Starring in Prime Video’s high-stakes Wattpad romance My Fault: London, the Hertfordshire-native is proving that the role of leading lady looks good on her.

Picture this: you’re catching a train into central London, peering out of the window to take in the view of the towering skyscrapers, and out of the corner of your eye, you see a fiery car wreck set ablaze and a full-blown gun-fuelled standoff. But for those who might have witnessed such pulse-raising scenes, Asha Banks has some reassurance. “We saw a train pass us at some point [whilst we were filming]  and were like, ‘God, those people on that train must be so confused.’ They must have looked to the person next to them and been like, ‘Did you see that or am I like making this up?’” 

Thankfully, what they saw wasn’t an unfolding disaster. It was just the 21-year-old actor, alongside co-star Matthew Broom, in the thick of filming the explosive climax of their upcoming Prime Video project, My Fault: London. Adapted from author Mercedes Ron’s Spanish Wattpad novel Culpa Mia/ My Fault and its original film adaptation, this new iteration follows a pair of step-siblings—Asha’s Noah and Matthew’s Nick—who fall into a forbidden romance whilst figures from their past wreak havoc, dragging them through London’s sordid underbelly.

“I was kind of a Wattpad rookie coming into this. But, as soon as I read the book and got into the world I was like, ‘Oh, here we go, this is entertaining,’” she says with raised eyebrows, and a grin painted across her face. Fortunately, the film’s directors, Dani Girdwood and Charlotte Fassler, saw something in Asha that made them feel she was born for the role. “There is an effortlessly cool energy and warm confidence that radiates off Asha the second she steps in the room that immediately felt like Noah to us,” they share.
The classic enemies-to-lovers plotline forever associated with the infectiously horny and irresistibly corny tales of Wattpad are enough to draw even the biggest sceptics in. But even if the plot doesn’t do it for them, Asha’s portrayal of the angsty heroine Noah—who is plucked from her Florida home and friends when her mum falls in love with a British millionaire and subsequently swept into Nick’s dicey world—will sure as hell do it. “I watched Twilight and 10 Things I Hate About You [to prepare for the role]. There are a lot of really strong, cool female leads in those films. Kat Stratford is an icon in 10 Things I Hate About You—I think she was always an inspiration for Noah’s character. [I was also playing] so many of my friends as well, I worked on different parts of Noah and was like, ‘Oh gosh, I’m playing my best friend right now because that’s how she would react’, but I just think that’s what’s cool about Noah, she does feel like a real girl in a crazy situation. As a person she’s quite normal and grounded, I guess.”

Left: Asha wears blazer, tshirt & shorts COACH.
Right: Asha wears jacket & skirt SELF PORTRAIT; shoes ONITSUKA TIGER.

Much like Noah, Asha found herself thrown into an overwhelming situation as she stepped onto set––but unlike her character, it was nerves, not chaos, steering her experience. “I think I was very nervous going into it just because the Wattpad genre is so big and people love it so much. Watching [projects like this] on TV and in the cinemas made me love [the genre]—it is such a guilty pleasure. It was nerve-wracking going into it as there was the amazing Spanish movie leaving some big shoes to fill. We had to put those feelings on pause for a second and just try to complete the job. Now it’s kind of nice to reflect and think about both.” 

From Asha and Matthew’s fast friendship blossoming under the sun-soaked skies of Tenerife, to Noah’s most intense moments spent stranded on an aeroplane (“I couldn’t believe what I was doing. I was just looking around like: ‘I’m in an aeroplane right now! What’s going on?’”) there’s plenty to look back on. But the craziest memory from her time filming? “We filmed at the Victoria and Albert Museum and that was the most surreal day of my whole life. I just remember going in and seeing it all shut off—they had to shut off the road when we drove in, even for five minutes. I remember [my co-star] Matthew and I talking about how surreal it was. I think we were literally just pinching ourselves, and each other, the whole shoot.”

With London—a city Asha often visited as a child while auditioning for roles—serving as her playground during filming, it’s easy to see how the experience might have felt dreamlike. But working on her first leading role, with the clash of emotions it brought, was enough to bring her back down to earth. “It’s really daunting but also really exciting at the same time,” she explains. “I’m conflicted at any one moment with how I feel. I’m just really excited and I’m really proud of it. I’ve seen the film and it was such a nice moment. Whilst filming I was so removed from thinking that the film was actually coming out and people were going to see the scenes that we were filming. But now it’s very real. I love it so I’m just very excited to see people’s response. I hope people love it as much as I do.”

Left: Asha wears full look STELLA MCCARTNEY; earrings CARTIER.
Right: Asha wears jacket & skirt SELF PORTRAIT; earrings CARTIER.

The trailer, having attracted over 10 million views and counting at the time of writing, is proof enough that the franchise’s fans are rallying behind the project, and the fandom will only grow once it lands on Prime Video streaming services. With all eyes on her, how will Asha be ushering in the new release? A swanky London-based party? Perhaps, at a premiere being flooded with flashing lights and an outpour of adoration from watchers? “I’m probably just going to be sitting at home with my mum and my dog taking a big breath out,” she laughs. 

Once she’s finally had time to catch her breath, it can be assumed that her new-found legions of fans will be itching to know what’s next for the rising star. Luckily for them, a hint at what’s to come is closer than they could imagine. “I’ve been lucky enough with this movie to have my music involved a little bit, so hopefully that kind of continues,” she shares, keeping her cards close to her chest. “My own song [in My Fault: London] is playing during the credits—I’m not sure when people are going to realise…” With an EP hurtling towards release, and a soft Pop sound sure to enchant listeners worldwide, her musical prowess is sure to be cast in the same spotlight sooner than she thinks––just watch this space. 

“The dream is to combine [music and acting] and keep going…I’d love to have really sunk my teeth into music because I’m sort of teetering on the beginning of it right now,” Asha finishes, gazing into her future. “The dream would be to do a bit of everything. To be able to do some music, some theatre, some TV and film—whatever you got.” It looks like you’re on the fasttrack to making that dream a reality, Asha. 

My Fault: London is available exclusively on Prime Video on 13 February.

Photography by Radhika Muthanna
Styling by Abigail Hazard
Words by Erica Rana
Hair by Davide Barbieri at A-Frame Agency
Make-up by Lucy Wearing at Forward Artists
Photography Assistant Isabella Armora
Fashion Assistant Olivia Caldwell
Special Thanks to Too Young Too Simple Studio