Ashley Madekwe

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Ashley Madekwe – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Ashley Madekwe is an English actress known for Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Revenge, Salem, and County Lines. Explore her early life, acting journey, style interests, and her best quotes.

Introduction

Ashley Madekwe is a British actress whose multifaceted career spans British and American television and film. She is best known for playing Bambi in Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Ashley Davenport in Revenge, and Tituba in Salem. In more recent years she has earned acclaim for her performance in County Lines, which earned her BAFTA recognition. Beyond acting, Madekwe is also known for her fashion blog, style voice, and public reflections on creativity and public life.

Early Life and Family

Ashley Madekwe was born on December 6, 1983 (some sources list 1981, though more commonly 1983) in London, England.

Her father is of mixed Nigerian-Swiss descent, and her mother is English.

At age 14, she attended the BRIT School (a performing arts and technology school) and later trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, earning her BA in acting.

She also has a cousin, actor Archie Madekwe.

Acting Career & Key Roles

Beginnings & UK work

Madekwe’s early on-screen roles included appearances in British television: The Bill, Teachers, Doctors, Casualty, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and others.

Her first feature film credit came with Storm Damage (television) and then Cassandra’s Dream (2007), directed by Woody Allen, appearing opposite Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor.

She also appeared in How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008).

Breakthrough & U.S. visibility

Her role as Bambi / Gloria White in Secret Diary of a Call Girl (ITV2) (series 2 & 3) increased her visibility in both the UK and abroad.

Then she moved into U.S. television. In 2011, she was cast as Ashley Davenport in the ABC drama Revenge. She was a regular during seasons 1–2, and made a guest appearance in season 3.

From 2014 to about 2017, she portrayed Tituba, a witch, in the series Salem (WGN America).

In 2019, she starred in the British film County Lines (as Toni), which earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Some of her more recent television work includes appearances on The Umbrella Academy, Tell Me a Story, Dr. Death (season 2), and more.

Style, Public Persona & Interests

Beyond acting, Madekwe is well known for her interest in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. She runs a fashion blog named Ring My Bell and has contributed style commentary in media.

In an interview with Glamour, she described her style as mutable:

“There’s no rhyme or reason to how I dress … I’m known for changing halfway through the day if my mood swings.”

She cites style icons like Daphne Guinness, Alexa Chung, and Kate Moss as inspirations.

She also has spoken about beauty routines, skincare, hair care, and how her character work influences her physicality (especially for Salem).

Personal Life & Achievements

Madekwe married actor Iddo Goldberg in June 2012. Secret Diary and Salem).

In 2023, she gave birth to their first child (a son).

Her performance in County Lines earned her a significant critical recognition — a BAFTA nomination.

Personality & Creative Philosophy

Madekwe’s interviews and public statements show a few recurring themes:

• Hard work and gradual rise: She emphasizes that what looks like an overnight success often comes from consistent effort. > “It often looks like an actor’s had a big break out of nowhere, but in reality, they’ve been working their way up, little by little, for a while.”

• Expressiveness in style: She treats fashion as a form of self-expression, experimenting with combining high-end and affordable pieces. > “I like to play around with mixing high-end with more affordable pieces.”

• Balance in relationships: She has said, “I think the best way to keep a relationship hot is to simply try to make time for each other. That’s it.”

• Accepting imperfection: She has spoken about indulgences and not being overly strict with herself (food, style, etc.). > “I have my ‘naughty’ days … but so what!”

• Beauty & preferences: She frequently mentions favorite skincare and beauty items (for instance, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream) in her routine.

Famous Quotes

Here are several quotes attributed to Ashley Madekwe that reflect her views:

• “It often looks like an actor’s had a big break out of nowhere, but in reality, they’ve been working their way up, little by little, for a while.”

• “I’m happy with embellishment in a chunky Prada-esque way, but I’m not into sequins!”

• “I like to play around with mixing high-end with more affordable pieces.”

• “I love trashy reality TV — all of it.”

• “The water in L.A. tastes like bleach. I literally have to make my tea with Evian water.”

• “I originally wanted to be a pop star … My dad … introduced me to drama classes. Once I became fixated on that, there was no stopping me.”

• “When someone comes to visit me, they have to bring tea — you can’t stay in my house if you don’t bring me tea.”

Lessons from Ashley Madekwe’s Journey

1. Persistence matters
   Her path shows that behind a seemingly sudden breakthrough lies years of smaller roles, training, and steady growth.

2. Blend your interests
   She combines acting with personal passions (fashion, blogging, style) to create a fuller public identity.

3. Authenticity counts
   Rather than chasing perfect image, she embraces mood shifts, “naughty days,” and mixing styles. That humanizes her.

4. Collaboration can enrich roles
   On shows like Revenge, she worked closely with costume designers to sculpt her character’s aesthetic.

5. Recognition can come later
   The BAFTA nod for County Lines came well into her career — a reminder that critical recognition doesn’t always arrive early.

Conclusion

Ashley Madekwe has built a compelling career across both British and American screens, embracing roles that balance strength, nuance, and transformation. Her style sensibility and honest reflections make her a modern creative personality whose journey is still evolving.