Ashley Walters
In a recent interview with The Independent actor Ashley Walters talks about black British actors who complain about the lack of opportunities in Britain and have moved to America …. and multicultural Britain.
“Here’s my theory: I looked up to people like Lenny Henry and David Harewood. They were the kind of people who made me want to get into this. But they don’t write enough, they don’t produce enough and they don’t direct enough.”
“Lenny’s production company put a film out called Alive and Kicking, where he played a guy coming off drugs. And it was one of the most cutting-edge UK films I’ve seen. And since then, he’s put out nothing much. They should be the pioneers. I’d like to direct and produce and try and push things forward. It’s obvious that it’s more difficult for black actors than it is for white actors over here. So you can run away to the States or you can stay here and try to change things.”
“When I start to direct, I don’t want my first film to be like Bullet Boy orTop Boy or something you’d expect,” he said. “I don’t even read a lot of the stuff I get sent because it’ll be AK-47 or The Gun or whatever!”
On multicultural Britain:
“I go away to places in Europe or America and I feel uncomfortable; I can’t wait to get home. We are so multicultural and mixed up. Give it 20 years and there won’t be any people of one race any more. Everyone will have something else in them. I think that’s a beautiful thing.”
…
I agree that we need to write, produce and direct our own projects. I have said this before in a past blog post and will say it again:
It is time we woke up. Major TV networks and TV executives in this country are only interested in telling “our stories” if that story involves death, destruction, road man antics, street slang, run down council estates and black men running around like a herd of wild wildebeests. If we want variety and balance then the only way forward is to write/produce those stories and create our own platforms.
Lenny Henry in particular is definitely in a good position to write, produce and direct quality projects. Stop worrying about what BAFTA isn’t doing Lenny and start writing.
But I also think that if a good script comes along with the opportunity to work in America then black British actors should go for it and enjoy the ride.
As for Ashley’s comments regarding multiculturalism in Britain… hmmmm… interesting….
Why does he feel so uncomfortable when he travels abroad? What is the issue here?
And if Ashley is correct that in 20 years “there won’t be any people of one race any more. Everyone will have something else in them. I think that’s a beautiful thing.” , does he therefore seriously believe that racism will some how disappear and we will be living in a rainbow nation of peace, love and harmony???
Does he believe that this will some how makes life easier for us all?
Even in 20 years time, if you are of mixed heritage (in particular European/African origin) the world will still see you as black, you will still face discrimination and the racist element in society will still call you/think of you as a “nigger”.
Your thoughts please…
Mad News readers your thoughts please…….
Categories: UK News
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If an opportunity comes along and it involves going abroad go. It’s harder for black people, but I think most actors and actresses who go over to the US and make it, then come home when theyfeel like it are seen as national treasureseg, Sean Connolly, Idris, Julie Andrews, etc etc.
The ones who stay here and make it here are usually caught up in similar things.
Apart from James Bond, Harry Porter and the Hobbit, I don’t know how big British film industry does and how much they export, Most movies seem to be imported.
I suggest he gets used to the idea of racism until he dies. It’s been round since slavery and it ain’t going anywhere. Multiculturalism does not mean acceptance.
Maybe Lenny Henry can create a platform for those who write. But maybe he doesn’t want to or things are not that easy or he has enough money in his bank, he is not that desperate really. They inspired him, maybe he should just go ahead and do what he wants to and not wait for Lenny and whoever.
I think on one level he is trying to be positive and disassociate himself from the fear that overcome most of us when we want to achieve a lot with what seems to be so little. I don’t think his reference to multiculturalism is his way of indicating any answers about racism but he is implying that if places such as USA, Europe etc follow in the footsteps that the UK does then it is possible that there won’t be any one race in those places. However, fair do’s I don’t see that happening either until more black women decide to take the ‘non black man’ option. Clearly our men are very explosive and receptive to mixed relationship. I feel his trying to positive and shouldn’t be beaten-up-on for his thoughts. And yes, he could just start that process rather than wait for Lenny too.
He means more black men laying up with anything not black *sips water*
his first observation was correct. his multicultural comment is way off base and so typical of so many Black men in the Uk. I’m a brotha myself
Co-sign!
