Ashley Walters, 42, makes candid alcoholism admission as he delves into hidden battle away from spotlight
Top Boy star Ashley Walters has opened up about his heartbreaking struggles with alcohol two years after the end of the popular series.
The 42-year-old actor and rapper was speaking ahead of the launch of several new projects including a new single and Netflix series, Adolescence, while appearing on The Jonathan Ross show.
Top Boy began in 2011, initially ran with Channel 4 until 2013, before being revived four years later and finally drew to a close in 2023.
The conclusion brought Walters’ character Dushane’s story to an end and capped off more than a decade of the actor’s career.
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“It was time for me to move on. I’ve been playing that character since I was 28, I’m now 42. It was time to stop being a boy and be a man, right?” he explained to show host Jonathan Ross.
In the interview, Walters also spoke candidly about his personal life ahead of the publication of his autobiography – focusing on his battle with alcoholism.
“I drank too much alcohol,” he began simply, adding that his drinking “took its toll” on both his career and family life.
Walters then revealed he was now five years sober but that it had taken a difficult confrontation with his young daughter to convince him to seek help.
“My six-year-old daughter at the time knocked on my bedroom door and said she didn’t want me to live there anymore,” the actor explained sombrely.
He explained the difficult moment: “hit me in the heart.”
Soon after, Walters entered rehab for four weeks which helped set his life back on track.
The actor told Ross that he had emerged from the experience a “better man”.
Despite turning his back on alcoholism, Walters admitted he had to make “lifelong amends” to rebuild bridges with his loved ones.
“I’m paying back to them everyday. It’s tough. Some people find it hard to forget,” the 42-year-old admitted.
Even still, he explained he was determined to continue “cleaning my side of the street” in an effort to help right wrongs.
Happily, Walters concluded his efforts were beginning to pay-off as some were now “slowly coming back to the table so it’s good.”