Predict A Riot

Rising star Sasha Lane is wowing Hollywood with her nocompromise, kickass attitude (and its paying off).

- Molly Creeden

PERHAPS IT’S BECAUSE HOLLYWOOD happened to her, and not the other way around, that 22-year-old Sasha Lane doesn’t seem preoccupied with clamouring to please it. “I’m pretty good at sticking to my guns,” she says. “I don’t care how much money they’re offering, or how big the role, or how cool the party is. I just don’t take shit from people. I’ve been asked, ‘Will you switch your hair?’ Fuck, no. What for?” she says, pointing emphatically at her dreadlocks.

The star of Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, a film that won the 2016 Cannes Jury Prize, was a 19-year-old psychology student with no acting experience when she was spotted by the director on a Florida beach during spring break. A month later, she had the lead role opposite Shia LaBeouf in the gritty film about runaway kids selling magazines – it opened to widespread critical acclaim for Lane’s visceral, compelling performance.

Just three years ago, Lane was uncertain about the future. Now, she’s one of the most sought-after young actresses out there, with a string of upcoming releases, including the indie Hearts Beat Loud and blockbuster Hellboy, due out next year. She’s also the face of numerous fashion campaigns, with an A-list pack of best friends that includes Chloë Grace Moretz and Riley Keough. In short, you could say that Sasha Lane is living the Hollywood dream.