Meet Cindy Busby: Heartland’s Unforgettable Ashley Stanton

Heartland’s Cindy Busby opens up about life after CBC's hit series
heartlands-cindy-busby

Heartland fans probably still have strong opinions about Ashley Stanton—the spoiled, sharp-tongued troublemaker who kept Amy and Ty on their toes. But the actress behind the role, Cindy Busby, is nothing like her infamous character—and she’s got some hilarious behind-the-scenes stories to prove it.

"I’d Never Ridden a Horse Before Heartland—Then Panic Lessons Happened"

Turns out, galloping into the CBC drama like a natural wasn’t exactly… natural for Busby. “Thankfully, they didn’t require me to ride for the audition,” she laughs. “But the second the show got picked up, I was like, ‘Okay, time to learn fast!’” Private lessons and on-set coaching from Alberta’s best wranglers turned her into a believable equestrian—though she admits horses initially “terrified” her. (Same, Cindy.)

The Airport Fan Encounter That Melted Her Stress Away

Even years after leaving the show, Busby still gets recognized—often in the most unexpected moments. Take the time her flight got canceled in Dallas: “I was so frustrated, and suddenly this woman taps my shoulder and goes, ‘My son and I LOVE you on Heartland—can we get a photo? He’ll freak out!’” What made it even sweeter? It was the fan’s first time ever flying. “It was the universe saying, ‘Chill out, Cindy,’” she jokes.

Behind the Scenes: The "Vortex" Curse and Co-Stars Who Couldn’t Stop Laughing

Ask Busby about her favorite Heartland memories, and she’ll instantly bring up “The Vortex”—the cursed patch of land where Ashley and Caleb’s trailer stood. “Every. Single. Time. We filmed there, the weather went insane,” she recalls. “Hail, lightning, blizzards—you name it. We joked it was haunted.”

And then there were the bloopers. “Graham [Wardle, aka Ty] and Amber [Marshall, aka Amy] would crack up after my mean-girl scenes,” she says. “They’d yell, ‘Cut!’ and go, ‘Cindy, you’re so nice—why are you so evil on camera?!’

Ashley vs. Cindy: "We’re Both Stubborn—But That’s Where It Ends"

Sure, Ashley was the queen of eye rolls and snark, but Busby sees the humanity in her. “She was a product of her messed-up upbringing,” she explains. “But underneath, she had grit and humor—just like me.” Well, minus the manipulation. (Hopefully.)

Life After HeartlandSupernatural, Pranks, and City-Girl Confessions

Busby’s post-Heartland resume includes a rare feat on Supernatural“I survived two episodes!” she says. “Jared and Jensen were the coolest—though I’m low-key sad I missed out on their legendary pranks.”

Behind the scenes on the Heartland set with CIndy Busby

These days, she’s more likely to be spotted in the city than on a ranch (“I don’t ride anymore, but I’d hop back on for the right role!”), and she’s tight-lipped about upcoming projects—“Follow me on Instagram for updates!”—but one thing’s clear: Whether she’s playing villains or heroes, Cindy Busby’s charm is 100% real.

Ashley Stanton might’ve stirred up trouble on-screen, but off-camera, Cindy Busby turns canceled flights into sweet fan encounters—and proves she’s nothing like her character.

  1. Cecelia Amerson Amerson says:

    I lived Cindy on the show, and missed her.

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