Ashley Eckstein is an American actress, voice actress, entrepreneur, author, and fashion designer best known for providing the voice of Ahsoka Tano in the Star Wars universe. Beyond acting, she is the founder of Her Universe, a fandom-focused fashion and lifestyle brand created to give fans stylish ways to celebrate the franchises they love.
Over the years, Eckstein has built a career that combines entertainment, fashion, entrepreneurship, and fandom culture. Here is a closer look at her biography, age, career, personal life, and estimated net worth.
Ashley Eckstein Wiki & Biography
| Full Name | Maria Ashley Drane |
|---|---|
| Known As | Ashley Eckstein |
| Date of Birth | September 22, 1981 |
| Age | 45 years old (as of September 2026) |
| Birthplace | Louisville, Kentucky, USA |
| Raised In | Orlando, Florida |
| Profession | Actress, Voice Actress, Entrepreneur, Fashion Designer, Author |
| Best Known For | Voice of Ahsoka Tano |
| Spouse | David Eckstein |
| Years Active | 1990s–present |
| Major Business | Her Universe |
Eckstein was born on September 22, 1981, in Louisville, Kentucky, and was raised in Orlando, Florida. Her birth name is listed as Maria Ashley Drane. She began working as an actress at a young age and later became one of the most recognizable voices in the Star Wars franchise.
How Old Is Ashley Eckstein?
Ashley Eckstein was born on September 22, 1981. As of September 2026, she is 45 years old.
She has spent much of her life in the entertainment industry, beginning with childhood and stage work before moving into television, film, voice acting, and entrepreneurship.
Early Life and Childhood
Eckstein grew up in Orlando, Florida, in a family with a connection to Disney. In a StarWars.com feature, she recalled that her father began working for Disney when she was two years old and that Disney experiences were a major part of her childhood.
Her interest in performing began early. She appeared in stage productions and television projects before establishing herself professionally as an actress. According to biographical records, one of her early notable stage roles was playing Helen Keller in a production of The Miracle Worker.
She later moved into television and film roles, including appearances in JAG, That’s So Raven, The Brady Bunch in the White House, and Sydney White.
Ashley Eckstein’s Acting Career
Before becoming synonymous with Ahsoka Tano, Eckstein built a varied acting résumé.
She appeared in television programs including That’s So Raven and That ’70s Show, while also taking on film and television roles under her name and earlier professional name, Ashley Drane. Her credits include The Brady Bunch in the White House and Sydney White.
Her career changed significantly in 2008, when she began voicing Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The character became a major part of her professional identity and remained an important role across several animated Star Wars projects.
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
For many fans, Ashley Eckstein is best known as the original voice of Ahsoka Tano.
Ahsoka was introduced as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Eckstein voiced the character in The Clone Wars film and animated television series and later reprised the role in projects including Star Wars Rebels, Tales of the Jedi, and other Star Wars productions.
Eckstein’s performance helped establish Ahsoka’s personality and emotional development across the animated series. StarWars.com has described her work as an important part of Ahsoka’s evolution from a young Padawan into a more experienced and confident character.
It is important to distinguish Eckstein’s role from the live-action portrayal: Rosario Dawson played Ahsoka in the live-action series The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, while Eckstein remains strongly associated with the character’s original animated voice.
Other Voice-Acting Roles
Ahsoka Tano is not Eckstein’s only voice role. Her credits also include characters from other major animated franchises.
Her Universe’s official biography notes that she voiced Mia the bluebird in Disney’s Sofia the First and Dagger in Ultimate Spider-Man. She also provided the English voice of Yaeko in the Studio Ghibli film Only Yesterday.
These roles helped establish Eckstein as a versatile voice performer beyond the Star Wars franchise.
Her Universe: Ashley Eckstein’s Business Career
In addition to acting, Ashley Eckstein became an entrepreneur with the creation of Her Universe.
Founded in 2010, Her Universe was created as a fashion and lifestyle brand focused on fandom merchandise, particularly for female science-fiction and fantasy fans. The company developed licensed apparel and accessories inspired by properties including Star Wars, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Marvel, and other popular franchises.
The company eventually expanded beyond clothing into events and other areas of fandom culture. One of its best-known projects is the Her Universe Fashion Show, which brought fan-inspired “geek couture” designs to the San Diego Comic-Con environment.
Her Universe was acquired by Hot Topic, Inc. in 2016, becoming part of the Hot Topic family of brands. Eckstein continued in a leadership role with the company.
Ashley Eckstein as an Author
Eckstein has also expanded into publishing. Her book It’s Your Universe: You Have the Power to Make It Happen shares elements of her personal story and encourages readers to pursue their ambitions.
The book draws on her experiences growing up around Disney, becoming an actress, finding the role of Ahsoka Tano, and developing Her Universe.
