Over the weekend, I had the joy of interviewing Lynne Ashe, who portrays Nurse Louise Love on DC's Stargirl! She was an absolute pleasure to speak with and I couldn't think of a better person to be our first interviewee. This took place before we learned of the cancellation. Regardless, remember to tune in for the final five episodes!
What was the audition process for Nurse Love like? Did you know who you were auditioning for?
I found the initial email, and I received the first audition invitation in February 2021. I knew that the project was Stargirl, but the sides (script) I auditioned with had the names listed as "Nurse Heart," "Mr. Farro" (for Todd Rice), "Mr. Skin" (for Mister Bones) and Jennie (Jade) was referenced as "Amber." Most auditions for Atlanta/SE Actors are done by submitting "self-tapes."
How did you find out you were cast as Nurse Love?
I was shocked at how quickly the offer came in casting me in the role - less than ten days after I submitted my first audition tape! My agent phoned me to tell me the good news. I was overjoyed!
Your character is initially thought to be a villain, but she's really an ally! How was it playing those aspects of her and creating that switch from villain to ally?
When scripts are really well written (as is the case for Stargirl), the characters have multiple dimensions and layers, just as real people. It's one of the things I most love about acting, when we're given these delightful levels to play off of. To me, that's one of the signs of a really good story - we get to see the "good" side of villains as well as the vulnerability of heroes. Nurse Love is one of my favorite film/tv characters I've ever been asked to portray. I love that the story arc shows her to have "real" feelings - that her agenda is not to be one-dimensionally villainous but rather to do the best she can in accomplishing a quest. Which in this case, turns out to be trying to benefit Todd and others like him, rather than destroying them. Not only is that fun to portray as a character, but it makes watching the story unfold so much more satisfying to the audience.
Can you talk about the process of physically becoming Nurse Love? Her outfit, hair, and makeup are very particular, but also so fun to watch!
I must give a shout-out and props to the magnificent wardrobe, make-up, and hair crew for Stargirl. They are amazing. Their vision is what really helped breathe life into Nurse Love. When I put on the costume, wig, and make-up, I felt a very 1940s wartime vibe, and part of that feeling influenced Nurse Love's stance, manner, and vocal inflections. What a joy!
Nurse Love isn't a character in DC Comics, though a "Doctor Love", who experimented on the Helix group does exist. Did you know about Doctor Love and his connections to Helix? If so, how was it redefining him into Nurse Love?
I did not know anything about the Helix/Bones story in the comics, but when I first auditioned, I researched and learned about Dr. Benjamin Love's experiments. I saw no mention of Nurse Love. But in our script, Mister Bones (who himself was a result of Dr. Love's experiments) tells Courtney that Nurse Love helped him. So in my mind, Nurse Love is a relative of the original Dr. Love - she must be his sister or perhaps his wife or daughter. That's how I have melded her in my mindset into the original story.
Love and Mister Bones have a unique relationship. What would you like to see from them if Stargirl gets a Season 4?
I am really keeping my fingers crossed about season 4. It will be an absolute shame to everyone if the story isn't allowed to continue. I would like to see more of Mister Bones and Nurse Love's interactions with each other and with the other patients at Helix - Tao Jones and Penny Dreadful (who were also results of Dr. Love's experimentation) and others. I would love to keep peeling back the layers of their characters to find out who they are at the core and how they influence those around them.
Some fans might not know this isn't the first time you've played a DC character! You also played Polka-Dot Man's mom in Suicide Squad. How has it been entering the world of DC?
I adore DC and have been very blessed to work on these projects. I had finished filming on The Suicide Squad prior to my being hired as Nurse Love. I don't even know if the producers of Stargirl were aware that I had worked with The Suicide Squad, as that project was still very hush-hush and I was under an NDA to not discuss it at all. When I was cast in Stargirl, one of the first things that came to my mind was .... do I just give off a vibe as a matronly character who does medical experiments on children?! Because Polka Dot Man's mom was a scientist at Star Labs who experimented on her own children. Then I'm cast as Nurse Love, who is at the Helix Institute and supposedly also performs medical experiments on children. I just found that a rather odd coincidence! But I'm so very grateful to have been cast in both roles. I also did a small role in an episode of Doom Patrol. No medical experiments though, haha! My character helped Dorothy when she had her first period and didn't know what was happening to her. Bottom line - I very much appreciate DC for welcoming me in and allowing me to be a part of that universe.
Do you have anything you'd like to tell the fans of Stargirl?
Just thank you to all of the fans and I love that this show and these characters are in our lives. I hope that Stargirl is allowed to continue (and hope it has spin-offs as well!) I want to be given the opportunity to continue playing Nurse Love and see how the story plays out. The Stargirl family of cast & crew is TRULY one of the most delightful ensembles I've ever had the opportunity of working with.
Where can fans find you in the upcoming year?
I've filmed a few things that will be coming out in 2023 - a few small roles in episodics and a film that's based on a true story that should be very good. I also had a leading role in another film that was based on a true story, but it has yet to be released in the US, although it played in cinemas in Europe and is available for streaming and DVD in many countries. The film is "One of These Days," and it was set to premiere at SXSW in 2020, which was the first film festival that was canceled due to the COVID outbreak. I think the producers haven't released it to streaming and DVD in the US because they are still hoping to find distribution for a release in theatres. Fingers crossed!
Follow Lynne Ashe on Twitter: @lynneashe
Follow Lynne Ashe on Instagram: @ashelynne6
