'The Strays' on Netflix: How Ashley Madekwe went from a show cancelled after two episodes to receving a BAFTA nomination

The upcoming Netflix original movie, 'The Strays', starring Ashley Madekwe, will premiere on Netflix in February
UPDATED FEB 7, 2023
Ashley Madekwe will play Neve in the upcoming Netflix movie 'The Strays' (Screenshot from Netflix/YouTube; Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage for Getty Images)
Ashley Madekwe will play Neve in the upcoming Netflix movie 'The Strays' (Screenshot from Netflix/YouTube; Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage for Getty Images)

Netflix is known for producing genre-defying original movies and series that take the audience by surprise. This was the case in several of its recent releases including the global phenomenon 'Wednesday' and the smash hit movie 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'. The original movie 'The Strays', a thriller-drama that is set to premiere this February, promises to be no different.

The official synopsis from Netflix reads, "A Black woman's meticulously crafted life of privilege starts to unravel when two strangers show up in her quaint suburban town." The synopsis of the movie, starring Ashley Madekwe, from IMDb, reads, "Neve, who leads an idyllic life in the suburbs with her loving family, and works a fulfilling job at a private school. But when she begins to notice a strange man and woman appear unexpectedly at odd moments, she starts to doubt her sanity. Of course, she turns to her family and friends for assistance, but Neve is helpless when they hesitate to believe her."

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Who is Ashley Madekwe?

Ashley Ifeoma Madekwe was born on December 6, 1981, in London. Her father, Peter Madekwe, is of Swiss-German descent and her mother, Tracy Mansfield, is English. She grew up in a South London council estate.

After obtaining a BA in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, she appeared in several roles in school stage productions. She made her debut in the TV movie 'Storm Damage' in 2000, in which she played Annalise. Madekwe then brief guest appearances on several TV shows including Dawn in 'Hope & Glory' (2000), Julie in 'Down to Earth' (2000), Bev in 'Teachers' (2110-2002), Sophie Wells in 'Doctors' (2006), Jude Clark in 'Casualty' (2006) and Tart in 'Vital Signs' (2006). In all of these roles, she could not make much of an impact having only appeared briefly. In 2008, she landed the role of Bambi for the TV series 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl' (2008-2010) and appeared in the second and third seasons of the show, which helped her gain some attention. She later went on to star in the star-studded 2008 comedy film 'How to Lose Friends & Alienate People'. 

How did Ashley Madewke find success?

The turning point in her career was when Madekwe made her debut in the US with her 2009 CW drama series 'The Beautiful Life'. However, the show was cancelled after just two episodes. Her breakthrough role was as Ashley Davenport in 'Revenge' (2011-2015) where she played a loyal, yet ambitious employee of the Grayson family. Her portrayal of Davenport had a powerful impact on the show. She also appeared as Detective Eudoria Patch in Netflix's 'The Umbrella Academy' (2019). Her role as Toni in the movie 'Country Lines' (2019) helped her gain two nominations for Best Supporting Actress for BAFTA Awards and British Independent Film Awards. She will appear as Dr Ana Lasbrey in the TV series 'Dr Death' this year.   

Who is Ashley Madekwe's husband?

Madekwe is married to her long-time sweetheart, Iddo Goldberg. Goldberg is also an actor. In fact, they both shared screen space in the 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl' and 'Salem' (2014-2017). Goldberg is an Israeli-British actor and producer, who has appeared in several movies and TV series including Freddie Thorne in 'Peaky Blinders' (2013). Madekwe and Goldberg were good friends before entering a relationship and the couple got hitched up in 2008. The two dated for a long time before tying the knot in 2012. The ceremony had the presence of celebrities like David Walliams, Mischa Barton, David Schwimmer, and Christa Allen. 



 

What is Ashley Madekwe Net Worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ashley Madekwe's net worth is $3M. 

Trailer

You can watch the trailer of the original Netflix movie 'The Strays' below.



 

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