Run The World

Season 1 Showmax 2021-Now Comedy

The first thing Amber Stevens West says when interviewed about her role as Whitney in dramedy show Run The World is that “I’m not who I play – we’re worlds apart in who we are as people”. That’s because where Amber is reserved and somewhat a fame avoider, her character loves to be at the centre of the party and she doesn’t mind making a spectacle of herself. “Whitney is the kind of person we all have in our circle who likes to party and makes no excuses for her decisions – especially her bad ones,” explains the 36-year-old.

1 Where the pair do have something in common is they’re both people pleasers. “Whitney and I avoid conflict. We like to keep everyone happy,” says the actress.

2 Whitney is a banker and that’s the last thing Amber would do as a career. In fact, she was born into showbiz – her mom Beverly is a former model, while her dad Shadoe is a famous radio personality in LA.

3 She’s been married to Andrew J West (Henry in fantasy series Once Upon A Time) since 2014. They met on the set of comedy series Greek in 2009 – she was Ashleigh and he played Fisher – and they have daughters Ava (4) and Winona (1) together.

4 Amber agreed to join Run The World without reading a script, saying, “I love stories about bonds and people connecting. We have a tight sisterhood on the show and I knew the writers. It was an easy yes.”

5 She adds: “I stay in shape doing yoga and snowboarding, but the best exercise is chasing after my two kids – they’re busybodies.”