Ashley Madekwe and Shane West: What It’s Really Like Living Life in the Spotlight

What happens when you first sit down for lunch with Ashley Madekwe and Shane West? You end up having a lengthy conversation about burrata. And hand sanitizer. And birthday plans. And you know what? I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Hanging out with these two (who star on WGN America’s hit new series Salem) isn’t work at all, and it’s only because of how laid-back, witty, and thoughtful they are. Over lunch at West Hollywood see-and-be-seen hot spot Cecconi’s, we ate our weight in food, celebrated Shane’s birthday, and shared crazy Hollywood stories. Read on.

Glamour: What has been the defining moment of your career so far?

Shane West: There’s two. One, doing Once and Again, which gave me the chance in my early twenties to do film, and because of that, A Walk to Remember, which surpassed everyone’s expectations. We were just surprised that it resonated that much even though we knew we told a good story. That changed things to a different level, which I didn’t like it in a way. Mandy [Moore] and I couldn’t go out anywhere at the time. [But] I was very grateful, and I still am grateful for it. The film I did on the Germs called What We Do Is Secret was really defining for me because it changed my life with music as well, getting to be in the band, play in the band, etc.

Ashley Madekwe: My first job was a film called Storm Damage for the BBC. I was 16 and working with really respected British actors. I didn’t have an agent at the time, and it kind of threw me into real acting. I still credit Adrian Lester with being one of my biggest influences. It took me three years to get into drama school, but that film did a lot for me when it came to my professional growth. And then Revenge!

Glamour: Shane, your full name is actually Shannon Bruce Snaith. And your mom is of French-Cajun descent. That’s so cool.

Shane: Yep, and my dad is Jamaican-British Portuguese. I’m kind of the first of the kids that was born in America.

Glamour: So when did you start going by Shane?

Shane: It was my decision when I started getting attacked. When I was about 16, we changed it, and it was sort of for protection. I was like, “Yeah, fake name! Cool!” We took Shane from Shannon. We thought about Shannon West, but it was actually taken by a girl. I did actually go by Bruce in high school because when I moved from Louisiana to California, I started to get teased in junior high that I had a girl’s name. So trying to fit in, here I’m a Southern boy with long hair and an accent and coming from no money, I wanted to fit in. Bruce West sounded pretty darn masculine. So I went by that all through high school. Basically when I turned 18, if someone called me Shannon, I knew it was my family. If someone called me Bruce, that was only high school. And if they called me Shane, it was only a recent thing.

Glamour: What’s been the coolest night you’ve gotten to experience because of the fame you’ve achieved?

Ashley: Easy! The Met Ball! Last year, I went with Topshop, a brand I’m very close with, so it always feels warm and happy working with Sir Philip Green. As we were doing the carpet, my friend says, “When we get to the top of the stairs, we’re going to meet Anna Wintour, and she’s going to say hi and shake your hand.” So when I [eventually] meet Anna Wintour, she says, “You look good.” I looked at my friend and was like, “Hello!” [Laughs]

Shane: The best night was during a wrap party for What We Do is Secret (about the Germs). I got to play onstage with the band for the very first time. We played at the Dragonfly live for this punk-rock crowd. The real Germs came out for the first time in 25 years, and the crowd went wild. That night was so many people I grew up listening to, and here I was backstage hanging out with them. There’s been Emmy parties or Oscar parties through the years where I’m standing next to Sean Penn or Kevin Spacey, and those are phenomenal, geek-out moments, but when you’re putting your heart and soul out on the line in music and they are there supporting you, that’s pretty awesome.

Glamour: Describe each other in three words, and then tell me what you think the other will say about you.

Shane: Ashley in three words: Focused. Firecracker. Stylish! How would she describe me? God, I don’t know. How’s caring, fun-loving, and rebel?

Ashley: Shane is hardworking, gregarious, and fun. In Shane’s [words] he’d probably say: feisty, independent, feline.

Glamour: What is the most “L.A.” thing you do?

Ashley: I’m pretty down to earth, but I do Pilates sessions one on one. It’s not that I’m scared of people looking at me, but I just need the extra attention to make me work out! [Laughs]

Shane: I’ve never been that Hollywood of a guy. For me, I’m a massage addict. It’s not the norm, but I go probably about two or three times a week. My first starring role I did, they asked during your lunch break if you wanted to take an hour for lunch or to get a massage, and I said “massage.” I was 21! I had never had one, and I became instantly addicted! So now I look for the cheapest, the best, the most expensive, whatever’s free, whatever’s not free, all that kind of stuff. I’m not a pedicure-manicure guy, and I don’t need to sit in a steam bath, but an hour massage…very much addicted!

Glamour: Run me through the rest of your day after our lunch.

Shane: I have to race to Santa Monica for some ADR for episode 11. Then I’m going to try and get a haircut because I can’t stand this right now. [Laughs] I’m going to use Ashley’s suggestion, and hopefully they can squeeze me in. Then the gym, and then pack for my trip to Toronto and New York.

Ashley: I’m going to the post office, so I have to assume that could take an hour. I have to mail my dad’s Father’s Day cards. I have to pick up my friend who is staying with me this week, and then I have to get back to my house because hair and makeup are meeting me there for my appearance on Craig Ferguson tonight. After that I actually have an event back at Cecconi’s for the Take-Two E3 Kick-Off party. Rita Ora is performing.

Glamour: What is the best perk of your job?

Ashley: Going to Disneyland for free and having a VIP guide and not having to line up for the rides. It was kind of insane. I felt guilty for about 35 seconds, but then that wore off, and I became a complete monster and was wearing Mickey Mouse ears, eating all the sugar, and having a blast.

Glamour: Shane, as a single guy in Hollywood, what’s the hardest part about dating?

Shane: You’re naturally predisposed to date an actress, as generic as that sounds, but the good thing about that is that she understands what you’re going through and what the business requires. At the same time, actors are crazy. It’s dealing with…we’re all a group of insecure people, really—at least in front of the camera. So to endure a double insecurity in dating, you have to really be strong to make it work. Then again, if you date someone outside the industry, they can be a little more real and more down-to-earth. But they may not understand the things you have to go through, so you’re kind of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. In the end, if the person is sweet and they care about you and you care about them, you let everything else go.

__For more on Salem and what’s to come the rest of the season, click here! __