Ashley Benson bio, age, height, fiance, dating history, career path 2025

Ashley Benson Biography

Ashley Benson is an American actress, best known for her roles in "Pretty Little Liars" and "Days of Our Lives". She also gained attention due to her romantic relationship with the British actress and top model, Cara Delevingne.

Childhood and Early Years

Ashley was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She came into the world on December 18th, two months premature, weighing just over 2 pounds 8 oz. For a week, tiny Ashley fought for her life in intensive care, but she pulled through. By Christmas, her parents were able to bring her home.

She quickly caught up with her peers, and by her first birthday, showed no signs of her earlier health issues. As soon as she began to walk, she showed clear dancing talent – the moment music played, she'd start to dance.

In 1992, at the age of three, her parents enrolled her in a dance studio where her older sister, Shaylin, was already attending. Later, both sisters took vocal lessons and sang in the church choir on Sundays.

Ashley Benson and her sister as children

Ashley had always dreamt of becoming an actress. She admired movies starring Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon, often trying to emulate these Hollywood icons. Her dance background made her confident on stage, and she loved being in front of the camera.

Ashley Benson as a child with her father

In 1997, at the age of eight, Ashley starred in a Barbie commercial and signed her first major contract with Ford Models. From that moment on, her normal childhood was over. With her busy filming schedule, she had little time for school or hanging out with friends. Yet, she remained passionate about dancing and attended theater school with enthusiasm.

2002 Salon Surprise Barbie Commercial with Ashley Benson

Acting Career

At just 15, Benson was already making waves in the modeling world. In 2004, she had the opportunity to be Scarlett Johansson's stand-in for a Dolce&Gabbana advertisement. Working alongside Johansson on set only fueled Ashley's movie star dreams.

The D&G ad opened doors, and directors started taking notice of Ashley. Though most were small soap opera parts, Ashley knew she needed the experience and grabbed every chance to get in front of the camera.

In 2004, Benson was offered a role in the iconic series "Days of Our Lives", a long-running American TV institution that had been on the air since 1965. The catch? A restrictive contract that locked her out of other projects. After starring in three seasons, she left the series.

When Benson landed the lead in "Bring It On: In It to Win It" (2007), she stepped into the role of a fierce high school cheerleader dead set on leading her squad to victory. The role demanded serious stunt work, including rappelling from a helicopter mid-flight. But her dance background and natural athleticism helped her nail every sequence.

Once the film hit theaters, Ashley found herself pigeonholed as the sexy cheerleader — a persona directors couldn't wait to capitalize on.

In 2008, Benson showcased her dance and acrobatic skills in the TV film "Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal". She also played a witchy cheerleader in an episode of the fantasy series "Supernatural".

Ashley Benson in 'Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal'

In 2009, the actress tried to break free from typecasting. In the series "Eastwick", she portrayed a woman endowed with supernatural abilities. Though the series didn't meet the creators' expectations and was canceled after just one season on US networks, it found a strong international following.

Ashley Benson (in Eastwick 1x05)

Benson gained worldwide fame for her role as Hanna Marin in the teen drama "Pretty Little Liars" in 2010. On set, she reconnected with her old friend Lucy Hale and met Shay Mitchell, who also became a close friend. To celebrate their time filming together, the girls got matching tattoos on their index fingers - the first letter of their characters' names (Ashley's is H for Hanna).

Her contract with ABC Family allowed her to work on other projects. Throughout "Pretty Little Liars'" seven-season run, Ashley kept busy with film projects. In 2010, Benson starred in the series "Christmas Cupid". Two years later, she played a key role in Harmony Korine's edgy social drama "Spring Breakers". Initially, the director considered Emma Roberts for the role of Brit but turned to Benson after Selena Gomez's recommendation. Lucky for Ashley, Emma passed on the role, giving Benson another standout film for her resume.

Pretty Little Liars - Ashley Benson's Favorite Hanna Moments

In 2015, she took a chance and starred in the indie horror film "Ratter". That same year, the sci-fi comedy "Pixels" was released, in which Ashley co-starred with famous American comedian Adam Sandler. In 2016, the movie "Elvis & Nixon" debuted, telling the story of the meeting between the legendary singer and the former US president in the Oval Office.

A year later, Benson wrapped filming on "Pretty Little Liars", the series that had captivated audiences throughout its seven-year run. The show transformed Ashley from a relatively unknown actress into a major star with serious earning power. Apart from prestigious nominations and awards, Benson also bought her own house, previously owned by Kylie Minogue, for two million dollars.

Inside Ashley Benson's Playful Los Angeles Home

Ashley Benson's Personal Life

Ashley Benson's love life has played out like a real-life soap opera, constantly grabbing headlines and keeping fans guessing. Take her 2013 relationship with Ryan Good – it sparked endless speculation.

When Ashley started hanging out with James Franco and Taylor Lautner, rumors of cheating began swirling. The paparazzi went wild trying to figure out what was really going on, but Ashley insisted they were just friends and that things with Good were still strong.

Ashley Benson and James Franco are friends

Then in 2015, pregnancy rumors started flying before Benson and Good officially called it quits. Her love life went quiet for two years until fans spotted the former couple together at a hockey game in fall 2017.

Just when fans thought they might be getting back together, Ashley threw everyone a curveball. After filming "Her Smell" in 2018, she went public with her feelings for co-star Cara Delevingne. The couple secretly tied the knot in Las Vegas during summer 2019.

But by May 2020, their two-year romance had come to an end. Ashley then had a brief fling with rapper G-Eazy. By 2022, she was rumored to be dating Argentinian photographer Sofia Malamut.

Come February 2023, Ashley's new romance went public. She'd fallen for Brandon Davis, son of an oil tycoon. By July 2023, the couple was engaged.

Ashley's been vocal about staying drug-free and considers substance abuse a serious problem. She's also against artificial beauty enhancements and calls out excessive photoshopping and over-glamorizing of celebrities in magazines and promotional materials.

Ashley Benson Tells Us About Her First Times

Don't let her delicate blonde looks fool you – Ashley's got serious strength of character. She's never afraid to take risks, whether in her personal life or career. But she always stays grounded and keeps her emotions in check.

Ashley Benson Today

Benson continues to make her mark as an actress, taking on standout roles across different genres in both film and TV. Her recent projects include starring in erotic thriller "Private Property" (2022), action flick "Mob Land" (2023), and psychological thriller "Wilderness" (2023).

Photos: Ashley Benson

Ashley Benson Biography

Childhood and Early Years

Acting Career

Ashley Benson's Personal Life

Ashley Benson Today