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When you bring a group of smart, talented and totally cool chicks together to make a TV show, the outcome is bound to be amazing. That's exactly the deal with Amazon's newest Original Kid series, The Kicks. The series, premiering Aug. 26, is based on the book series of the same name by U.S. Olympic Gold-Medalist soccer player Alex Morgan and details the trials and tribulations of an all-girls soccer team as they come together and find their footing. 14-year-old Ashley Liao portrays Parker on the show and, to put it lightly, kicks major butt. Not only that, but she also slays as Lola in Fuller House and as Manda in Jessica Darling's It List, a film produced by former GL cover star Debby Ryan.

It's these recent and rad roles that have put Ashley on the map. But she's been performing for years—just check her covers on YouTube for proof. Recently, GL caught up with the rising star to chat about The Kicks, her killer pipes and her obsession with Broadway. Here's what she had to say...

GL: Tell us a little about your role as Parker in The Kicks. What’s she like?

Ashley Liao: Parker is a girl who has her own special style and way of dressing. She is strong and independent and is not afraid to be a leader. Playing the role of Parker is so awesome!

GL: What was it like filming a series with so many girls your age? That seems like so much fun!

Ashley: Oh yeah! It is always great to be working with other kids, especially with kids my age. I would have to say my favorite part about working on the series were the friendships that I made along the way. I have been so incredibly lucky to work with such a sweet and loving cast. Love my Kicks girls!

GL: Are you a soccer player or athlete yourself, or was this role your first endeavor into sports?

Ashley: As a kid, I had friends who played club soccer, so they taught me the basics, but I am not that great of a soccer player. When I auditioned for the role of Parker, they wanted to cast someone who plays soccer. In going into the casting director's office, I knew that if I did book the role that I would have to work really hard on learning all the tricks and how to kick. Although this was my first leap into soccer, I did Taekwondo for four and a half years and earned my black belt. 

GL: You also play Lola on Fuller House—how does it feel to be involved with a show that has such an iconic history? Were you familiar with Full House before joining the cast of the Netflix series?

Ashley: I am so honored to call my Fuller House cast my family. Before auditioning for Fuller House, I watched a few episodes of Full House when they did re-runs, but did not watch it continually. When I got the audition for Lola, I went online and watched a few clips of Full House to get an idea of what the comedic timing and jokes were like—this really helped prepare me for the role!

GL: Soni Bringas, who portrays Ramona on Fuller House, is a good friend of yours. Do you two swap tips on acting and performing?

Ashley: Yes! All the time. Sometimes I cannot quite get the intonation right on a line and we will go back and forth saying it 'til we find the right one. It is so nice to have a great friend who totally gets you and your acting. As of now, we have a theory that if I can teach her to sing and she can teach me to dance (because we have what the other person wants) that we would be on Broadway in a snap. 

GL: Speaking of singing, how did you discover your passion for music? Is it something you hope to pursue in the future?

Ashley: I discovered I love to sing when I was about 7 years old. In the car, we had the Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper soundtrack playing on repeat. While listening to the music, I realized there was a such thing as a harmony and melody and that’s kind of when I discovered music. Musical theatre also helped me discover my love for the stage and acting. Today, I sing, play the guitar and the piano! I definitely hope that music is something that is in my future. My dream job right now is to go back to my passion for theatre and be in a Broadway show.

GL: You’re relatively new to the industry but you’ve already accomplished so much. What tips do you have for girls who want to start acting but are afraid to do so?

Ashley: First of all, thank you! Second, for all the girls that want to start acting my advice is to work hard. Nothing beats good, hard work. If you really want to act, sing, dance—whatever it may be—put 110 percent into it. If acting is your calling, do it! You never know until you try.

Will you check out Ashley on The Kicks when it premieres on Aug. 26?

Photo credit: Bobby Quillard.

by Sydney Adamson | 8/19/2016