Ashley Benson

Ashley Benson (born December 18, 1989) is an American actress and singer. Her accolades include four Teen Choice Awards, a Young Hollywood Award, as well as three People's Choice Award nominations.

Benson began her career as a competitive dancer at age three, and transitioned to acting in her teens, first gaining recognition for her role as Abigail Deveraux in the soap opera Days of Our Lives (20042007). Following her film debut in the 2004 comedy 13 Going on 30, she gained international recognition for starring as Hanna Marin in the Freeform drama thriller series Pretty Little Liars (20102017). During this time, she also continued to appear in films such as the crime comedy Spring Breakers (2012), the psychological horror Ratter (2015), the comedy drama Chronically Metropolitan (2016), and the musical drama Her Smell (2018). She has since starred in the films Private Property (2022), Mob Land (2023), and McVeigh (2024), as well as in the Amazon Prime Video psychological thriller miniseries Wilderness (2023).

Aside from acting, Benson has ventured into music, first in 2018 with the soundtrack of Her Smell, followed by her collaboration with G-Eazy in his cover of the Radiohead song "Creep" (2020).

Early life Ashley Benson was born on December 18, 1989,

Career 2000s: Early work and recognition Benson began dancing competitively at age three, studying ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop. She began singing in choirs and musicals at a young age, performing a solo at her church at age four. When she was eight years old she signed with Ford Models, and appeared in a number of print ads.

Benson appeared on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives as Abigail Deveraux from 2004 to 2007.

She recalled working on a film set instead of a soap opera set "definitely weird", because she would spend days working on one or two scenes, whereas on the Days of Our Lives set, she filmed two or three episodes a day. For Bring It On: In It to Win It, she had to attend cheerleading practice, which was "hard for [her], because [she is] afraid of heights." Nonetheless, she was "glad" to do her own stunts, even though she "wasn't expecting it to be so hard." Furthermore, she was excited to land a supporting role in Bart Got a Room, which aired mainly on film festivals in 2008 before having a limited release in 2009, because it allowed her to work with William H. Macy.

In 2009, Benson starred in ABC's short-lived supernatural comedy television series Eastwick. The show was based on John Updike's novel, The Witches of Eastwick, and the 1987 film adaptation of the same name. The series only lasted 11 episodes before ABC cancelled the series due to low ratings but has since gained a cult following.

2010s: Transition to drama and breakthrough

In December 2009, Benson was cast as Hanna Marin in the ABC Family mystery-thriller teen drama series Pretty Little Liars, based on the novel series by Sara Shepard. Hanna is the "diva" and "It girl" of the group, having taken Alison DiLaurentis' place as the most popular girl at Rosewood High in Alison's absence. The series premiered to 2.47 million viewers with Benson's performance being praised by critics. She also received a number of awards and nominations. Benson reprised the role in the spin-off series Ravenswood in two episodes.

In 2010, Benson starred in the television film Christmas Cupid alongside Christina Milian and Chad Michael Murray, which also aired on ABC Family. In January 2012, Benson was cast in the film Spring Breakers, after Emma Roberts dropped out due to creative reasons. The film centers on four college students who are arrested and bailed out by a drug and arms dealer, who sends them out to do some dirty work on spring break. The film co-starred Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, and James Franco. Filming took place in March and April 2012, and the film was released in March 2013.

In the January 21, 2013, episode of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, Benson appeared as Carly Whittaker, Barney Stinson's half-sister who dated Ted Mosby. That same month, Benson became the face of eveningwear designer Faviana.

She starred in the 2015 independent horror thriller film Ratter, playing Emma Taylor, a girl who is stalked through her technological devices. That same year, she also appeared in Pixels as Lady Lisa, a fictional game character brought to life. In 2016, Benson appeared in the biographical comedy-drama film Elvis & Nixon as Margaret.

In 2018, it was announced that Benson would star alongside Cara Delevingne and Elisabeth Moss in Alex Ross Perry's music drama film Her Smell, and the film received generally positive reviews. For the film's soundtrack, Benson did all her own vocals.

2020s: Music ventures and later return to film In 2020, Benson was featured on "Creep" by G-Eazy, a cover version of the Radiohead song. She also appeared in the music videos previously for NLT's "That Girl", One Call's "Black Light", and Hot Chelle Rae's "Honestly".

Personal life From 2018 to 2020, Benson was in a high-profile relationship with English model Cara Delevingne.

Benson's former co-star and friend Tyler Blackburn made a revelation about the nature of their relationship during an interview in 2019. He stated: "In navigating our relationship as co-workers and also as friends sometimes the lines blurred a little. We had periods when we felt more for each other." The pair ultimately remained good friends.

