Ayesha Harris is Forging a Fabulous Path in Hollywood
Before pursuing a full-time acting career, Ayesha Harris was a successful entrepreneur who owned and operated a thriving barbershop in West Hollywood for six years. As a queer and Black-owned business owner, she employed the best of the best female barbers in town.
The shop was unfortunately destroyed by a freak accident in 2019, and then when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Harris decided it was time to make a change in her life—She gave acting a serious shot. Watching the nuances of people in and out of her barber chairs for years had left a lasting impression on her, and one that she would use to spark her career.
Harris got her first big breaks in 2021 and 2022, landing roles on critically acclaimed and award-winning series including This Is Us and Abbott Elementary, as well as Good Girls and The L Word: Generation Q.
Currently, she can be seen in the Prime Video miniseries Daisy Jones and The Six, which was adapted from Taylor Jenkins Reid’s wildly popular historical fiction novel of the same name. Following the rise and fall of a fictional LA rock band in the 1970s, in the guise of Fleetwood Mac, while exploring the reason behind their split at the height of their success, Harris shines as Bernie, the love interest of Simone Jackson (Nabiyah Be).
OFM caught up with Harris to talk more about current and upcoming projects, such as a leading role in the Netflix drama series Glamorous and her feature film debut in Tell It Like a Woman, why she wanted to pursue an entertainment career, and what she hopes to accomplish as a Black queer actor.
Let me begin by asking, how excited are you that Daisy Jones & The Six has officially premiered on Prime Video?
I’m so excited! It’s such a great show, very well shot and told. People are in for a real treat.
Without giving too much away, what can viewers expect? What makes this series worth checking out?
It’s definitely a love story, and it’s kind of a coming-of-age age story. You know, coming into your own, figuring out the ebbs and flows of life, realizing how messy things can get if you let it, and finding out how beautiful things can develop if you nurture it. It’s just a beautiful love story about what could be and what couldn’t be.
You play Bernie, the love interest of Simone Jackson. What did you enjoy the most about playing this character?
That she was an untold pioneer. There were so many queer folks in the 60s, 70s, and 80s that didn’t get their flowers, and they really set the stage for the freedoms that we have today. So, I love that they told a story about a woman that was trying to be herself and find her way. She’s a talented artist that was looked over at times in the world, but she created her own space for her own community. I think it’s a beautiful, beautiful story.
We will also see you this year in the Netflix drama series Glamorous. What can you tell us about that?
That is such a fabulous show (laughs). Starring Kim Cattrall, it’s about a makeup company that may be going under, and we all kind of team together to make sure that doesn’t happen. There’s a lot of love, loss, gain, and inner office stuff, but it’s really well told in a very fun way. The lead is Miss Benny, and it’s a lot of fun to work with people that are very comfortable in their craft.
In Glamorous, you play Britt. Would you say that is the biggest role you have landed so far?
I would say so. Being a series regular, I really had the time to dive in and explore her quirks. It’s really nice to be given the space to artistically explore a character, and it’s been a really good push.
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Before acting, you were a successful entrepreneur, owning and operating a thriving barbershop in West Hollywood for six years. What made you want to pursue acting full-time?
I always had it on the side. I did some commercial work with my partner, and some indie films here and there, but it always felt like I just never really gave it my all. When the shop closed by a freak accident, and then COVID happened, it seemed like the stars were aligning and shifting, which allowed me to create a new space for myself. So, I went for it, and here we are!
In a way, COVID was kind of a blessing in disguise for you.
It was. COVID was a crazy time. There were a lot of big gains and a lot of big losses. It was like the pendulum just swung, and you went with whichever end you got on. It started out pretty shaky. It wasn’t all peaches and cream, and having gotten COVID myself, the way that I got it, it really put things into perspective when I was down for those weeks. What life could or couldn’t be—I realized I needed to make a change.
Your debut feature film was 2022’s Tell It Like a Woman, and you have been in episodes here and there of critically acclaimed TV shows. How would you say you are evolving as an actor?
I think it’s really with how I’m sitting back and watching. I’m a big watcher, so I’m able to evolve by watching talented people around me, and also by grabbing little things that they do and making it my own. Trying to be big and fill up a room, but not take it over. I’m really trying to learn and find the respect in the craft because you can never be perfect at it. I feel grateful that I’m in that space where I want to be successful, and I am successful, but not rushing the flow of the process.
What do you always hope audiences will take away from your work?
That it’s grounded, and they know that I’m bringing myself to whatever role I’m in. I’m doing what’s required for the moment, and you don’t need to have these grandiose gestures. You can really deliver a performance in a nice, grounded space and find success there.
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As a Black, queer woman, how are you going to continue to have your voice heard in this industry?
First of all, just having visibility. Just being in the room is a big deal. Walking into a space, getting settled in, and creating more roles for Black, queer folks, for all people, really. Just continuing to be visible. You don’t want to be in the shadows and whatnot, and I hope to get into a space where I can continue to not just book things, but maybe create my own projects and stories that I’ve gathered over the years, especially in the barbershop. There are a lot of stories from the barbershop (laughs).
What advice can you offer others who are hoping to break into entertainment?
Stay consistent. You may not know why you didn’t get picked, but don’t let it bother you. You may be too tall; your eyebrows may be too thick. Your performance may be great, but it’s everything else. So, don’t worry about it. Just go in there and have fun. Don’t put everything in one basket and be like, “I must be an actor or bust.” Have something else you really like to do that may afford you a comfortable lifestyle, but still make that time for yourself. I think the idea that we don’t have time for ourselves is an illusion. If you create that space for yourself, you can find success in almost anything.
What are some future goals you hope to accomplish with your career?
I really hope to create a project one day, whether it be film or television. I have a lot of great stories brewing around in this head. But also, just to continue booking and continue to be on cool projects. I would love to work with more top tier actors and kind of see what their process is like. I’m curious to see how people get to where they are on film. Like, how do you drop in like that? I just hope to keep feeding my curiosity in this field.
Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention or plug?
Yes! I am working on a project with comedians Lil Rel and Rainn Wilson called Code 3, an action comedy about a day in the life of a paramedic, and it’s his last day on the job. It’s been hilarious working with people that are improv masters, and it’s been incredible to watch them work. I’m also waiting for the film that I did with Taraji P. Henson and Jennifer Hudson to come out, Tell It Like a Woman. They’re shopping it around, and we’re waiting to see where they’re going to stream it. So, I’ve been waiting patiently for that beautiful project and whatever flows my way this year!
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Stay up-to-date and connect with Harris by following her on Instagram @ayesharaasheed.
Photos Courtesy of Kevin Scanlon and Ayesha Harris
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