Ashley Rickards

Ashley Nicole Rickards, born on May 4, 1992, stands at 5' 3¾" (1.62 m) and is a talented American actress renowned for her portrayal of Jenna Hamilton in MTV's hit series Awkward. She also gained recognition for her role as Samantha "Sam" Walker, a troubled foster child taken in by Brooke Davis on The CW's popular teen drama One Tree Hill. Additionally, Rickards starred in the 2011 independent film Fly Away, where she played Mandy, a girl with severe autism.

Raised on a horse farm that served children with special needs, Rickards began her acting journey at the age of 13 in an opera production at her Montessori school. Graduating from high school at just fifteen, she is a proud member of Mensa. After discovering her passion for acting at a local talent showcase, she made her way to Los Angeles to pursue her career. Although initially limited by child labor laws, she managed to secure minor roles before landing her breakthrough as Samantha Walker in One Tree Hill for the 2008-2009 season.

In 2010, after a series of auditions and overcoming initial rejection for the role of Jenna in Awkward, she ultimately showcased her versatility and secured both roles. Beyond acting, Rickards, a former competitive equestrian, co-founded the Project Futures Somaly Mam Foundation in 2011, which aims to combat human trafficking. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry and scripts, and painting, while also appearing in music videos for The Fray and The Format.