Ashley Walters

I come from a place where to go to prison is like a rite of passage. It's something that you gain respect for. I used to watch people come out of prison, older cousins and the like, back in the day, and be in awe of them. ”

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. ”

I loved English and I tell kids that without English I wouldn't be able to rap. ”

I'm inspired by the fact that for every kid we see committed to crime, there's kids determined to go to uni and not follow their peers. ”

When it comes to friends, as in people to relax with, that's my wife and my kids. ”

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. ”

As an actor, you're different in every role. ”

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 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. ”

My mother was - and is - a very strong woman; very strict. She was a serious mum; a feared parent. ”