Where the stars of Top Boy are now 15 years after show was first released
Top Boy first hit screens in 2011, introducing viewers to the gritty world of gangs and drug dealing on a fictional east London estate.
The resurrection of the cult show started in 2014 when Drake went and raved about Top Boy to millions of his followers.
After posting an image of Ashley Walters, who plays Dushane Hill, on Insta, the actor helped the Canadian rapper set up a meeting with Top Boy's creator Ronan Bennett, to discuss a plan.
After the Channel 4 show was revived by Netflix in 2019, Bennett admitted: "It's thanks to Drake, primarily, that we're back."
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"At first it was kind of, just for me, I was like - I need this back. But then I realised how much it meant to so many people," Drizzy told Netflix at the premiere.
After the series came to an explosive conclusion in 2023, I bet you’re wondering what the cast have been up to since.
Ashley Walters (Dushane)
Walters, 44, has enjoyed continued success, starring in Netflix hits Adolescence and Missing You, while making his feature directorial debut with Animol in 2026.
Although, his plan was to quit acting after Top Boy, explaining to Radio Times in 2025: “I was in the mindset of ending my career acting and going more into producing and directing, because it was like, ‘Am I getting roles I’m enjoying?’ As much as I love Top Boy and the other stuff I’ve done, once you’ve played a role for so long, people find it hard to see you as anything else.”
Kano (Sully)
Kano, real name Kane Robinson, has continued balancing acting and music. Following Top Boy, he starred in Netflix's dystopian drama The Kitchen and collaborated with co-star Dave on his 2025 album.
"I’m a storyteller at heart. Whether it’s music or acting, I’m just trying to tell a story. And when it comes to acting, it’s helping someone else’s vision come to life," the 41-year-old told Hunger Mag in 2024.
Dave (Modie)
Dave, whose real name is David Orobosa Omoregie, made a memorable acting debut as unpredictable gang member Modie.
Since then, the rapper, 28, has focused on music, achieving huge success with his Central Cee collaboration Sprinter. In October 2025, he released his third studio album, The Boy Who Played the Harp, featuring Kano and Tems.
Giacomo Mancini (Gem)
Mancini, 31, was just a teenager when he first appeared as Gem, one of the original series' younger characters.
He subsequently appeared in Pan, Orthodox and Ripper Street, before returning to Netflix in 2024 as Spud in superhero drama Supacell.
Saffron Hocking (Lauryn)
Hocking, 32, earned BAFTA recognition for her heartbreaking portrayal of Lauryn. She's since appeared in The Devil's Hour, Hedda and 2026 police drama Hit Point.
In response to Lauryn's domestic abuse storyline, she told The Independent in 2024: “That work is so important to me because ever since I did the storyline and Top Boy, it opened up a dialogue where women from all walks of life around the world contacted me personally on Instagram.
“Women opened up to me about their experiences and thanked me and the show for depicting the storyline. And they felt seen and heard.”
Jasmine Jobson (Jaq)
Jobson, 31, won the 2024 BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress following her powerful performance as Jaq. She also starred alongside Barry Keoghan in Andrea Arnold's acclaimed film Bird.
Reflecting on her breakthrough, she told reporters at the BAFTAs: “I went from working in a bar full time and acting part time to suddenly acting full time.”
Micheal Ward (Jamie)
Ward, 28, became a BAFTA Rising Star winner, appearing in Empire of Light and 2025 film Eddington.
In July 2026, he was acquitted of all five rape and sexual assault charges following a trial.
Anish Vij
