Sports Hollywood - Ten Questions with Ashley Akin

10 Questions with Ashley Akin

Akin' To Be
The incredibly beautiful Ashley Akin
The first thing that you notice are her eyes. Deep blue. Then it's her smile. You just can't stop looking at Ashley Akin.

Ashley was born on the same day as Troy Aikman, a revered day in her native Texas. Raised in Dallas by a stern, yet loving judge and a doting mother, Ashley grew up fantasizing about show business glory. She would sneak off from grade school with her friends Owen Wilson (who went on to create the classic films Bottle Rocket and Rushmore with director Wes Anderson) and they would hang out at friends' houses and dream of fame and fortune.

Ashley then went on to study at SMU, majoring in Public Relations (like a woman this good-looking needs any help handling the public).

Akin
After graduation she traveled to Germany, where she began modeling for countless fashion magazines. Eventually, however, she tired of the lifestyle--and the German men. Ashley then returned to Texas, and began her career in acting.

She has appeared on several episodes of the Chuck Norris TV show Walker, Texas Ranger. In fact, she was such a hit that Norris' son, Mike, cast her as the lead in the indie film The Rage Within. When Ashley isn't acting in film or episodic TV, she appears in TV commercials for Pepsi, Dr. Pepper and numerous other U.S. ad campaigns.

Although Ashley still models occasionally, acting is her first love... unless you count pro hockey and her beloved Dallas Stars, who she follows rabidly. But before all of you hockey guys out there who are checking out Ashley's photos start fantasizing about checking Ashley, here's her take on sports and entertainment...

TEN QUESTIONS

Akin' To Be
Like we weren't going to include this picture...
SportsHollywood: What's your favorite sport?

AKIN: My favorite sport to watch is hockey, then basketball. But sports I like to perform are biking, horseback riding, Tai-Bo, yoga, kickboxing, ballroom dance, Salsa, swing dancing... wait, are those sports? Well, the point is I'm very competitive in everything.

SportsHollywood: What's your favorite sports team?

AKIN: The mighty Dallas Stars. Currently second place in the Pacific.

SportsHollywood: What's your least favorite sports team?

AKIN: The mighty Dallas Mavericks. (Mighty bad.) They're doing better this year, but they're too frustrating to root for. I went to acting class with the owner, Mark Cuban, a few years ago. I like Mark!

Rage
With Richard Norton in The Rage Within.
SportsHollywood: Was Mark Cuban a good actor?

AKIN: He was very shy back then. I just knew he had this computer business going on, and he never talked much. If you see him today it's obvious that he finally got over the shyness.

SportsHollywood: Who's your favorite athlete?

AKIN: Mike Modano of the Stars. And Shaq. He seems sweet.

SportsHollywood: Who's your least favorite athlete?

AKIN: Easy. Dennis Rodman, who coincidentally played for Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks last year. I hate any basketball player who owns more dresses than me (excluding the WNBA).

SportsHollywood: Favorite sports movie?

AKIN: On Any Sunday was great. I loved experiencing the real game as it's played - especially hearing the game: the hits, the crunching, the grunting and screaming. The sound was great in that movie.

Akin
SportsHollywood: What athlete would you like to portray?

AKIN: I love gymnastics - maybe Mary Lou Retton. I might have to play her on my knees, though - she's pretty tiny.

SportsHollywood: Would you rather go to a glitzy movie premiere or a Stars/Kings hockey game?

AKIN: It depends. If the seats are good at the Staples Center, I might go there... but if Brad Pitt is at the premiere and he just split up with Jennifer Aniston, well... sorry, Mike Modano.

SportsHollywood: What's your favorite sports memory?

AKIN: Catching a puck at a Stars game. Still have all my teeth, too!

Interview by Jeff Hause

NOTE TO READERS: Check out the Ashley Akin Photo Gallery for new photos--and subscribe to our newsletter to get updates on Ashley!

Ashley Akin Birthday: November 21 Hair: Honey Blonde Eyes: Blue Film: The Rage Within, Lackluster Television: Walker, Texas Ranger (two episodes) Hobbies: Photography, drawing and painting, roller blading, skiing, snorkeling, and patiently eating sushi with drooling SportsHollywood interviewers who can't stop gawking at her.

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