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Ashley Walters Credits Teen Actor for Reviving His Passion for Acting in New Netflix Series

BBG News

According to Ashley Walters, it’s possible that observing young actor Owen Cooper perform on the popular Netflix series ‘Adolescence’ might have rescued his own acting career.

42-year-old Walters, previously a member of the So Solid Crew and subsequently recognized for his roles in the critically acclaimed series Top Boy and others, portrays Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe in the show, which centers around a teenage individual charged with murder.

He mentioned that the process of creating the four-part production, remarkably captured in a single take and featuring debutant actor Owen Cooper, rekindled his passion for acting.

Walters expressed: “Acting was completely rejuvenated for me. I felt as if a small light within me was gradually fading, but being on set and observing Owen sparked in me the essence of what acting truly embodies.

He was so pure that it allowed him to effortlessly participate in games like swingball even after exhausting rehearsals.

Over the years, we’ve come to regard it with utmost importance, constantly considering and planning our next moves. It’s always running in the back of our mind, whether it’s pondering about future projects or brainstorming ideas for the next step.

And Owen just saunters over, exhibiting a relaxed demeanor. It reminds you of those instances when you watch your children engage with their toys, displaying an uncaptured freedom, and fully immersed in whatever they’re doing.

It appears our shared goal is to reach a place where we make a difference in children’s lives, as that’s their potential and what they can achieve. To be honest, I spent most of my time watching Owen in amazement. I couldn’t help but wonder, how on earth is he managing this?

I wonder, what kind of sorcery is at play here? Yet, he’s merely an exceptionally talented actor, and I sincerely wish him continued success.

Walters said that they had up to ten takes for each hour long episode which had been a challenge.

I’ve long dreamt about collaborating with director Phil Barantini in such a manner. Once I had the opportunity, I discovered just how difficult it can be. It’s both challenging and intimidating at times, isn’t it?

On numerous occasions, I found myself deeply engrossed in the script, occasionally holding back some tears as thoughts swirled through my mind.

Is it possible for me to accomplish this? Yet, it was only when I released control that I truly grasped the essence of the process.

In this production, a diverse group of actors takes the stage equally. Regardless of the speed at which they pass the prop or how long they hold onto it, their contributions are valued equally.

We’re on this journey side by side, and if you accidentally let go of something, someone else will catch it and return it to you.

As soon as I began to simply react to the situation unfolding before me, trusting in my mind that I understood the content and knew what was transpiring, that’s when it felt effortless and extraordinary.

Additionally, it would be wonderful if I could consistently work in such a manner, as it truly ranks among the finest experiences life has to offer.

The celebrity is a parent to eight kids, and he’s admitted that he wasn’t able to spend enough time with some of his older offspring in the past.

He expressed concerns that made him ponder: ‘Should I reconsider my approach when interacting with my children, discuss more with my sons, and perhaps spend more quality time together since you’re such a positive influence?’

In a more conversational style: ‘As a dad, you’re typically busy working, earning money, paying bills, and spending weekends playing ball with the kids. However, do you often have time to truly converse with them about their feelings or thoughts?’

That’s exactly what I experienced, and it was quite moving. By the end of it, I was feeling quite emotionally exhausted.

However, unexpectedly, it turned out to be beneficial for me in having conversations with my children, and I’m hoping this experience might prompt the same discussion among other parents as well.

Stephen Graham shared that he conceived the idea for the series while on a drive, inspired by his passion for the program titled 24 Hours In Police Custody.

They embarked on a one-hour brainstorming session together, where he shared his concept with director Phil Barantini, who had previously collaborated with him on Boiling Point. The conversation was so inspiring that it felt like a brilliant flash of light.

I visited and formed an opinion, which could very well be correct. Then, I began sharing details about the first episode with him. We both share a strong interest in the television series ’24 Hours in Police Custody’.

Our goal was to create an unconventional police procedural drama, rather than the typical ones you might be accustomed to.

‘There’s a collective between me, Phil and (writer) Jack (Thorne) and (wife) Hannah hugely as well.

Instead of following a typical storyline, our intention was to present something unique and different from the usual narratives found in dramatic structures.

Typically, we view such events through the lens of the victim’s family, as they are directly affected, and it is indeed crucial to share their side of the story too.

Instead, we decided to approach the story from an unusual angle. Our goal was to redefine the narrative, so we chose to narrate it through the eyes of the child who performed the action.

In our story, we aimed to avoid typical phrases often seen in such settings, and instead, we wanted to portray a father who didn’t resort to violence. This character was intended to be non-violent.

It can be rephrased as: “My mother didn’t have a problem with alcohol. And she wasn’t subjected to any form of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by any of her relatives.

We aimed to rule out every other scenario and instead, approach the situation from a new angle, to understand what led him to act in such a way.

Jack decided to take a break, and during this time, he thoroughly explored and scrutinized the unsettling aspects of content found on social platforms. This is where the concept originated, including the INCEL phenomenon and related topics.

That perspective guided us as we aimed to develop something unique, with a bit of a twist.

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2025-03-19 17:49

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