Ash Santos

Ashley Marie Santos—most folks know her as Ash Santos—kicks off her story in the Bronx, New York, with roots stretching into the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico thanks to her dad (who, by the way, used to be a Special Victims Unit Detective in Manhattan) and her mom. She didn't exactly grow up in Hollywood's shadow. Actually, she spent her childhood upstate in Montgomery, NY—a small town vibe, not a red carpet in sight. Even though she’d always had a thing for acting, Ash didn’t chase it as a kid. That all changed when she landed in Salt Lake City, Utah, back in 2011. Suddenly, it was commercials and TV movies—the whole grind—until LA came calling in 2018. Her big break? Nabbing a recurring guest star spot on season eight of FX’s “American Horror Story” in June 2018. After that, things just sort of snowballed. She lined up three films for 2021: “Joe Bell”—an A24 drama with Mark Wahlberg and screenwriting legends Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana; the Netflix thriller “Night Teeth” with Alfie Allen; and “Swing,” an indie rowing drama with Michael Shannon. Not exactly a slow year. And she’s not just popping up in movies, either. Ash scored a regular spot on HBO Max’s “Red Bird Lane,” a psychological thriller with Susan Sarandon leading the cast, shot in late 2020. Lately, you can catch her on Netflix’s “True Story” alongside Kevin Hart, and she’s set to appear in Hulu’s “Iron Mike,” the upcoming Mike Tyson biopic series. Honestly, she’s everywhere right now.