"I'm 25, so I've already gone through what my character Ged goes through, though it's on a general scale because I haven't studied at a wizard's school"

Shawn Ashmore reflects on his personal experiences at the age of 25 and draws a parallel between his own growth and the journey undertaken by his character, Ged, likely referencing the protagonist from Ursula K. Le Guin's "Earthsea" series. By stating that he has "already gone through what my character Ged goes through", Ashmore subtly acknowledges the universal aspects of coming-of-age stories. Though the specifics of Ged's world are fantastical, complete with magical education and supernatural challenges, Ashmore recognizes that the real emotional and psychological milestones are deeply relatable.

The experience of growing up is fundamentally about facing challenges, making mistakes, and learning from them. For Ged, wizard school is a setting where these experiences are heightened and externalized through magic. For Ashmore, real life substituted for arcane teachings: relationships, work, growing independence, and grappling with identity supplied lessons every bit as profound as those found in fiction. By stating "on a general scale", Ashmore knows his trials are grounded in mundane reality, lacking the overt drama of battling dragons or unraveling powerful spells; nevertheless, they are just as significant on a personal level.

His statement highlights a nuanced view of acting and storytelling. When portraying a character like Ged, an actor brings their own history and understanding to bear. Ashmore sees the fantasy setting as a metaphor for real-world growth, a way to access the complex emotions associated with adolescence, confrontation with one's own darkness, and the pursuit of maturity. The mention of not having "studied at a wizard's school" is laced with self-awareness and humor, but it also underscores the idea that the trappings of fantasy serve mainly to illustrate truths that are fundamentally human.

Overall, Ashmore suggests that the rites of passage depicted in fantastic narratives mirror the quieter dramas of everyday life, binding character and actor together through shared, if differently scaled, experiences.