Arresting Energy – Aesha Waks
Photo credit Rosa Micheals
Award-winning actress Aesha Waks has been in the spotlight since the tender age of six. Her myriad of artistic credits include, several independent films, a music album, an appearance on The Tyra Banks Show, featured on Page Six of the New York Post, a spokesmodel for shockjock Howard Stern, a choreographer (Real to Reel), a fashion model and designer, an artist with a propensity for abstract collages and even a diet coach and author of an unpublished book, The Model Body!
In person, Aesha is intriguing, ambitious, positive and instantly likable. On the six month anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, IFQ’s Briege McGarrity enjoyed catching up with this multi-dimensional Rockaway beach native, to see what’s new in her world.
Briege McGarrity (BM): So what was the catalyst for a career in showbiz?
Aesha Waks (AW): I started acting and singing when I was six on the long-running children’s TV Show Romper Room, where I was a walk-on for the day. Later that year, I sang the National Anthem at Shea Stadium for the Mets… sorry Yankees fans! That’s when I got a taste of the spotlight and have been doing it ever since…
BM: There’s definitely a nice ring to the name Aesha Waks!
AW: Thanks! Mindy, my beloved mother, who passed away in 2006 from brain cancer, named me after Stevie Wonder’s child Aisha but just changed the spelling. The name Aesha Hashaum Waks means Fire of God, middle name shortened Hash is secretly hidden within the name – this was a request by my father Israel to reflect his favorite pastime from youth! That middle name won me a cover and centerfold of Hightimes magazine and featured in Playboy!
BM: Tell me about your first film role?
AW: The Money Shot, directed by Matt Mailer was my first film and I won the Best Actress award at French Avignon! It’s a special film to me because my mom, an accomplished artist herself, spotted the audition in Backstage Magazine. She loved the author Norman Mailer and encouraged me to read for a part in his son Matthew’s film.
BM: You seemed to have a great connection with your character in Arresting Gena, what compelled you to play this role?
AW: I was approached by the director Hannah Weyer to play the role of Gena. It was a great role that showed transition of character and had a great cast of actors such as Adrian Grenier, Sam Rockwell, Summer Phoenix and Brendan Sexton. I won Best Actress at the Olympia Film Festival.
BM: Your latest film Nighstream about the dark side of radio sounds great. How did you get the part and tell us more about the genesis of the film?
AW: The part of “Martina” in Nightstream was offered to me by Andre Joseph. I already worked with him on his previous film Priceless. He is very loyal and talented: I am the Uma to his Quentin. Plus the role called for a model and I have done some magazine covers, Maxim, Playboy and Miss Howard Stern, 2007. He utilized some of my photos and references in the film.
BM: I heard you are back in Rockaway Beach. How is that going for you post Sandy?
AW: It’s going well. I am very proud of my father Israel, who is doing a great job rebuilding his home and opening a much-needed women’s clothing store. Myself and my brother Geffen a rapper and producer are helping him rebuild. I’ve become quite an interior decorator.
I really just want to bring some life back to a beautiful neighborhood that got pummeled by Sandy. Summer’s coming and I’m very happy to be living in Rockaway Beach. Living there also gives me a chance to stay out of the scene for a little while… [Laughs].
BM: Sorry about your breakup with fiancé Liam McMullan. However, I can’t see you being alone for too long! How are you about it all?
AW: I miss Liam and his family dearly. Liam took me to see my nana Sylvia in Florida all the time and spent numerous hours adoring our cat Gigi. His aunt Sharon and Grandmas Connie and Jenny had us over for holidays, his wonderful cousins, his mom Laurie and her master artwork. Patrick McMullan did so many wonderful things for us. I miss losing to him in Monopoly and Apples to Apples and adoring his many chachkas! They were my second family. We are mature enough to still work creatively and still be friends.
BM: Did you mind all the recent coverage of Lindsay Lohan, Liam and you on gossip sites such as Perez Hilton?
AW: Well as you know gossip can be a blown out of proportion. I was shocked that after spending countless nights with Lindsay that she couldn’t have either checked in with me or at least waited more than three weeks before getting matching tattoos with a man I was engaged to for five years. My well-publicized tattoo with Liam was our engagement ring so…the meaning of what we did seemed desecrated by getting a tattoo with another woman. I was hurt no doubt about it. I’m used to getting press and having my life be an open book for study…. kind of like deciding to be an organ donor!
BM: Back to artistry, how’s your music career? What propels you to keep going in yet another competitive industry?
AW: [Laughs.] I’m in several bands! Ashley Noth helps manage my music transactions and contracts for Al-Aesha (electro rap). Elevator People currently working on Blacksnake, the song for upcoming feature (sorry can’t disclose the name) with the brilliant Johnny Dark and stunning Sarabeth Stroller Schalk-DeLeury.
I have no choice but to keep going. My mentor Norman Mailer passed and Peri Lyons took over where he left off and helps heals my spirit on a daily basis.
BM: The Model Body was much buzzed about. Any word on a book deal?
AW: I wrote a fitness book called Model Body when I was trying to overcome anorexia. I was trying to figure out a way to have my cake and eat it too and it healed me! It’s in the hands of Needa, the biggest eating disorder clinic to help heal patients so we’ll see what happens. I am working with many clients right now. It’s published on amusedom.com and going to print soon. Liam was my editor and photographer and I was pleased with our collaboration.
Liam and I also conceptualized Factory New that features upcoming artists including my art series called Recycle, my jacket line where I rip off sleeves of vintage jackets and stud and spike them then snap the sleeves back on…Interchangeable….stage wear inspired for when musicians get hot and wanna rip their sleeves off and wear a vest!
Last but not least, I conceptualized a cartoon called Jane that my former love Liam helped me write. It will be going into production soon too.