Ashley Walters (Top Boy): "Me & Kano Didn't Have The Greatest Time!". The Unheard TRUTH About Top Boy, Career Rejection & Personal Grief!

About this episode

In this new episode Steven sits down with rapper and actor, Ashley Walters. From Asher D to Top Boy, prison to fame, Ashley Walters refuses to be told what he can or can’t do. Ashley first gained popular attention in 2001 as Asher D, a member of British Rap Group, ‘So Solid Crew’. Acting in TV shows since he was 10 years old, in 2004 Ashley broke into film with, ‘Bullet Boy’, for which he was named Best Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards. This led to roles in major Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. In 2011, Ashley starred as Dushane in the massively popular TV show, ‘Top Boy’.  In this conversation Ashley and Steven discuss topics, such as: Attending therapy  His relationship with his father  His anger with the world as a teenager His father’s time in prison  Looking for father figures and role models Joining So Solid Crew for belonging  Being a people pleaser and not feeling good enough His last encounter with his father  The lessons he learned from his dying father  Not grieving for his father  Being a perfectionist  Obsessing over the fact that he was going to die young His experience of prison  Being constantly motivated Having a strict upbringing  They key to his talent  Wanting to escape being himself  Being naturally shy  Using acting as a way to escape trauma  The tough life of acting  Turning adversity into motivation Moving into being a director Always needing the next challenge in his life His depression during the Coronavirus pandemic  The importance of forgiveness  His relationship with his wife  Struggling with opening up with his emotions Fatherhood Not having the greatest relationship with some of his children Top Boy How the script for Top Boy got Ashley hooked Why Channel 4 didn’t make a third season of Top Boy Why Top Boy became the success it did  How he will push himself for an acting role  Filming the last season of Top Boy His future Top Boy opening the door for black British culture worldwide Follow Ashley: Instagram: https://bit.ly/3RfAyI9 Twitter: https://bit.ly/48f3PZt Follow me: https://beacons.ai/diaryofaceo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices