Real life matches uncomfortably with fiction as former So Solid Crew rapper Ashely Walters takes the lead role in Bullet Boy. He's ben convicted of a gun offence andnow takes on the roleof an ex-con trying to stay out of trouble in a gun-infested neighbourhood. Steve Pratt reports.

ASHLEY Walters was serving time in prison when he first heard about the script for the film Bullet Boy, a hard-hitting drama set amid the violence of inner city gun culture. "It stood up because it kind of mirrored the situation I was in," says Walters, previously known as So Solid Crew rapper Asher D.

The 21-strong South London collective were at the height of their success three years ago when police found a loaded gun in Walters' partner's handbag. She was pregnant with their third child and given community service. He received an 18-month jail sentence, being released after seven months for good behaviour.

His Bullet Boy role as a gang member caught up in the gun culture is uncomfortably close to real life But he used his time behind bars to change his life. He's now pursuing a career as an actor as well as hammering home the anti-gun message to young people.

"My son is interested in water guns and things like that, but I won't allow them in the house and I don't encourage him to play with them," says the 22-year-old Walters.

"It's hard to stop him getting those sort of influences because Action Men have got guns stuck on their hands. There's adverts about blowing up this and that, and they're aimed at kids. So it's a constant battle.

"If you instil the right morals in your child, they should know what's right and wrong. And if there's a gun, they should know not to use it. Having gone through it myself, I'm able to tell him, 'I'm there for you son and if you have any problems, come to me'."

Researching his part in Bullet Boy wasn't necessary as he grew up around people involved in gun crime, drugs and other criminal activities because of where he lived. "I've grown to love a lot of those people, not because of what they do but because they are actually people as well, other than that sort of life they lead," he explains.

He believes it's possible to break the cycle of gun crime and that people are trying to do that. "It's going to take everyone's effort and initiative rather than a few people. The problem is that it happens in certain areas, ghettos, whatever you want to call them. It never gets out to the rest of the world. It's like no-one else ever hears about it, so when they see films like this it's a shock, like 'wow, this actually goes on'. To me it's another day of reality.

"The message of this film is strong. I don't think you'll come away going, 'that's just another gangster movie' because there's a very strong message there."

The image of Walters today is in stark contrast to his Asher D persona with So Solid Crew. His time inside brought him to his senses and made him determined to change his life. Because he had "a good past" behind him and some acting training, he was able to pursue his dream on leaving prison.

"I was at the Sylvia Young theatre school and I'd done a lot of work on TV, so I had a lot of respect anyway from people in the industry," he says. "They knew me well enough to say when I came out, 'we'll give you another chance'. I had to work really hard and took a lot of rejection but I was determined.

"I knew it was what I wanted to do, whereas the guys who don't have the same life and same opportunities as me, I think it's hard not to get sucked into criminal activities and the things that are going on in the streets.

"At the end of the day, it's about money and survival. It's all very well saying, 'I want to be a lawyer' but maybe it takes five or ten years to do that and people want money now. They're in a situation where they're poor now.

"We have to give them more opportunities but not a lot of people want to hire criminals. As a child or a young man, if I didn't have my music or acting there wouldn't have been a lot else for me to do."

He hasn't abandoned musical entirely as he has plans to launch his own independent record label and release a solo album. Walters also wants to set up his own production company and has more movie roles in the pipeline.

"So Solid as a unit has come to an end at the moment," he says. "I'm not saying that it won't pick up again. As it stands, So Solid aren't really producing music anymore as a unit. A lot of members are focusing on their solo careers, such as myself."

He'd love it if Hollywood came calling because that's something he's dreamed about, although he's happy to work over here for the present. "There's a lot for me to do here yet," he says. "We've got an industry that's kind of thriving at the moment. I'd like to be here to see it explode. I'm just trying to keep myself in the industry anyway I can, have a long career and take care of my family."

* Bullet Boy (15) opens in cinemas tomorrow .

Published: 07/04/2005