Meet Cole Ashlynn Wells | Actor, Makeup Artist, Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cole Ashlynn Wells and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cole Ashlynn, why did you pursue a creative career?
I initially started out in the entertainment industry at a very young age. All of my extracurriculars were artistic and so were my hobbies. For a long time, it felt like I had sort of fallen into the path of a creative career and I never really thought twice about it. Neither of my parents had/have creative careers so I’ve had to figure it out on my own. I’ve had many moments where I thought maybe it would be easier to do something else or maybe I’m not going to be able to make my passions into a career. But every time I’ve stepped away from my creative arts, I feel like there’s something missing from my life. I pursue an artistic career because I genuinely can’t imagine doing anything else and being happy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Acting is a strange world to get into and everyone has an opinion. I truly believe that there is a lot of “right place, right time” but regardless, it’s hard and demanding work. When I watch a movie, I will either come away completely entranced and amazed or feel completely disconnected from the piece. As an actor, I want to be part of something that inspires someone like me; do something that makes people walk away with new curiosities. In this age of technology, people have forgotten the joy of learning new ideas. Film can teach us so much and as a person who loves to learn, I don’t want to get caught up in repeating the same ideas just because they’re popular. I’m still growing and creating my brand so I’m not sure what exactly it is yet. But I know that I want to create projects that inspire others to create and learn and enjoy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love showing people around LA. I grew up in Orange County so I spent a ton of time all over LA and I never get tired of exploring the city. Everyone who visits me expects to go on at least one hike. I’m a huge fan of any hikes with waterfalls. You walk around gorgeous woods to end up at roaring waterfalls; there’s nothing more spectacular. If it’s a first visit, then we have to make a stop at Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, and Disneyland. It’s technically in Orange County but I count in as part of the area for tourists. My personal favourite for any day, trip, and person is Venice Beach. Walking down the strip with all the street merchants on a sunny day is one of the most peaceful things I experience. Plus, Venice is a beautiful beach on its own. There are also so many incredible restaurants all over Los Angeles and the Valley; you can’t go wrong.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that have guided me throughout my life and given me opportunities that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible. But thinking about this question, I really like the idea of giving a shoutout to a story that inspired so much of who I am and what I love. I’ve always been a big reader; I have a particular love for historical fantasy pieces. The story I would like to credit is the story of Camelot. I’ve read just about every book on Camelot, King Arthur, the knights of the round table, that I could possibly get my hands on. Everything about the story fascinates me, especially as a kid I loved it. This story has inspired my love of costumes, architecture, landscape, history and shaped the way that I define friendship and hard work. It sounds a little silly but these ideas continue to influence the type of projects that I lean towards and have also become a huge part of why I started working behind the camera as well.

Instagram: instagram.com/colexo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLLIU079jxjTfaWQq1fq4lw

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/40t5Ti7eUl3IQLIVs0YwQO?si=HNm12oyFRB6lhty81zlysQ Etsy Shop: https://etsy.me/3piNOtV

Image Credits
Zoe Fortuna, Smac Mccreanor