Steven Prusakowski
Annaleigh Ashford’s remarkable versatility defines her career, always making her next role unpredictable. The multi-talented actress, adept in acting, singing, and dancing, has embraced a wide range of challenging roles across genres. Her acclaimed Broadway performances range from the uplifting comedy Kinky Boots to the macabre, twisted Sweeney Todd. These contrast sharply with characters she brought to life in television series like Masters of Sex, Welcome to Chippendales, and B Positive. Each role she takes on showcases her ability to infuse depth and authenticity, and her range extends further still.
In the haunting drama series Happy Face, the Tony-winner and Emmy nominee takes on an emotionally conflicted role as Melissa Moore, the real-life daughter of Keith Jesperson, the notorious “Happy Face Killer,” portrayed by Dennis Quaid. Unlike typical true crime narratives that focus on the killer or the crime, this series centers on the collateral victims—like Melissa and her family—who endure lasting shame, guilt, and trauma over her father’s heinous acts. Ashford skillfully explores her character’s inner turmoil, torn between cherished childhood memories of her father and the horrifying reality of his crimes.
Ashford was my guest on TV Topics podcast where the conversation examined her work on Happy Face and also her TV viewing over the years. Two extremely different subject matters which both provide a unique perspective into who the talented actress is and what shaped her career. Ashford’s tastes span genres and eras, which may partially explain her interest in tackling such diverse roles.
Even with the heavy subject matter of Happy Face we were able to find lighter moments in the conversation like her affection for and appreciation of The Golden Girls, her desire to be in a Marvel movie, and living in a simpler time of Green Gables. (Warning: we also discuss a major spoiler of The Last of Us – though well publicized, proceed with caution.) What you can learn about a person through their TV viewing is always fascinating.
You can listen to our full conversation below as well as read some highlights here where she dives into the complexity of her character.
On the unique perspective of Happy Face and the questions it proposes:
“One of the things that’s unique about this show, yes, it’s a story about true crime, but we’re so often watching true crime shows through the lens of the serial killer or through the detectives trying to figure out the serial killer. Usually it’s a male gaze. Not only is it a female gaze, but it’s also from the point of view of the family member of the serial killer, which is something I don’t think we often are enlightened by. This is a real woman, it’s her real story.
It’s about the guilt and the shame that she carries for a crime that she did not commit and how this woman in real life really used this terrible act of violence and has become an advocate for people who have been touched by the trauma of crime. What was most interesting to play with this character was there’s a constant inner struggle. Her inner life is unfortunately going to forever be fraught. She’s in this struggle for the love that she has for this man before he became the monster. What do you do if you have a family member who commits a violent act of atrocity? What do you do?”
On the Emotional Complexity of Her Role:
“If somebody took care of you and loved you, it’s almost impossible to forget the good memories in the same way that it is to forget the bad. In a lot of ways, those good memories are absolutely also a source of trauma. To remember somebody who is a monster fondly is really confusing and complicated and a source of trauma. I thought that was really interesting for the audience, and then it was also really interesting for me as an actor to play.”
On Her Acting Process Across Mediums:
“I come to every role with the same technique, which is the basics of the basics of the basics. What do you want? How are you going to get it? What are your obstacles? What are your relationships? What are the given circumstances? What is the world? And then the medium really informs the tone and the feel and the choices you make. So while they were completely different characters, they were completely different mediums, I would say that the process was the same.”
On the Lasting Impact of The Golden Girls:
“The four women are such strong archetypes that it sets up a comedy dynamic that allows us to laugh at them and with them every episode. So I feel like that’s part of the strength of the show. And then the other strength of the show is the casting. Those four women were cast to perfection. Their performances are, you know, the very best. And then the writing also rose to the occasion as well.
On which of The Golden Girls she relates to most:
I love them all for different reasons. But I think that Bea Arthur has a special place in my heart because of her history in the theater. And I don’t know why, but I have a special kinship for Betty White, because I feel like she’s the one of the four of them that I most like her in type. You know, she also played different types of women throughout her career, which is kind of similar to me. I have a similar kind of energy to Betty White. If we did the The Golden Girls right now, I would be Rose!
Check out all of Annaleigh’s thought-provoking and enthralling work on Happy Face (streaming on Paramount+).
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