Ashley Nicole Williams Chats the Final Season of Motherland: Fort Salem, Abigail’s Journey, and More

Ashley Nicole Williams’ journey as Abigail Bellweather in Motherland: Fort Salem can best be described in one word: destined. The gifted actress felt an instant connection to the character and was excited about being the representation she didn’t see on screen growing up. For three seasons, she’s done just that, delivering a commanding performance as the young cadet who emerges as the leader she always wanted to be.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Ashley about the final season of Motherland: Fort Salem, the importance of seeing yourself represented in media, the sisterhood she’s formed with the cast, and more!

PC: We’re approaching the series finale of Motherland: Fort Salem. What can fans expect from these final few episodes? What was your reaction when you read that final script?
Ashley: They can expect the show to put a bow on things for sure. I know a lot of people were concerned that we would leave them on a cliffhanger, but everything makes sense in the end.

Reading that final script, I was audibly yelling. I was in the hair and makeup trailer and I was like, “Is this a joke?” I was like, “What? What?” It was one thing after another. There are some shocks and turns, but everything will definitely come in a big box and bow at the end of it all.

PC: That’s a great teaser. Throughout this series, there has always been this big emphasis on destiny, which feels like the perfect way to describe your own journey with the show and how you were cast. When you look back at these past four years, what will you remember most?
Ashley: I started the audition process at nineteen. I’m about to be twenty-four. I’d say these are my most transformative years, coming into adulthood. This show has shaped me a lot. I got to grow with these people along the way. I’ll always cherish and treasure the group of people that I made this show with because it’s not every day on a show where you click so well with your castmates. I may not be fortunate to get that again on the next set that I’m on. I’ll definitely take that with me. I never took for granted all these little moments. It’s been a lot.

I’m trying not to cry because I am a crybaby. It’s been everything. Also, how the fans reacted to this show and how much love they showed us is so special. I don’t know if I’ll have that again. It’s beautiful.

PC: Speaking of that transformative journey, did you take anything on set to remember this experience?
Ashley: Since it was the final season, they gave us a lot of our things! I have two things. I have our dress uniform right here, and then I have our battle uniform right here. But there are also the charms and things. Wait…I have more. This is the back of my chair. I have that, and I have a couple of books that Freeform and the crew and production of Motherland made. I have a lot. I can be here all day, but I do have a lot of keepsakes.

PC: Like you were saying earlier, throughout this show we’ve seen this beautiful journey that all of these characters undergo. For Abigail, it’s been about her exploration of vulnerability alongside strength, and you’ve handled that with so much nuance. Has anything surprised you about her journey? What has she taught you?
Ashley: Abigail Bellweather. That’s a character that I will definitely take with me in my career because a lot of what she was going through I went through, especially in Season 2. My life was imitating art in that sense. We didn’t have the exact same experiences, but I felt the feelings that she was feeling at the time. We shot in the middle of the pandemic. We were in Vancouver for eight months without our families.

I don’t know if things really surprised me, but it was so uncanny that everything Eliot [Laurence] wrote I was going through. I’m so proud of the character that she is in this final season. How far she’s come from Season 1 to Season 3 is insane in a great way. She will become the leader that she’s always wanted to be but will also surpass that. She has sacrificed herself and her unit. I don’t think we could have said that in Season 1. I don’t even know where I thought her character was going, but I always thought she would be this stickler. At the end of Season 1, she accepts her two sisters in her unit but has to sacrifice herself for the Cession and the army. It’s beautiful. I’m so proud that I got to play her.

PC: Perfect segue to this next question. There’s a beautiful moment at the end of 308 where we really see Abigail’s leadership, and she gives this inspiring speech to her unit about turning themselves in for the greater good. As an actress, how did you create the space for yourself to dive into that moment in particular?
Ashley: We were really feeling the weight of it being the end of our show. In those special moments, I really hold onto my girls. Literally, we hold hands. That’s what can get me emotional. It’s when I can feel and see that people really love and care about me. All I have to do is hold Jess [Sutton] or Taylor Hickson’s hand and I can feel the love radiating and I’m an instant puddle. Now Amalia [Holm] has joined that beautiful circle. The connection we have and being rooted in each other is what really helped me in that moment. We were there and we were so present. Abigail and I were rallying our troop. When I read that Lupe died, I was crying. I was really embedded in this story. Every word that I’m saying, I meant wholeheartedly as Ashley. I’m like, “These girls should do this.” The love of my castmates really helped me there.

PC: You were talking about Abigail’s transformation from Season 1 to Season 3. There’s a really subtle moment in 308 where Abigail acknowledges that Scylla is now a part of this unit. These two characters could not have had a more transformative journey throughout this season. What was it like working with Amalia as you brought that dynamic to life?
Ashley: Oh my gosh. I love Amalia so much. One of the hardest things for me was leaving Amalia because she lives in Sweden and I live in the States. I’ve been trying to pinpoint who I could see, and I can literally see everyone except Amalia. We got very emotional because of that. Before this season, we hadn’t really worked together.

In Season 1, we knew each other. But in Season 3, we really got to be there for one another, on set and in every scene, especially after Taylor’s accident. We were (Jess included) holding everybody up. Amalia and I really bonded over a lot of things. It was funny because one day I would say something and she’d be like, “Oh my gosh. I had that feeling today too.” We were so in sync. It was awesome working with Amalia. She’s in Sweden and I love her. I’m going to visit Sweden now. I have a friend in Sweden.