She dated rapper G-Eazy from 2020 to 2021. Since January 2023, Benson has been in a relationship with Brandon Davis (grandson of late billionaire Marvin Davis). They got engaged in July 2023 and were married in November that year. In February 2024, Benson gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Aspen.

She resides in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 13 Going on 30 Six Chick 2005 Neighbors Mindy Short film 2007 Bring It On: In It to Win It Carson Direct-to-video 2008 Bart Got a Room Alice 2012 Spring Breakers Brit 2015 Ratter Emma Taylor Also camera operator Pixels Lady Lisa 2016 Elvis & Nixon Margaret Chronically Metropolitan Jessie 2018 Her Smell Roxie Rotten Ask Me If I Care Alice Short film 2021 The Birthday Cake Tracey 2022 Private Property Kathryn Carlyle The Loneliest Boy in the World Margot Angry Neighbors Amberson girl 2023 Alone at Night Vicky Also producer Mob Land Caroline Conners 2024 McVeigh Cindy 2026 Pretty Babies Sapphire Also producer Good Side of a Bad Man Ruby Stranglehold Pledge Trip Chief MAxime

Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 The District Melissa Howell Episode: "Explicit Activities" The West Wing Girl Episode: "Game On" Nikki Dancer Episode: "Working Girl" (unaired) 2004 Strong Medicine April Episode: "Cape Cancer" 2004–2007 Days of Our Lives Abigail Deveraux Role held: November 12, 2004 – May 2, 2007 2005 7th Heaven Margot 2 episodes Zoey 101 Candice Episode: "Quinn's Date" 2006 The O.C. Riley Episode: "The Summer Bummer" 2008 Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal Brooke Tippit Television film CSI: Miami Amy Beck Episode: "Bombshell" Supernatural Tracy Davis Episode: "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester" 2009–2010 Eastwick Mia Torcoletti Main role 2010 Christmas Cupid Caitlin Quinn Television film 2010–2017 Pretty Little Liars Hanna Marin Main role, 160 episodes 2012 Punk'd Herself Episode: "Heather Morris" 2013 How I Met Your Mother Carly Whittaker Episode: "Ring Up!" 2013–2014 Ravenswood Hanna Marin Special guest star, 2 episodes 2014 Family Guy Dakota (voice) Episode: "Brian's a Bad Father" 2015 Barely Famous Herself Episode: "Bananas Foster"2023 Wilderness Cara Parker Main role, 6 episodes

Web Year Title Role Notes 2011 CollegeHumor Originals Ashley Episode: "Secret Girl Language" 2020 Lady Parts Herself Episode: "How to Survive Puberty" 2021 Sorry Charlie Miller Charlie Miller Voice role; podcast series

Music videos Year Title Artist(s) Role 2002 "True Love" Lil' Romeo featuring Solange Knowles Girl #1 2007 "That Girl" NLT Love Interest 2008 "We Don't Have to Look Back Now" Puddle of Mudd The Girlfriend 2010 "Black Light" One Call Love Interest 2012 "Honestly" Hot Chelle Rae Girl 2019 "Can't Wait" The Akergirls Roxie Rotten 2020 "Imagine" Gal Gadot & Friends Herself

Discography Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Stars Go Out" 2017 "Breathe" 2019 Elisabeth Moss, Agyness Deyn,Gayle Rankin, Cara Delevingne,Dylan Gelula and Amber HeardHer Smell "Can't Wait" Cara Delevingne and Dylan Gelula "Creep" 2020 G-Eazy "All the Things You're Searching For" G-Eazy and Kossisko Everything's Strange Here

Songwriting credits Title Year Artist(s) Album Credits Written with "Every Night of the Year" 2020 G-Eazy Everything's Strange Here Co-writer Gerald Gillum, Dakarai Gwitira, John Michael Rouchell

Awards and nominations Year Award CategoryWorkResult2011 Young Hollywood AwardsCast to Watch Pretty Little Liars Youth Rock Awards Rockin' TV Actress 2013 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards Actress Most in Need of a New Agent Spring Breakers Capricho Awards Best Make Out Best International Actress Pretty Little Liars 2014 MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss Spring Breakers Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star – Female Pretty Little Liars Candie's Choice Style Icon Herself 2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Cable TV ActressPretty Little Liars Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star: Female 2016 People's Choice Awards Favorite Cable TV Actress Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Drama Choice TV: Chemistry 2017 People's Choice Awards Favorite Cable TV Actress Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Drama