If art imitates life then Ashley Walters is living proof. From his explosive performance as the drug dealer Dushane in Top Boy to his turn as an undercover detective in Bulletproof, to his time as a member of one of Britain's most notorious music collectives, So Solid Crew, Ashley's career has always explored the same conflicting forces that have governed his life. Born on a London council estate, surrounded by drug and gang culture, his father in and out of prison, Ashley found purpose in the performing arts but could never truly escape his environment. At 15, he was stabbed in the neck and left for dead. At 18, he had a gun held to his head as he held his newborn son. Through a series of hard lessons, Ashley realised he had to master his own mindset and start to take control of his future.