AA: Lots of interviews and research! It’s been pretty standard, just figuring out what the best match is for me. I think the timing is great because, for season two, we’d likely be shooting in the summer. Which is perfect. I can graduate from my senior year of highschool. Go straight into shooting and then hopefully be done by the following school year. What I can say about applying to college overall is that the supplemental essays on the application force you to be really introspective. There were questions like: How do I see my future? What would I like to learn beyond what I’ve been so fortunate to experience as an actor? And what would I like to gain from being in a college?
All great questions to ask. Stream That 90s Show only on Netflix.
Photography by Lawrence De Leon / Styling by Caitlin Pope / Hair by Karla Serrano / Makeup by Molly Fredenberg / Direction & Words by Dio Anthony