From Autumn Issue 63
Glass sits down with English actor and singer Asha Banks, only 21 but making waves on both fronts with a string of impressive projects under her belt and more to come
Call it what you will, but the ‘star system’ as we know it is changing. Once noted for its wishful and slightly out-of-touch aura, its new-and-improved young components are defined by a fresh, sensitive and relatable quality.
So, cast your eyes back to 2009, when eight-year-old Asha Banks got ready for her first drama class with a friend and followed it up with a West End part in Les Misérables the following year. Or, more recently, when the multi-hyphenate released her debut EP, Untie My Tongue, slowly capturing the indie folk zeitgeist while already making waves with her role in the Beeb’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. Yet, even as more opportunities come her way, she remains pleasantly grounded.
Photographer: Nick Thompson
“It’s all been very surreal, but I’m feeling great!” exclaims the 21-year-old, radiating sheer excitement. “In February, I had a movie come out called My Fault: London. It was my first big film and my first lead role, so everything about that was insane.” The British romantic drama follows the story of 18-year-old Noah who moves from America to London with her mother and stepfather. When she meets her stepbrother and an attraction brews despite their best efforts, her estranged father reappears after being released from prison and causes havoc.
“It was received so well – so positively – and that meant everything I could’ve hoped for,” Banks says. Then she released Untie My Tongue in March, which she calls “another incredible and surreal first”. She’s been doing tons of writing, too. “I write and co-write,” she explains. “I have a team I work with, but it’s usually me and one other person who write all my songs.”
Photographer: Nick Thompson
Growing up in the town of St Albans, she credits her family as a catalyst for her love of the arts. “I’ve always been surrounded by music,” she says. “My family played music in the house all the time, so it doesn’t surprise me that I found a love for it in that space. But neither of my parents nor any of my family work in the arts or have any creative involvement at all. My dad played the violin when he was younger and my mum works in communications. But at heart, she’s a creative writer and I guess that makes sense with my love for songwriting.”
At age seven, Banks randomly went to a weekend theatre class with an hour of singing, acting and dance – and became obsessed. “It all began from that very moment,” she reflects.
In her discography, Banks views the songs she’s written as opportunities to polish her craft. “I have such strong memories tied to everything I’ve come to terms with, and the time it took up for me, and of who I was in those moments,” she says in earnest.
“I wouldn’t change anything, I’d just keep going.” And thanks to My Fault: London and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, her acting talent is gaining traction. “They were just the best!” she exclaims. “I feel so lucky with those two projects. Everybody involved was amazing. I admire the cast, the crew, and every director and producer on each job. I feel very lucky to have had such positive experiences on both.”
Photographer: Nick Thompson
She adds, “I love the characters so much and had such fun playing both of them. And the fact that I get to do another two My Fault: London movies [as sequels] and that I’ve already finished filming the second season of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder [as Cara Ward] feels amazing.”
When asked what she loved most about playing these characters, she tells me, “I love both of them for different reasons, but I do think they’re both quite funny. They’re strong and they’re both quite sarcastic, which I enjoy. But with Noah, she’s so fun and always has bitter one-liners, which are always great.”
Photographer: Nick Thompson
These roles had a huge impact on Banks, who took away important lessons from being on set. “I learned a lot,” she declares. “On My Fault: London I was really lucky to work with two amazing young female directors, Dani Girdwood and Charlotte Fassler, on their first feature film. They taught me so much and inspired me both as an actor and a creative. They led the film with so much grace and power – they’re just incredible at what they do. Every day I was in awe, learning so much about filmmaking. They were so open and transparent, and I definitely absorbed a lot from them.”
Downtime on set was rare but memorable. “To be honest, it was a great experience,” she laughs. “There were days I’d be tired or I’d be filming a sad scene and feel a bit downbeat. But I wouldn’t go five minutes without cracking up laughing or feeling fine thanks to the people around me.”
As her career progressed, a newfound confidence helped her push past setbacks. “I definitely think these opportunities have made me a stronger person and artist,” she says. “I started performing really young, in musical theatre. It can be hardcore for a kid, especially dealing with rejection. That’s a hard thing to process at 10 years old. But I think I’m the person I am today because of the resilience I had to develop so early.”
Photographer: Nick Thompson
On rejection, she speaks with unguarded honesty. “It would be impossible to not care at all, especially because you get so involved in the audition process for every project you go up for,” she says. “The more auditions you do, the more people you meet and the more connections you make. And the more likely the next one is going to call you, I guess. You just have to enjoy the process, the scripts, the people.”
We move on to lighter territory, discussing her upcoming EP How Real Was It?, in which Banks navigates reflective and nostalgic moments from her earlier life. “I’m so excited about the release,” she enthuses. “I’m in LA at the moment, finishing production on all the songs, so I’m very much in the thick of it.” She sees the EP as a continuation of Untie My Tongue. “I wrote a lot of it the last time I was in LA. Some of the songs have a summery feel, which is something new for me. It’s fascinating how being in a different place affects my writing.”
Photographer: Nick Thompson
The EP explores emotional distance – how she once felt in past friendships, relationships and breakups. “It’s a more detailed picture of those situations but in a nostalgic way,” she explains, expanding on how truth, time and connection have shifted her perspective. “Time impacts everything. Every day, you learn something new and it changes how you see the past,” she continues.
“I’ve had a tendency to over-catastrophise, to remember things as worse than they were. But in the same breath, I sometimes remember things as being better than they were. Also, I’m 21 and a lot of what I’ve been through happened when I was really young. Being able to look back now with a slightly more mature outlook is interesting, though I’m still growing.”
So what really compels Banks to write? “I guess it’s the emotions I’m feeling, whether it’s the humongous love I have for writing songs and the euphoria it brings me, or just the need to write one,” she says. “I love film and TV, and I read, but I just listen to absurd amounts of music. My headphones hate me,” she laughs again.
Photographer: Nick Thompson
Banks hopes listeners find their own truths in her songs and lyrics. “Being a songwriter means I’m a storyteller and I just hope people can relate,” she says. As for where her songs begin – “It depends on the day,” she muses. “Sometimes I go into a session and there’s something happening right then that I need to write about. Sometimes I come in with lyric ideas I’ve stored on my phone.”
Her upcoming EP marks a new chapter in her artistic evolution. “Untie My Tongue marked the beginning and also the start of me working with Josh Bruce-Williams, my co-writer and producer on many of the tracks,” she says. “This second EP is our next chapter. We’ve learned more about each other and how we work. It’s a development in everything – my sound, our process – but it’s still in the same world. I’m not switching lanes, I’m just growing within the space I’ve already occupied.”
With new projects, a headline show and international tour dates ahead, the coming months are packed. “I’ll keep writing songs while I’m in LA, but I also start filming the third My Fault: London movie very soon,” she tells me as our conversation winds down. “I hope things can keep going the way they are – I feel very grateful and blessed to be doing what I love.”
by Chidozie Obasi
Photographer: Nick Thompson
Stylist: Yeon You Jungyun You
Makeup: Kim Brown using CHANEL Les 4 Ombres Boutons and No.1 de CHANEL Body Serum-In-Mist
Hair: Lewis Stanford
Manicurist: Jessica Thompson using CHANEL Le Vernis In 111 – Ballerina and CHANEL La Crème Main
Producer: Lina Levein
Styling assistant: Jun Lee
Talent: Asha Banks
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