PC: There’s been a lot of teasing about this union of earth and sky. Is there anything you can tell us about what’s ahead for Abigail and Adil?
Ashley: You know I am the queen of spoilers, right? I’m digging down so deep not to spoil this. It’s going to be a surprise as far as what the union of earth and sky is. I was certainly surprised. I’ve known since 302. It’s not what you think. It’s not what the fans think. I’m actually really happy with how it turned out and what that union is, but you’re never going to guess it. No one is ever going to guess what it is. A lot of people think it’s one thing or another that ties things together, but you maybe have to look a little deeper.

PC: We were talking about the sisterhood that you, Taylor, and Jessica have formed, which radiates off the screen. Having spent the last four years with them, what’s one fun fact about each that fans would be surprised to learn?
Ashley: This isn’t a fun fact, but it’s a story. I don’t know if I’ve told it before. But the first day that I met these two girls, one of them licked barbecue sauce off my pants and the other licked my face. If that doesn’t tell you anything about these two girls, I don’t know what will.

Jess is always locked in. Taylor and I are the goofs on set. They can be like, “Rolling,” and Taylor and I will be right in it. Jess is very much the opposite. She has to be in it 24/7. Taylor and I are always goofing around and running around her. She’s laser-focused. I don’t know if that’s a fun fact, but that’s a fact.

Everyone probably knows this, but Tay is one with the wilderness. You won’t ever catch her sitting in a green room. She will be outside with the flowers and have a blanket made out on the lawn wherever we are. She’s never sitting in a chair, in a room, in a house, or wherever we are. She’s like, “I’m going to be out and one with nature.”

PC: One of the reasons why this show has resonated with audiences is it’s bringing much-needed representation to the screen. What has it meant to you to be a part of a project that’s pushing this inclusive storytelling forward? What has it meant for you to see the fan response to Abigail and your performance?
Ashley: Abigail Bellweather means the world to me. I say this often, but when I first read the script, I ran to my mom. The pilot was amazing. I ran to my mom and I was like, “This is a lead! A Black girl is the lead.” I was so in awe. Now it’s becoming more prevalent where a lot of Black women are getting these leading roles, but I didn’t see that much when I started. People before me didn’t see it much either. So to be a superhero in a way for little Black girls on the television screen is so important to me because I think everyone wants to see themselves in whatever media they’re watching.

I feel the same way for the LGBTQ+ representation on the show as well. I feel like so many people haven’t been able to see themselves. It means a whole other thing when you feel seen. I love it so much. I genuinely do. I hope there are more shows like our show that are getting the spotlight that they need. I understand why so many people are like, “Why are you taking this show away?” Because you know there are a lot of people who are like, “Oh my gosh, we have three strong Black women on this show.” We have Cat [Lough Haggquist] who plays Petra (my mom). We have Demetria [McKinney] who plays Anacostia. You have me. I know so many people who are like, “I see Black kick-ass fighting witches. Why are you taking them away?”

For the LGBTQ+ community, they’re upset because they’re also taking away their representation. They’ve never had a strong lesbian front-running couple. I hope Hollywood continues to make shows like these and doesn’t slight them or take them away. Representation for all people is so important.

PC: Beautifully said. As you close this chapter in your life, if you could share some parting words with Abigail and the fans, what would it be?
Ashley: You’re going to make me cry. I wrote an Instagram post about it the other day. If I could share parting words, I don’t know what it would be. I’ve grown with this character. I’ve grown with these people. I think it would just be a big thank you. Thank you to her for holding me up during parts of my life. I got to hold her up in parts of her life. Thank you to the fans for loving our show as much as we do, because everything we do is for them. We wouldn’t have been able to make three seasons without them.

I had to reel that back in. I’m like, “No waterworks today.” I’m so incredibly grateful that I got to play this character, especially with how it came back to me because I was in the original audition process and didn’t get it but then a year later I booked it. That was insane.

Everything that is for you is never going to pass you. I am a true testament to that. I’m just eternally grateful for everyone and everything. I know “thank you” is a very cliche thing to say, but I have no other words. Abigail will always be a part of me. These fans will always be a part of the show. This show will be here forever because of them!

We went to work every day and we’re like, “We’ve got to make this the best we can.” This last season we were like, “We need to leave nothing on the table. No matter how we feel about the show not getting picked up again, we can’t sit here and not do it justice.” I believe that’s what we did or what we tried to do. You guys can be the judge of that. But I’m eternally grateful for this.

PC: You’re such a dynamic storyteller, and this is such an exciting time in your career. As you look ahead to the next five to ten years, is there a dream role that you would love to bring to life on the screen?
Ashley: That’s such a good question. One of my biggest dreams is to be Storm from X-Men. I’m technically already her because Abigail is creating storms and lightning. That’s one of my biggest dreams. I would also love to be a Disney princess in a live action or animation. I have so many dreams and goals. You shouldn’t have asked that question. You’re opening Pandora’s box. Pixar is one of my biggest. You should see me when I go to Disney World and I’m in Toy Story Land or Disneyland’s Pixar Pier. I’m obsessed.

I have so many dreams and goals. I always say that my career is like a staircase. This is my first thing on the staircase. It’s sad and hard to say goodbye, but every chapter closes and you turn the page. I feel grateful to even have had this show, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store.

To keep up with Ashley, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch the final season of Motherland: Fort Salem on Freeform every Tuesday at 10/9c.

Photo Credit: Noah Asanias