Ashley Walters

“I go away to places in Europe or America and I feel uncomfortable; I can't wait to get home.”

“I gave up acting while I just pursued my music career.”

“For me, exercise isn't really about being healthy, it's more about vanity.”

“It was tough: I had to kiss a man, and I got a mixed reaction from the black community. But I have to be ready to play any role, or I can't call myself an actor.”

“The strength of 'Small Island' is the fact that it deals with heavy issues in a way that is appealing to watch, and it's a story that people can relate to no matter what colour you are.”

“You're not gonna see me in 'Downton Abbey,' but culture is changing.”

“With So Solid, we had overnight success and I bought stupid stuff with my money, I bought a 35k car while I was still living in a council flat.”

“There's a lot of negative things which happen in the show we're not trying to lie about that, that's the beauty of 'Top Boy,' it's unapologetic.”

“I worked in WH Smiths on Sloane Square and my first boss was a woman called June. My shift was half a day on Saturdays, and nine to six on Sundays. I was in and out of the place and only turned up when I wanted to.”

“Once you've been at the top, you're always gonna know what it's like to be at the top. If you've never been at the top, you're not worrying about what it feels like being there.”

“Drake revived 'Top Boy,' if I'm honest with you. You've got to give him a lot of credit.”

“I was stabbed in the neck when I was 15.”

“Growing up without a father has made fatherhood harder for me.”

“I don't want to say I'm a role model because I've not been the most clean-cut person, and there were times I could have gone the other way.”

“I didn't actually rob anyone but once I was kidnapped by two older boys for half a day and they were trying to get me to steal or mug someone.”

“Drake and his camp are people of their word. I've never seen them say they're going to do something and not do it.”

“My stepfather's nickname for me was Squarehead.”

“I remember at a very early age ringing up record labels I found in the Yellow Pages, and asking them for a record deal.”

“My dad had a real big reputation as being the hard man, street fighter, the gangster. My stepdad was quite timid, and I wanted a bit of the gangster in my life.”

“I am not about airs and graces, fancy cars or jewellery. I am just about my family and my kids.”