Ashley Walters, a British actor and rapper best known for his role in 'Top Boy' and as part of So Solid Crew, shares his journey from childhood struggles to fame. He opens up about his tumultuous relationship with his incarcerated father, the impact of grief, and the lessons learned during his father's last days. Walters discusses battling depression, the challenges of language and identity in the acting world, and how he transformed adversity into motivation. He candidly reflects on finding belonging and navigating the complexities of personal relationships and mental health.
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Childhood Memories of Father
Ashley Walters recalls carrying his drunk father home as a child after a christening.
This and other similar memories shaped his early perception of fatherhood.
insights INSIGHT
So Solid Crew and Belonging
Ashley Walters joined So Solid Crew not primarily for music but for belonging and finding father figures.
He sought role models in the local bad boys and dealers due to his absent father.
insights INSIGHT
Inadequacy and Rejection
Ashley Walters attributes his constant feeling of inadequacy to early childhood rejection and abandonment.
He believes this feeling fuels his drive to prove himself and please others.
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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
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