Ashley Walters

Ashley Anthony Walters (born 30 June 1982), also known by his stage name Asher D, is an English actor and rapper. He first rose to fame as a member of the UK garage group So Solid Crew who hit the top spot on the UK charts in 2001 with their second single, "21 Seconds".

On television, Walters is known for his roles in the BBC series Grange Hill (1997), Storm Damage (2000), Hustle (2007), Outcasts (2011), Truckers (2013) and Cuffs (2015), the Channel 4 crime drama Top Boy (2011–2023), the E4 series The Aliens (2016), the Sky One series Bulletproof (2018–2021), the Disney+ series A Thousand Blows (2025), and the Netflix series Missing You and Adolescence (both 2025). He also directed episodes of A Thousand Blows. Walters earned Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for his performance in Adolescence. His films include Bullet Boy (2004), Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005) and Life and Lyrics (2006).

Early life and education Ashley Anthony Walters was born on 30 June in Peckham, south-east London, to Jamaican and Guyanese parents. He was raised by his mother, Pamela Case, a local government officer. Walters has said his father's absence while he was growing up contributed to his criminal behaviour.

He attended St. George's CE Primary School, Camberwell, from the age of four, then at Pimlico School, now known as Pimlico Academy, He also studied performing arts at the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

Music career Walters started his music career as a rapper known as Asher D, joining the Battersea-based UK garage group So Solid Crew in 2001. The group achieved a number one hit on the UK singles chart in 2001, with their second single, "21 Seconds". featuring the single "Andrea", and the track "Every Little Thing I Say".

Acting career Walters appeared on television as Omar in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992) at age 10, He appeared in Saul Dibb's 2004 feature film Bullet Boy, He also appeared in 2005's Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

Walters performed on stage in 2002 at the Royal National Theatre in Roy Williams' Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads and in 2008 at the Royal Court Theatre in Levi David Addai's Oxford Street. Another feature film, Tuesday (2008), sees him playing a jewel thief. He appeared in Bola Agbaje's play Off the Endz at the Royal Court Theatre during February and March 2010.

He made appearances in ITV's police drama The Bill and firefighting drama London's Burning. In October 2011, Walters starred in the Arjun Rose slasher Demons Never Die. In 2013, Walters reprised his role as main character Dushane in the second series of Top Boy.

From 2018 to 2022, Walters co-created and co-starred alongside Noel Clarke in the British police procedural television series, Bulletproof, where he played NCA Officer Ronnie Pike for 3 seasons. In 2024, Walters starred in an advertising campaign for PG Tips, directed by Steve McQueen.

In 2025, Production started on Animol, his feature length directorial debut. Later in 2025, he played Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe in the Netflix series Adolescence, For his performance, he was nominated for the 2025 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

Personal life Walters has four children with his ex-partner. He lives with his wife, Danielle Walters, and their two children in Herne Bay, Kent. His wife is an actress featured in Chewing Gum, Top Boy, and EastEnders. Walters is a cousin of singer Olivia Dean.

On 31 March 2014, he was fined £600 after he admitted assaulting a security guard in Aberdeen in September 2013. In July 2014, he was fined £1,250 for possession of cannabis at Holyhead, Anglesey. In May 2016, Walters was fined £1,000 after admitting to using threatening words and behaviour towards staff at the Hilton Hotel, Islington.

Walters is an avid supporter of Arsenal F.C.

Political views In December 2019, along with 42 other leading cultural figures, Walters signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership in the 2019 general election. The letter stated that "Labour's election manifesto under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers a transformative plan that prioritises the needs of people and the planet over private profit and the vested interests of a few."

Filmography +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 Take 2 Bro 1st Short film 2000 The Elevator Young man Some Voices Kitchen hand Born Romantic Lee 2004 Bullet Boy Ricky 2005 House of 9 Al B Credited as Asher D Goal! Carl Francis Get Rich or Die Tryin' Antoine 2006 Stormbreaker Wolf Cubs Karl Short film Life and Lyrics Danny Lewis 2007 WΔZ Daniel Leone Sugarhouse D 2008 Speed Racer Prince Kabala Tuesday Billy 2011 Reparations for the Soul The Entityshort film Anuvahood Cracks Sket Trey Demons Never Die Bates 2012 St. George's Day Kootz 2013 Fedz Cherokee Blame Grace and Danger Felling All Stars Mark 2014Montana Ryan2016 Billionaire Ransom Danny Dorsey Demain tout commenceLowell 2027 Remain

Television

Web Year Title Role Notes 2018 Shiro's Story Ty Part 3 (Short YouTube Series); Cameo

Discography Studio albums DateTitleChart positionsCreditUK2002Why Me? Unreleased debut studio albumAsher D14 June 2004Street Sibling Second studio albumAsher D9 October 2006In Memory of the Street Fighter Third studio albumAsher D26 February 2009Ashley Walters Fourth studio albumAshley Walters

Mixtapes DateTitleChart positionsCreditUKJune 2006Cure 4 Cancer First mixtapeAsher D4 February 2007The Appetiser Second mixtapeAsher D15 December 2011Forgotten Treasures Vol. 1 Compilation mixtapeAshley Walters

Singles Date Title Chart positions Album Credit UK 27 May 2002 "Back in the Day"/"Why Me?"#43Why Me?Asher D14 February 2006 "This is Real"–In Memory of the Street FighterAsher D 1 August 2006 "Andrea"–Asher D 9 July 2007 "Still Here"–Asher D 5 November 2007 "Inside Out"–Non-album singleAsher D featuring Ghetto 28 July 2008 "Lies"–Baby J featuring Ashley Walters 28 October 2008 "M.O. (Pt. 2)"–Ashley WaltersAshley Walters 12 January 2009 "With You"–Ashley Walters featuring Mutya Buena 18 May 2009 "Own Two Feet"–Ashley Walters featuring Chipmunk 29 July 2012 "How You Like Me Now"–TBCAshley Walters featuring Lisa Moorish 11 November 2012 "Your Love"–Ashley Walters featuring Alesha Dixon

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref 2004 British Independent Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer Bullet Boy 2020 National Film Awards UK Best Actor in a TV Series Top Boy 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieAdolescence OFTA Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Gold Derby Awards Best Limited/Movie Supporting Actor National Film Awards UK Best Supporting Actor Black Reel Awards Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series Astra TV Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie 2026 British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Male Actor on Television