Ashley Walters: Max
The events described in Last Rights are seen through the eyes of Max, played by Ashley Walters. Benjie Goodhart talks to him about his background and how it affected his approach to the role
On the whole, musicians who become actors should carry health warnings. Think Madonna, Britney Spears, Phil Collins, Martin Kemp or (shudder) S Club 7, purveyors of performances so wooden they should have auditioned for Pinocchio.
There are exceptions: LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Sting and David Bowie have all exhibited varying degrees of talent. And now a new name can be added to the roll of honour: Ashley Walters, who found fame as Asher D in the garage collective So Solid Crew, stars in Channel 4's political drama, Last Rights. He has also just won a British Independent Film Award for most promising newcomer for his role in the film, Bullet Boy. For a young man (he's 22) without formal training, at the start of his career, it's a thrilling endorsement, and a genuine surprise for the down-to-earth Walters. 'I was surprised to even be nominated, so to win it really shocked me,' he says.
Chequered past
Walters' chart success, acting awards and growing respect in the film world, are not the product of a charmed life. On the contrary, born in 1982, he grew up on the meaner streets of south east London, where, he admits, he didn't lead a blameless life. This culminated in an 18-month sentence in a young offenders' institution for possession of an illegal gun in 2001. Since then, Walters has watched former So Solid colleague Megaman get arrested for murder. When he talks about being grateful for the chance to turn his life around, you know he means it.
'Obviously a lot of my past has surrounded me for a while, and has kind of haunted me. Since I came out of jail, I've been struggling a lot and doing a lot of work to change things around for myself. That's why it was so important to me to get the award. It meant a lot to me – a lot more than people probably think. It's a milestone for me, helping me to establish myself. It shows how things have changed. I was very pleased.'
Second chance
There was a positive aspect to Walters' conviction. He admitted in court that he was glad he had been caught, and his time in jail gave him a chance to take stock of his life and make some difficult decisions. Although he didn't know it at the time, it would also prove a useful experience for him to draw upon in his role in Bullet Boy, in which he plays a young man trying to rebuild his life after a spell behind bars.
'The character and I had the same jail experience. We'd both been in prison – although the character's time was a bit shorter than mine. It was something I was able to use to my advantage, knowing how I felt when I came out. And the character's frame of mind was that he wanted to change his life around, and when he came out he wanted to move up and move on and what have you, and that was kind of my attitude as well.'
Bizarrely, the opening scene of the film was shot in Feltham Young Offender Institution, where Walters served his sentence. 'Funnily enough, that made it easier for me,' he says. 'It's weird to say, but it helped as an actor, because being in the same surroundings brought a lot back. I felt exactly as I had done, which was useful for the character. But it was still a challenging role for me to play, and it did take a lot out of me. It was a long shoot. It was cool, though.'
Political thriller
Today Walters is on the set of Last Rights. He's quiet, thoughtful and eloquent – a million miles removed from the So Solid Crew image – and talks with enthusiasm about Last Rights. He plays Max, a 17-year-old who is unwittingly drawn into a web of political intrigue and deception when his friend steals a laptop containing images of the prime minister's daughter. The resulting events could either expose a corrupt, undemocratic government, or see Max killed.
'It's new, it's definitely fresh,' says Walters. 'There's a political side to it, but it's also a really good thriller. Max and his friend, Tariq, are fighting for their lives. Loads of different elements get drawn into the plot, from a senior government aide to the Prime Minister and his daughter. It's set in the near future, and it's about how the government could change in that space of time if we don't vote or don't take control of our own destiny.'
It's a tale of warning about the emergence of a new generation for whom politics holds no interest. Democracy suffers and the state begins to turn towards dictatorship. 'The message is definitely that people – and young people in particular – need to vote. This is how things could be for us. These days, people are having their rights and powers taken away from them, and other people are taking control of our lives. We really need to think about it when it comes to voting. Don't waste your vote. It's down to everyone.'
But Walters is at pains to point out that this is primarily a gripping story. 'It's a really good exciting film that just happens to have a message. And it's aimed at everyone, not just a youth audience.'
It also stars Charles Dance, a screen legend for the past three decades, and Philip Glenister, star of the brilliant Clocking Off. 'Just being part of a project they're involved with is a thrill. It makes me proud to be working at that level. I just hope I can deliver, and stand up with those sorts of actors,' says Walters.
On stage
Still only 23, Walters is neverthless not short of acting experience. His first acting job was on Grange Hill in 1997 (a fact that strangely never featured in So Solid publicity!), and his thespian development has recently included a spell at the National Theatre, in the acclaimed production of Sing Your Heart Out for the Lads. 'I did three months there. It was a wicked experience for me, a real buzz. I'd always frowned on theatre – all the suits and things like that. I had a long conversation with my agent, and she said it was one of the things I had to do to help my career. I decided to give it a shot, and then I got the play, and it wasn't Shakespeare, it was something that I could really get stuck into.
'I grew to love it. The rehearsal process was a bit full on – there's long hours, and the directors are really on at you about how you look, how you feel, a lot of analysing. It taught me a lesson about acting – the experience was really good training for me. It's given me a lot of discipline.'
Was it nerve wracking? 'At first it was. In the opening scene of the show I have to dance. I'm not a fan of dancing in front of people. I had to dance on a table and sing. It was embarrassing at first, but a week in, I was loving it.'
Role model
He certainly seems like a man who is happy with his lot. But with success comes responsibility, and Walters' responsibilities are considerable for one so young – not least the fact that he and his partner already have three children. Whether he likes it or not, he is a high-profile role model for his community; an all-too-rare success story from the troubled estates and gang culture that is daily reality for many young black men. Does he feel pressure to live up to expectations?
'I think it's an honour to be a role model. It makes me feel that a lot of people are interested in what I do. That's great. That's my aim, really, as an actor, a musician, a businessman (he has set up his own independent record label). At the same time, it's a huge responsibility, and sometimes that can be a burden. But if you want success, it's one of the things you have to take with you. It's the price you pay. You give part of yourself up. A lot of young people are watching my career, and I'm an inspiration to them. I didn't really have anyone like that. When I was growing up, it was all bad role models. So I'm just pleased to be doing something positive.'
And if, in 15 or 20 years, his kids want to go down the same road, and get into music or acting, would he encourage them to do so? 'If they really wanted to. I wouldn't push them, and I'd explain it all to them, the good and bad sides. Whatever they want to do I'll encourage them to do. If they loved it the way I love it, I wouldn't have any choice but to help them.'
