Colby Minifie Looks Back on Her Career-Defining Role in The Boys

      It’s uncommon for an actor to fully immerse themselves in a character for as long as Colby Minifie has with Ashley Barrett in Amazon’s satirical superhero series The Boys. For seven years, she has stepped into the stylish shoes of Vought International’s duplicitous publicist-turned-vice president, experiencing the dangers that accompany climbing the corporate ladder in a corrupt realm dominated by powerful supes (the term used for the show’s superheroes), all while striving to retain her dwindling humanity. To evolve alongside a character over five thoughtfully crafted seasons is indeed #actorgoals. Such an extended period can profoundly impact an individual, as it did for Minifie. However, all good things eventually reach their conclusion.

      “It doesn’t feel like we’ve said goodbye yet,” Minifie shares with me over Zoom. After production concluded on the show's final season last June, there’s still a farewell event in L.A. next month, marking a final celebration for the cast and crew. Sitting in front of a stunning wooden shelving unit she crafted herself, displaying her ceramic pieces (more on that later), the actress fondly reflects on the family she formed while working on The Boys. Being away from home in Toronto on a show that demands much from its actors fosters such bonds. “Being covered in blood and goo all the time is a bonding experience,” she laughs. When she first began on the project, Minifie never anticipated the journey The Boys would lead her on, both in her career and personally. “Just the fact that they gave me this opportunity feels surreal and special, the kind of thing all actors dream about,” she notes. What began as a minor recurring role ("Ashley gets fired in season 1—that was meant to be her end," she recalls) gradually transformed into a "fan-favorite series regular" spot, instilling in her a new sense of self-assurance. “There’s an internal feeling of being worthy of someone signing a six-year contract with you,” she expresses. “It unfolded for me in the best way, as I truly felt I belonged with this cast, like I earned it.”

      Ashley’s sustained and expanding role over five seasons undeniably showcases Minifie’s exceptional portrayal of the morally intricate Vought corporate climber. Despite Ashley’s questionable actions, glimpses of her genuine humanity beneath a tough facade keep viewers rooting for her. If only she could escape Homelander’s oppressive control. “I think people relate to Ashley because we have all dealt with difficult bosses,” Minifie observes. “We all find coping mechanisms for that kind of stress. People cheer for her because they wish for her to find a way out, just as they seek a way out for themselves. We’re all caught in the rat race of capitalism.”

      By the conclusion of season 4, Ashley faces a dilemma. She can leave Vought with her secrets, risking discovery and death at Homelander’s hands, or take Compound V (a substance granting superpowers) and stay with the familiar devil. Spoiler alert: She chooses the latter.

      Ashley’s superpower, which is revealed in episode 2 of season 5, is rather humbling. She gains telepathic powers through a sentient tumor on the back of her head, a second Ashley named Bashley who can read minds and serves as her moral guide, voicing the thoughts Ashley fears to express. In terms of superpowers, it’s far from "cool." “I believe that superpower is perfect for her. She is quite two-faced,” Minifie remarks. “And that inner voice has been trying to reach her for so long. When they introduced Bashley, I was thrilled, especially with the chance to explore that character. We discussed it being a Sliding Doors moment for Ashley—this is who she would have become if her mother hadn’t died at 17. She needed someone to ask her, ‘Are you okay?’ and to show her love. That’s who Bashley represents—her college-aged self, innocent and unaware of the world but filled with hope. It was fun to delve into that aspect of her. I experimented with various voices to discover who that person might be; I originally envisioned her sounding like Fran Lebowitz.”

      When I inquire if Minifie feels the writers did justice to Ashley’s character in the end, she responds that the trajectory felt appropriate and satisfying: “I remember finishing the finale and thinking, ‘Wow! Yes, that’s the ending.’” Reflecting on her experience, Minifie is not just leaving with a career-defining role but has also grown through her time on The Boys. It helped her find her voice on set, rejuvenated her relationship with her body and fashion thanks to costume designer Michael Ground, who she credits with significantly transforming her life, and sparked a newfound passion for craftsmanship. To calm her busy mind and fill the time between filming, Minifie embraced ceramics, woodworking, and crocheting, hobbies