 So talk to us on social media handles and tell us what you want to see, what movies, series, animation, documentary for that matter that you would like us to review. Moving on right here on the bus, you know we bring you amazing artists, you know. People who are doing amazing things in their respective fields of art. And today it's not any different. We have an amazing artist for you today. So stick around to find out who we have today. My name is Ashley Karees. I'm an actress and emcee. A host, a creative and just an entertainer in general. Yes. What came first is the acting because I got into theater. So from there I grew from the theater to the screens. So now that led like a really good platform to grow my career. So that's now when came about the hosting and seeing creative influencing a bit there on Instagram and all that. So definitely the acting came first. I started in theater way back in 2015. Oh, that's... wait 2014 actually. 2014, yeah, yeah. So 2014 that's like way back. I was a young actually. I was like 18 years old then at the time. So I did theater for one year and then in 2015 I moved on to film, screen. So that's when I did my first feature film in 2015. Yeah, so from there on was there's this history. I mean, I've been in a couple of projects. I've done Wally Obaki, I've done Tidy High, which most people don't know. I also was featured in Tidy High trap house, which I'm popularly known for. And now currently in single kiasis is on two, on showmax and disconnect two on Netflix. And of course I'm filming other things. My favorite set to be on I would say single kiasis down, like hands down. It was the best. Everyone there was just amazing. We all have a great time. We laugh. We joke around. It's just like good vibes all the time. Shout out to the whole team single kiasis. And I loved my co-star. I mean, Kevin who's playing my love interest in the show. We have a lot of like risky scenes on there, which is, you know, as an industry are growing towards that direction even like more like risky scenes. That shows growth. But you know, Africans and the culture, we're not used to that. So even me being new to those kind of scenes, Kevin really, really made me feel comfortable and it was easier to film those kind of scenes being my first time. And I think we did a pretty good job. I don't know. Yeah, I think we did pretty well. Yeah. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I mean, it may even quave. Like, you don't go too near crush my motif. Listen, if you could just tell me your name right now, I'll die peacefully and respectfully. Just your name. That's it. Please. Natasha. Tash. Oh, Tash. Well, they call me Richie. Thank you. But my favourite would be Lady Pintra House. Because I was still young, which I'm always playing young because obviously my body, like I'm a small petite girl. But just how the writers would bring out Lady P's emotions and all the drama in the show would really stretch me as an actor. So that would just make me go research more and do differently from the other slaking roles I've done. Because there was a lot of emotions. It's not just being pretty. You know, she was going through stuff. She had family issues. She came from a really, really poor background. So it really brought out my emotions. And so again, Trap House, that catapulted my career 100%. Like it was my, I considered it as my biggest break ever. I feel like I have a lot to do. I haven't achieved. I'm not there yet. I feel like I have a lot to achieve. But so far, I would go with Trap House because I did it for long. And you know, like I mentioned about Kenya's loving to see familiar faces all the time. So when you do it for a long time, people get familiar with you. They love you. They love the character. They follow the character. And then now they come to get to know you as a person. Maybe on social media. They get to interact with you. So definitely I'd say Lady P and Trap House. But also Disconnect too on Netflix. Also that really gave me a huge milestone as well. What I'd say is, you know, shows come about every other day, right? So you can't say, oh, I want to be gossip girl. I want to be in this and this. Because when you say you want to be there in the show, another great show comes out. So you're like, oh, no, I want to be in that. So I'd say maybe for me would be... The ultimate goal for me would be just to get to Hollywood. I know it sounds insane. You know, like, oh, you want to get to Hollywood? But yeah, I mean, I feel like that's not the end goal. Because even when you do get there, you still want to grow and do more. There's never a point where you feel like, now I'm in Africa. This is it. Even when you do get there, you still want to do more and grow yourself. But the goal is to cross borders really, to go and do big stuff. It doesn't even have to be in Hollywood. Even in South Africa, Nigeria, they're doing amazing projects. They're doing crazy films, amazing films. Even just to cross the border and get recognition in that way, that would be awesome. But even Hollywood wouldn't be so bad either, because Lupita is doing amazing. We have other Kenyan actors on there as well, like in Hollywood, on crazy shows. I don't know how people get there, but I feel like this is the stepping stone. This is the foundation. So we just have to keep going and, you know, you never know where you're going to land. My word of advice to any actor or actresses coming up would be, take your time. Take your time. Go for auditions. That's the only way you're going to get to be in these shows. There's no other, you can be in my DMs all the time. Oh, I actually want to be in this. I'm like, I'm also employed, man. I'm also there. I've gone for the auditions. I've been employed by my producer to remember people would be like, you'll be called when I was in theater. People would be like, oh, you'll be called once you're seen Nivo, which I want to put on my calls for me, just telling them, hey, come for this show and say it, come shoot. Nothing like that. That was a huge lie, honestly. So you really need to work yourself up. Go for auditions, mainly, just mainly, plainly go for auditions. Take time with yourself. Be patient with yourself. You can be in a great show, but that doesn't mean that is it. You understand what I'm saying? You can be, oh, it's all about Netflix. But man, you still have a long way to go. So it never ends. And also, don't take rejections personally. That's, I think, the same thing I said last time. It's never too personal. You just take it as a redirection. Maybe you're not meant for that show. Maybe it would have come with a lot of challenges. Maybe it was not even like a great working environment also. Just anything you'd think that it wasn't meant for you. Take it like that. Try again. Go audition again. And maybe when you learned that role, just know it was meant for you. What's meant for you can never pass you. So whatever you do get, know that that has been yours. It was written in the stars. That was meant for you as completely. But if you just get the rejections, I think you're pardoned. Move along swiftly. There is this thing called stereotype casting in Nairobi. I don't know why it's like that. You mostly go for some roles that will grow you and challenge you as an artist, as an actor. But for some reason, these people just typecast you. They still type you. If it's a slay queen, you're forever playing a slay queen. If you're like these people in the Shamba and all that, you'll forever play an old woman in the Shamba. There's no growth because Kenyans, I feel like they love familiarity. If you're familiar with something, then they'll be used to that. But I feel like it's important to let people even grow because it's their job after all. They're trying to grow themselves. They're trying to grow their talent. So if you give them a different role, then you'll be helping them. So I think that is also part of the challenge which I should have mentioned. So yeah, absolutely. But now in my career, specifically, I am doing a lot of different roles, which is great. So it's growing me and I love that. So at least for me, it's not that bad in that sense. And also I'd say we would do better as an industry if people paid more attention to actors and what they do. I mean, it's a normal job. What I'm trying to say, it's a normal job. You're giving your time, your energy. In terms of even payment, if I can just be honest, we should be considered, you know, people are like, it's a hobby so you can get people that are probably underpaid or like you're looking at a project like, come on, this would probably must be better. But you know, there are those kind of challenges because they don't take it seriously. So I'd say we would do better in terms of even paying artists and actors and all that. Entertainment industry in general, we should do better. So that I feel like is one of the challenges, definitely. You can find me on Instagram, Twitter, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, Ashley B. Careese, fan page on Facebook at Ashley Careese Brandy on Twitter and Ashley B. Careese on Instagram. My work right now currently is on two single cast on showmax. This connects two on Netflix. A couple of episodes of Trap House, they're on YouTube. Actually not even a couple. The whole show, like from season one to season six, every single episode you can go catch them there on YouTube and look out for more shows. Definitely, yeah, yeah.