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Ashley alight

Interview, Sept, 1998 by Salma Hayek

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SH: Did you pray as a little girl?

AJ: Yeah, I prayed. There was one thing my mom said to me that to this day I consider to be the foundation of my faith. I was really young and a little bewildered about some things. She came into my bedroom to say goodnight and I told her I was at a loss, and she said, "Well, what's the Golden Rule? I'll give you some time to think about it, and you'll remember." And sure enough I did remember: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." In that moment, she taught me that no matter where I am, I know how to live this life: It was probably the greatest gift she ever gave me.

SH: And what are some of the rituals that you have now as a woman?

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AJ: Well, in the mornings when I wake up, I don't rash into things. I write, and that comes and goes. I'm in a heavy writing phase at the moment. If something big has happened in my life, or something memorable, I say, "OK, time to go back to pen and paper again; this needs to be registered somewhere." And, I think that one of the rituals I have in my mind is, I seek to understand. Last night, for example, I didn't sleep. I was trying to understand something, and I had a mental sunrise at about four o'clock. Again, it's kind of a process, but it classifies as a ritual - if something has happened I am determined to figure out what it is and why, and I'll give myself the space to accomplish that.

SH: As much as you reflect on life and you love philosophy, you are incredibly giving. Does this influence your way of working with directors?

AJ: Oh, absolutely. When I accept a role, I feel that as an artist I have to submit completely to the tutelage of my director. And while I expect to be heard and encouraged and honored, at the end of the day, man, it's the way the director wants it. And that gives me a great adrenaline rush, because I like the challenge of doing it the way they want it done. If they ask me to do it, I can get to a place where I can deliver completely what they're looking for - with my own oomph.

SH: Are you a pleaser?

AJ: Oh, it's pitiful. When I love somebody . . .

SH: Before we get to love, I want to ask you about loyalty, because I think you're a very loyal person.

AJ: I'm learning how to be more loyal, though, Salma.

SH: But I'll tell you, loyalty is a quality that I think you either have or you don't. I will never forget the time I spilled that glass of wine on my white shirt in the most popular restaurant in town, and you had a white shirt, and you took a napkin and copied the same stain on your shirt in solidarity. Loyalty is in your nature.

AJ: And you know what, sweetie? I loved doing that. And it was great, because it was over our hearts! We made the guy we were with cry!

SH: [laughs] And now about love. Do you find it easy to fall in love?

AJ: Hmm. I'm assessing that right now. I think it's easy for me to connect to some people, and I don't know if that's the same thing as falling in love whereas before, I might have said it was. Right now, I'm starting to believe I'm a little bit different from other people. Because otherwise, why haven't I had fourteen amazing boyfriends in sustained relationships?

Ashley alight

Interview, Sept, 1998 by Salma Hayek

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