My stepfather's nickname for me was Squarehead.
I was stabbed in the neck when I was 15.
I had an inkling that I was going to prison before I actually did, because I'd witnessed my father and my elders going through it. It seemed like that's the way that you got respect, which is a sad thing.
When I was young, I would go to youth clubs after school, run by my teachers and there were places to go where you could talk things out or enjoy sport with kids from different areas so territorial barriers were broken down.
My mum was well-travelled, well-educated and made me understand from books, from my imagination and from just taking me away on holiday once a year, wherever she could, that the world was bigger than Peckham.
You're not gonna see me in 'Downton Abbey,' but culture is changing.
I go away to places in Europe or America and I feel uncomfortable; I can't wait to get home.
But I'm quite liberal as a dad.
I was driving along and I got a random call on my way to my mother in law's for dinner and it was Drake. He wanted to help and he said he'd do anything to get 'Top Boy' back on screens and then got a call from Netflix, who wanted to do the show. For U.K. culture, it's a huge thing.
Selling out is a myth. Bill Gates isn't selling out, is he? Richard Branson isn't selling out. Why can't black people make money?
I had a good three or four months of mad depression where I thought, I'm not doing this any more, it's brought me nothing but problems, I can't take it. My own label didn't want to touch me. A lot of people just shut doors.
It's important for people to listen and take time to watch what's going on in these shows, especially the ones like 'Top Boy' that are painting an accurate picture.
I have been saying to my agent and my wife for many, many months that I am going to be James Bond one day. I hope I'm not too 'street' for it.
I'm a father eight and I'm married as well - in real life.
Acting is something I feel good about doing, I'm lucky enough to love my job as well.
A lot of people out there are not content with their life, but I am.
There were not a lot of roles for a black man like myself that were different. Then 'Top Boy' came. I read the script and I loved that the characters were human.
Top Boy' didn't try to glamorise anything. It gave it to you how it was. But it also dealt with mental health, social situations, immigration.
As an actor you pull your socks up and look for the next job.
I woke up one day and there were loads of calls on my phone. My best friend was like: bro, go to Drake's Instagram. So I went and saw my big head on there, a picture and a caption or whatever, and it was 'Top Boy' related. Long story short: we got in contact and had a few conversations about him being a big fan of the show.
