Ash Santos on landing Marshals and learning patience in Hollywood

Actor Ash Santos spoke about joining the Yellowstone universe with its spin-off, Marshals. In an exclusive interview, she recalled how rejection, a cancelled flight and a stressful screen test ultimately landed her the role of Andrea Cruz.

There’s perhaps no one more excited to step into the ever-expanding Sheridanverse than actor Ash Santos, who admits she was already a devoted fan of Yellowstone long before she landed a role in its latest spinoff, Marshals.

“I live in Utah where parts of Yellowstone were filmed, and I remember a lot of buzz around the production,” Santos told India Today.

So, when she first heard whispers about a new series centred on Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes), Santos immediately sensed the potential. The project, backed by familiar franchise names like Gil Birmingham, Mo Brings Plenty and Brecken Merrill, felt like a natural extension of the world audiences already loved.

However, while reflecting on the spinoff’s concept, she didn’t know then was that she would soon find herself part of that universe. Landing the role, however, was far from straightforward. Santos recalls that the audition process was chaotic, emotional and oddly serendipitous.

“I had tested for another Taylor Sheridan film right before I found out that I was auditioning for this,” she shared. “While I was actively taping my audition for Marshals in LA, I got the message from my team that I did not get that film, which sucked. I’m a feeler, and I just started crying. I couldn’t help it! So, I had to finish my tape with a swollen face and no makeup,” she said with a laugh.

Her team eventually sent the tape along with a note explaining the circumstances. To her surprise, the performance still caught the producers’ attention, earning her a callback for a screen test in Dallas, ironically, the same city where she had earlier tested for the role she didn’t get.