Ashleigh Murray

Ashleigh Murray (born January 18, 1988)[1] is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her breakthrough role as Josie McCoy, the lead singer of the fictional band Josie and the Pussycats, on The CW television series Riverdale, which she starred in from 2017 to 2019. Murray reprised her role as Josie McCoy in the Riverdale spin-off series Katy Keene (2020) and returned to Riverdale as a guest star in 2021 and 2023. Murray has also starred in the films Deidra & Laney Rob a Train (2017) and Valley Girl (2020), as well as the television series Tom Swift (2022) and The Other Black Girl (2023).

Ashleigh Murray
Murray at the 2017 WonderCon
Born (1988-01-18) January 18, 1988
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2007–present

Early life and education

Murray was born on January 18, 1988 in Kansas City, Missouri. At the age of 10, she participated in a school play which ignited her love for acting and performing. After high school, Murray moved to New York City, where she studied acting at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and graduated in 2009.[2][3]

Career

In 2016, Murray was cast as a series regular in The CW's teen drama Riverdale, portraying Josie McCoy, "a gorgeous, snooty and ambitious girl who is the lead singer for the popular band Josie and the Pussycats".[4][5] The show premiered in 2017, and Murray was a cast member until 2019. Murray's actual singing voice is used in all of her performance scenes with Josie and the Pussycats on the show, but she has expressed disinterest in becoming a professional singer herself.[6] In February 2019, it was announced that Murray would reprise her role as Josie McCoy as part of the main cast of the Riverdale spin-off pilot, Katy Keene.[7] In May 2019, The CW ordered Katy Keene to series.[8] Katy Keene was canceled after one season in July 2020[9] and Murray returned to Riverdale as a guest star in 2021 and 2023.[10]

Murray had a co-leading role in the 2017 Netflix original movie Deidra & Laney Rob a Train. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2017 and was released on March 17, 2017.[11] In April of 2017, it was announced that Murray had joined the cast of MGM's musical Valley Girl, a remake of the 1983 film, as Loryn.[12]

In May 2022, Murray starred in the Nancy Drew spin-off series Tom Swift.[13] Later that same year, she was cast as Hazel-May McCall in the Hulu mystery thriller series The Other Black Girl, a television adaptation of the 2021 novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris.[14]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Finding Harmony Harmony Short film
2012 Welcome to New York Simone
2014 Grind Workout Girl
2017 Deidra & Laney Rob a Train Deidra
2020 Valley Girl Loryn
2021 Christmas in Harmony Harmony Matthews Television film
2022 The Way Out Gracie

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2014 The Following Female College Student Episode: "Resurrection"
2016 Younger Girl 2 episodes
2017–2019, 2021, 2023 Riverdale Josie McCoy Main cast (seasons 1–4); special guest star (season 5, 7)
2018 Alex, Inc. Melissa Episode: "The Unfair Advantage"
2020 Katy Keene Josie McCoy Main cast
2021 Rugrats Eve / Balloon #2 (voice) 2 episodes
2022 Tom Swift Zenzi Fullington Main cast
2023 The Other Black Girl Hazel-May McCall Main cast

References
  1. Rose, Mike (January 18, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 18, 2023 includes celebrities Kevin Costner, Dave Bautista". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  2. Garland, May (July 13, 2022). "Interview - Ashleigh Murray". Schön!. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  3. "Vulnerable In Your Acting - Ashleigh Murray". New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. September 4, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023 – via YouTube.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (February 24, 2016). "Riverdale Finds Its Archie & Josie: KJ Apa To Topline CW Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  5. Delbyck, Cole (March 31, 2017). "Riverdale Star Ashleigh Murray Would Absolutely Do A Josie And The Pussycats Spinoff". HuffPost. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  6. Williams, Kori (October 29, 2021). "'Riverdale' Star Ashleigh Murray Is an Actress - but Is She Also a Singer?". Distractify. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  7. Petski, Denise (February 4, 2019). "Katy Keene: Ashleigh Murray To Star In the CW's Riverdale Spinoff Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  8. Nemetz, Dave (May 7, 2019). "Riverdale: Ashleigh Murray to Exit, Following Katy Keene Series Order". TVLine. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (July 2, 2020). "'Katy Keene' Canceled By The CW After One Season; 'Riverdale' Spinoff To Look For New Home". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  10. Humphrey, Julia (July 14, 2023). "'Riverdale's' Final Season Is Bringing Back a Fan-Favorite Character". Collider. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  11. Evans, Greg (June 22, 2016). "Netflix Original Movie Deidra & Laney Rob A Train On Track With Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  12. N'Duka, Amanda (April 25, 2017). "Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Chloe Bennet, Logan Paul & More Join MGM's Valley Girl Remake". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie (February 7, 2022). "Ashleigh Murray To Star In 'Tom Swift', Joining Tian Richards In the CW's 'Nancy Drew' Spinoff". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  14. Rice, Lynette (October 31, 2022). "'The Other Black Girl': Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Brittany Adebumola and Hunter Parrish Join Hulu Original Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
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