Bright and bubbly, Annaleigh Ashford exudes good vibes wherever she goes. From her Tony winning turn in You Can’t Take It With You, to her delightful stint on B Positive, Ashford is beloved by audiences for her comedic chops and physical humor. Now deeper into her career, Ashford continues to grow and challenge herself as a actor with roles in dramatic projects like American Crime Story and Welcome to Chippendales (for which she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the 2023 Emmys). However, Ashford’s biggest challenge to date might be the lead role in Paramount+‘s Happy Face.

Created by Jennifer Cacicio, Happy Face is “inspired by the true-life story” of Melissa Moore, the daughter of “Happy Face” Killer Keith Jesperson. Moore shared her life experiences in an autobiography and successful podcast series. In Cacicio’s series, Moore (played by Ashford) is a wife, a mother, and a makeup artist for The Dr. Greg Show, a talk show in the style of Dr. Phil that seeks to exploit its guests for entertainment purposes. When Moore’s estranged serial killer father, Keith (played by Dennis Quaid), calls in to her work wanting to do an interview, her identity is revealed to her boss (David Harewood) and producer Ivy (Tamera Tomakili). This discovery complicates Moore’s life and forces her to confront her past and her worst fears about herself.

One of the most gripping scenes in the series has Moore telling the world who she is on The Dr. Greg Show to advocate for a man who has been on death row for almost 30 years for a crime her father recently confessed to. Even though she’s a beloved employee, Dr. Greg and Ivy waste no time in using her pain to boost their ratings. “We had a real studio audience,” Ashord recalled. “We filmed it like a little play. I think I probably did that scene maybe 20 times that day.” Ashford is truly heartbreaking as Moore allows herself to question whether her father’s darkness could be inside her or her kids. “Melissa Moore is a real person who has these real struggles,” said Ashford. “As an actor, that was a really interesting challenge that I had to navigate in playing the role.”

Ashford spoke to DECIDER during a virtual press day to share what attracted her to the project, the responsibilities of being #1 on the call sheet, and more.

DECIDER: What drew you to the role of Melissa Moore in Happy Face?

ANNALEIGH ASHFORD: When I first read the script, I was really struck by how accurately the show depicts this woman, who is a real person. She has been an incredible advocate for people who have been touched by crime.Our show is a true crime drama from a different angle. We see the crime from the point of view of the family of the perpetrator and explore how their relative’s violent act has touched their lives. The show also explores the guilt and the shame that follow them and that they feel in connection to the victims of these crimes. She has used his terrible trauma to perform an act of service, and that was really compelling to me.

This is not your first time as #1 on the call sheet in a Paramount show. What did you bring to Happy Face from your experience with B Positive on CBS (a very, very different show)?

My goal on any set is for everybody to have an enjoyable experience. This show is tough, content-wise. The scripts were really complicated and often heartbreaking. So, I made sure that we laughed a lot, or at least I tried to make sure that we laughed a lot [laughs]. I know that sounds surprising for a show like this. My goal as being number one on the sheet isjto make sure that nobody ever feels like I’m number one on the call sheet. It’s important for me that we all just have a good day and are proud of our work. I think we achieved that. All the incredible, wonderful, seasoned actors that I worked with on B Positive taught me how to make sure everybody feels taken care of.

Your acting skills are on full display in Episode 2 during the Dr. Greg Show. You manage to be so raw and vulnerable, but still maintain Melissa’s power. Can you talk about filming that sequence?

We filmed it over an entire day like a little play. We had a real studio audience too. I think I probably did that scene maybe 20 times. It’s really raw and uncomfortable. When somebody is on a talk show like that talking about a trauma they experienced, getting the words out can be difficult and that. can be sometimes hard to play. However, Jenn Cacicio wrote an incredible script and the blueprint was there for me. It’s a 15 to 20 minute scene, and the finished product is cut up with flashbacks and other events. When we filmed it, though, we would just do my part over and over again. I used some of my theater skills and tried to enjoy it. It was an exciting moment to bring to life.

During the Dr. Greg Show, it is revealed that Melissa is terrified that she has inherited parts of her father’s darkness. Is that something she’s afraid to admit to herself? Is that part of what keeps her from telling her kids about their grandfather?

One of the things that is unique about this show is that it is based on real people. Melissa Moore really has these struggles. She is somebody who has wondered many things throughout her life: “Is this nurture versus nature? If it’s nature, do I have this in me? Is it in my DNA that I could be like this? Will this also be part of my kid’s DNA?” I think people naturally question themselves when they watch any true crime show, but it’s wild to see those speculations through the eyes of a person related to the criminal. Melissa’s questions will be ongoing throughout our series. As an actor, it’s a really interesting problem that I have to navigate to play the role.