Ashley Versher isn’t new to telling layered stories. Her mission these days, however, is to make sure all stories are seen. The actress, director, and producer stars alongside Taraji P. Henson, Teyana Taylor, and Sherri Shepherd in Tyler Perry’s newest Netflix film, “Straw.” The story follows a single mother, Janaya, caught in a cascade of devastating events. They leave her grasping for control in a system that refuses to care. Versher plays Tessa, a bank teller who becomes a pivotal player in this emotionally turbulent narrative.
“Well, you know, I think it’s definitely like the overall story,” Versher said to 21Ninety when asked what drew her to the project. “A story that is centered around a single mother, but also extends to a lot of people’s individual experiences in life of loneliness, a lack of support, systematic failures.”
She added that the main character’s trials and tribulations, along with her interaction with Versher’s character, humanize the experience for viewers.
“To be a part of a story and telling that story is really powerful and it’s really important to me,” she explains. “Part of that is playing Tessa and her disposition and her emotional state of what is happening fuels, I think, the audience in a way to really lean in further and find deeper sense of empathy for Janaya.”
Why All Journeys Matter
Tyler Perry has long been at the center of debates around Black women’s representation on screen. Critics often argue that his films center Black women in pain, sometimes teetering on the edge of emotional trauma-porn. Perry has defended his work, stating his stories are reflections of the women who raised him. But Versher takes a nuanced view.
“I think that in the industry as a whole, we have seen for quite some time that the rainbow of what Black women look like, sound like, how we live, how we move. The things that make us amazing and the things that are incredibly challenging about being a Black woman living in America have been more and more showcased,” she said.
Referencing shows like “Insecure,” “Harlem,” and “Run the World,” Versher explained that the Black woman is becoming multidimensional in media.
“We’ve gotten an opportunity to see Black women no longer just play tropes, or stereotypes like the Jezebel, or like the Mamie,” she explained. “We’ve expanded the breadth of what Black women are.”
Yet, she understands the importance of telling all sides, even the painful ones.
“It’s really incredible to be just a part of that kind of storytelling,” she said about “Straw.” “We all are realizing that we really need [empathy] in life and in the world.”
Being Yourself On Screen and Behind It
Versher’s impact extends well beyond acting. As a self-taught filmmaker and advocate, she brings an intimate perspective to the industry’s ongoing struggles with inclusivity.
“One of the main challenges is really deciding how I wanted to enter this space of media and entertainment industry. How I wanted to show up as myself,” she explained.
She recalled an early experience in theater.
“I remember years ago, sitting in an audition, and a young Black woman came up to me and said, ‘Hey, I noticed that your hair is completely different in your headshot than you are wearing your hair. Can you give me the scoop?’ And I think the scoop was just deciding that I was going to show up as myself in whatever iteration that was,” she shared.
Ashley Versher Building Legacy Through Mentorship
Versher also mentors emerging Black and brown creatives through the nonprofit Made in Her Image. The organization empowers young women and non-binary youth of color in film and media.
“What makes Made in Her Image such a powerful and impressive organization is its particular focus on young women, youth and non-binary youth of color,” she explained. “You need people behind the cameras, you need people in producer’s village who look like the stories that are being told.”
She continued about the legacy that Made in Her Image is creating.
“We’re not playing around. We are trying to curate opportunity that is valuable and that has a long-lasting effect. A bigger goal is developing those pipeline programs that not only lead to that first opportunity, but that lead to that next opportunity that lead to that job,” she said.
Looking Ahead
As a multi-hyphenate talent in a demanding industry, Versher is strategic about her energy.
“I deeply lean on my community,” she said. “Engaging in things outside of the entertainment industry are really important. My favorite thing to do is to travel. Actually, like the dream job would be like a travel show.”
Still, she’s committed to growing in her craft.
“I’d like to continue to build on that trajectory, as a filmmaker and as an actor. I’d like to really continue to fold in mentorship in my day-to-day life.”
In Ashley Versher’s world, every Black woman’s story matters, including the beautiful, the complicated, and the hard-to-watch. Through her performances, her projects, and her community work, she’s ensuring they all get the spotlight they deserve.