Her career as an author has complemented her work as an entrepreneur and public speaker.
Ashley Eckstein Net Worth
What is Ashley Eckstein’s net worth?
Ashley Eckstein’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed.
Various celebrity and entertainment websites publish estimates, but these figures should be treated cautiously because there is no authoritative public financial statement establishing her personal net worth.
Her income and professional value have been connected to several areas, including:
- Acting and voice acting
- Star Wars projects
- Her Universe
- Fashion and licensing
- Books and publishing
- Hosting and appearances
- Speaking engagements and other entertainment work
Her role as the founder of Her Universe is particularly significant because the company developed into a licensed fashion and lifestyle business and was later acquired by Hot Topic. However, the acquisition does not provide enough public information to calculate Eckstein’s personal net worth.
Therefore, rather than presenting an unverified dollar figure as fact, it is more accurate to say that Ashley Eckstein’s net worth is not publicly disclosed and online estimates vary.
Ashley Eckstein’s Personal Life
Ashley Eckstein is married to David Eckstein, the former Major League Baseball player and 2006 World Series MVP.
The couple married on November 26, 2005. Public biographies identify David Eckstein as her husband, and Ashley has spoken publicly about their shared love of travel and Disney.
According to Simon & Schuster’s author biography, Ashley and David live in Orlando, Florida.
Eckstein generally keeps many details of her private life away from the spotlight, while maintaining a public presence through her professional projects, fandom work, and appearances.
Ashley Eckstein and Disney
Disney has played an important role throughout Eckstein’s life.
Growing up in Orlando with a father who worked for Disney gave her early exposure to the company’s parks and entertainment culture. She has described herself as having essentially “grown up Disney,” and that influence later became part of her professional journey.
Her career subsequently brought together several of her interests: acting, animation, fashion, storytelling, and fandom.
Awards, Recognition and Influence
Eckstein has received recognition not only for her entertainment work but also for her entrepreneurial activities.
Her Universe notes that she has been recognized for her work as a businesswoman and fandom trendsetter. She has also appeared in major media outlets and participated in conventions, fashion events, television specials, and other fan-focused programming.
Her career is notable because she successfully developed two interconnected professional identities: an actress known worldwide for a major animated character and an entrepreneur who built a business around fandom culture.
Final Thoughts
Ashley Eckstein‘s career extends well beyond one iconic voice role. From her early work as an actress to becoming the voice of Ahsoka Tano and founding Her Universe, she has built a career across entertainment, fashion, entrepreneurship, and publishing.
Her connection to Star Wars remains central to her public profile, but her work with Her Universe demonstrates another important part of her professional journey: turning her enthusiasm for fandom into a long-running business and community-focused brand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ashley Eckstein
1. Who is Ashley Eckstein?
Ashley Eckstein is an American actress, voice actress, entrepreneur, author, and fashion designer. She is best known for voicing Ahsoka Tano in the animated Star Wars franchise.
2. How old is Ashley Eckstein?
Ashley Eckstein was born on September 22, 1981. She is 45 years old as of September 2026.
3. Where was Ashley Eckstein born?
Ashley Eckstein was born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, and was raised in Orlando, Florida.
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4. What is Ashley Eckstein famous for?
She is best known as the original voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She has also appeared in various television and film projects and is the founder of Her Universe.
5. Who is Ashley Eckstein’s husband?
Ashley Eckstein is married to former Major League Baseball player David Eckstein. They married in 2005.
6. What is Ashley Eckstein’s net worth?
Ashley Eckstein’s exact net worth has not been publicly confirmed. Various websites publish estimates, but these figures are not independently verified.
7. Is Ashley Eckstein the actress who played Ahsoka?
Ashley Eckstein is the original voice actress for Ahsoka Tano in the animated Star Wars productions. Rosario Dawson portrayed Ahsoka in live-action.
8. What is Her Universe?
Her Universe is a fandom-focused fashion and lifestyle brand founded by Ashley Eckstein in 2010. The company creates licensed apparel and merchandise inspired by popular entertainment franchises.
9. When did Ashley Eckstein start voicing Ahsoka Tano?
Eckstein began voicing Ahsoka Tano in 2008 with Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
10. Does Ashley Eckstein have children?
Ashley Eckstein and David Eckstein have generally kept their private family life away from the public spotlight, and reliable public sources do not provide extensive details about children.
11. What other shows has Ashley Eckstein appeared in?
Before and alongside her voice-acting career, Eckstein appeared in projects including That’s So Raven, JAG, That ’70s Show, The Brady Bunch in the White House, and Sydney White.
12. Has Ashley Eckstein written a book?
Yes. She is the author of It’s Your Universe: You Have the Power to Make It Happen, a book that combines personal experiences with advice and encouragement for readers pursuing their goals.