When Akira Akbar scored the role of Ashley Banks in Peacock’s new series Bel-Air, which is executive produced by Will Smith and Westbrook Studios and based on the beloved series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, she was grateful that she would get to work alongside Smith — but there was one moment that stuck out to her.
“I really love all of the clothes Ashley wears. I love her style. She wears a lot of interesting clothing — it’s not basic, but she also puts pins on her clothes, and she will wear a dress with sneakers. That is honestly what I love about her – that she loves to be herself,” the rising star exclusively tells GRAZIA USA.
“What I love about fashion is that you can do anything with it. You can make anything fashion and that is the best part about dressing up,” she adds.
In the series, which is a dramatic re-imagining of the original series, Akbar shines as Ashley Banks, who adjusts to her cousin Will (Jabari Banks) moving into their home in California.
“Ashley is a super opinionated, smart, wise girl. She is excited about her cousin Will coming to live with her, and she a non-judgmental person,” she explains. “She loves listening to everyone’s problems and helping out. That is what I love about her, and I feel like I can relate to her a lot because she loves her family and she wants the best for them.”
Since is the brunette beauty is only 15 years old, she was too young to watch the ’90s series, but she caught reruns over time. When preparing for the part, she “didn’t want to study Ashley” too much. “I wanted to have a little bit of her original self there, so I did watch a couple of episodes, but at the same time, I had my own spin on it,” she says of her process.
Additionally, Akbar has enjoyed working alongside the cast, “even though I am the youngest on set,” she quips. “They all make me feel included and they are just really welcoming.”
The cherry on top of it all is having Smith “attached to this project,” she notes. “So, basically I am attached to him! I am like, ‘That is insane!’ He is a legend, and I am so excited to be on this project with his name on it. I have seen a lot of his movies — especially Fresh Prince — and so I am just so excited that I finally get to work with him and be attached to a project with him, it is amazing, honestly.”
For now, Akbar loves being in front of the camera, but she is thinking about “starting a shoe line” — in particular, a sneaker line.
In the meantime, the TV star is looking forward to others relating to Ashley, as she “is pretty brave.”
“I hope that they can get inspired by her and do what she is doing,” she declares. “I hope young girls can look at me and know that they can do the exact same thing that I am doing – especially being my age. It is honestly so surreal. I am still trying to figure out how that is possible, just being my age and doing all of this is amazing and I am honored.”
Tune into the latest episode of Bel-Air, which airs on Peacock on Thursday, February 24.