Some Black folks make me laugh, it’s funny how some (most?) are always pushing the mixed agenda or what I called the kumbaya ideology lol
Countries , heavily mixed like Brazil or South America for that matter have shown how being mixed doesn’t make it any better if anything White people stay on top of their game and others stay at the bottom How many dark skinned Brazilian the public know compare to the White ones, this even happen in Africa (South Africa anyone?).
At contrary to the belief Most races date and marry, keep their wealth within, it’s only the Black ones who think having a non-black partner and kids will help them having a better life.
This has been said for years, i remember back in early 90’s some actors called on more black writers, producers and directors to improve things and since then we got that. But the problem is when it comes to black films and shows today all we seem to get is “urban”! why is everything black got to be “urban”? its for that reason i can see why some actors have gone to America where you can get various role types.
The only way is as @Janice has said above, use other platforms, then use social media to drum up support correctly. Gather all these black British business people to help finance these platforms. Look how quick people on twitter can share nonsense, you telling me we cannot do that for films and TV shows?
You have only got to read about what @TY over heard on a train journey with these music execs talking about “white hopes”, if this is how they act about music then you know TV/Film is going to be worse. We have to do our own thing and then support it properly, sell it properly, use the finance properly.
Look how breaking America opened doors for Idris in Britain. After he appeared in the Channel 5 soap Family Affairs back in the late 90s TV executives here didn’t want to know him. So he packed up and tried his luck in the states and became a huge star and a highly respected actor. Now those same TV executives are all over Idris (beg friend antics) throwing money/projects at him and he is in a position to call the shots and produce his own projects .e.g. Luther.
They can still go to the states and work,and then come back every so often and use the money earned to fund projects here.
@Janice
exactly.
It sounds like Ashley Walters was using this interview to distract people from the fact that he is involved in yet another stereotypical role again. He has had a bigger devoted fan base than most black actors in England but has not used that power to write or direct nothing. He cannot compare himself to those actors he is talking about, he seems to follow Danny Dyer’s foot steps, sticking to stereotypical roles as long as it pays the bills then complain when they are pigeon holed.
And as for the “I go away to places in Europe or America and I feel uncomfortable” comment along with the rest of the interview shows me he has a very small & narrow look at life. This is what is really holding his acting career back.
Janice spelled it out, as a black writer living in the UK, if your project involves guns, drugs, promiscuity, death, destruction and limited vocabulary, it will get pushed to the forefront and filming will begin almost immediately, however if you draft up a script that puts black people in a positive and intelligent light, you will be met with either “to the back of the queue please” or “don’t call us, we’ll call you”.
His multiculturalism rant is so off, what he should have said is there won’t be any WHITE PEOPLE left. They are the ones worried about being “phased out”, which is why they are trying to reduce the numbers of other races covertly via Eugenics.
I watched a Drama called ‘Ice cream girls” on UK TV , it was a great series. The thing about it was that the main family were black & sucessful. The great thing about it was that The main family didnt need to be black they could of been indian, white what ever it would have still be a great story. this is what we want more of.
As for multicultral Britian. Why does it always seem Male black celebrities are alway pushing the interacial card, like its your duty as a black man to mix. thats why you hardly see black couples on TV. because there are no examples to follow in media.
I just read the multicultural thing and rolled my eyes, more dumbness from UK black men, what is stopping Ashley from writing or directing, how old is he now? and he’s running around playing little boy roles that 17 years olds should be playing, there are so many good books written from black authors that could be made into films or dramas.
He is in his 30s
Yeah that’s what I thought, he’s a grown man in his 30s talking about Lenny Henry should be directing, like he’s a kid and he can’t do it himself the usual pass the buck. Multiculturalism in the UK spells bad news for black people, black people the only ones that mix, white people can afford to mix a little, because theres more of them, try mixing with them blue bloods you know that ain’t gonna happen, also when black people mix, they forget their culture, everyone else sticks together apart from black people.
People live in a fantasy thinking if we all the same colour there’ll be no problem, what rubbish all that will happen is racism will turn into discrimination.
But thank God for online web shows like Mars vs Venus, Spin, Unwritten Rules etc. Most black writers, directors and producers seem to have cottoned on to the fact that if the show isn’t about dysfunction etc then they have to go another route for their work to be shown.
I agree what is stopping Ashley from writing/directing himself?!