--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I stayed well clear of roles like 'Top…" description: "\"I stayed well clear of roles like 'Top Boy' for years before I did it, but I had to do it because the script was amazing. It was the most authentic thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f6/ashley-walters-5156_amazing_i-stayed-well-clear-of-roles-like-top-bo_102211.jpg" --- # I stayed well clear of roles like 'Top Boy' for years… ![“I stayed well clear of roles like 'Top Boy' for years before I did it, but I had to do it because the script was amazing. It was the most authentic thing that I've ever read when it comes to that sort of life.” quote by Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f6/ashley-walters-5156_amazing_i-stayed-well-clear-of-roles-like-top-bo_102211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f6/ashley-walters-5156_amazing_i-stayed-well-clear-of-roles-like-top-bo_102211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f6/ashley-walters-5156_amazing_i-stayed-well-clear-of-roles-like-top-bo_102211.jpg) > “I stayed well clear of roles like 'Top Boy' for years before I did it, but I had to do it because the script was amazing. It was the most authentic thing that I've ever read when it comes to that sort of life.” [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He avoided typecast roles until a script resonated deeply, prompting him to accept a part that felt genuinely representative of a lived experience. **In simple terms:** He took a role when the story felt true. Key Takeaway Authentic storytelling outweighs career concerns. Themes career authenticity art typecasting Mood determined hopeful Type personal anecdote career advice When to use this quote - actor choosing roles - writer selecting subject matter - musician picking collaborations Key Concepts artistic integrity personal growth Practical Applications - evaluate scripts for personal resonance - prioritize authenticity over reputation Questions to Reflect On - What risks come with breaking typecasting? - How does authenticity affect audience reception? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) [Authentic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [If you think you don't want to play another psychopath, but the script is amazing, and the director is fantastic, and the story is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/if-you-think-you-don-t-want-to-play-another-psychopath-but-the-script/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [Album 1 is proving that you're worth listening to, album 2 is proving that it wasn't a fluke, and album 3 is the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-grammer/album-1-is-proving-that-you-re-worth-listening-to-album-2-is-proving/) [Andy Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-grammer/) > [The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/the-most-authentic-thing-about-us-is-our-capacity-to-create-to/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [“But now? Being a sellout is the authentic thing. When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/but-now-being-a-sellout-is-the-authentic-thing-when/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [ \['John F. Kennedy\] movie is based on a massive best-selling book, which is always helpful. And then the script was amazing and answered my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/john-f-kennedy-movie-is-based-on-a-massive-best-selling-book-which-is/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [Sometimes you do a film because the script is amazing, sometimes you do it because you get to work with amazing people, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick-flanery/sometimes-you-do-a-film-because-the-script-is-amazing-sometimes-you/) [Sean Patrick Flanery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick-flanery/) > [You can hear my opinion on various subjects, but telling my story is the most authentic thing I can do. There's nothing more powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/you-can-hear-my-opinion-on-various-subjects-but-telling-my-story-is/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-miller/the-most-authentic-thing-about-us-is-our-capacity-to-create-to-2/) [Alison Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-miller/) > [I don't think it is too good especially with music to worry about authenticity, it can get in the way of doing something which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vanwyngarden/i-don-t-think-it-is-too-good-especially-with-music-to-worry-about/) [Andrew VanWyngarden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vanwyngarden/) > [The authentic thing is to follow your heart, your instincts, your emotions. If you located yourself in an idea, your life would be lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-gowin/the-authentic-thing-is-to-follow-your-heart-your-instincts-your/) [Emmet Gowin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-gowin/) > [My heart truly lies in good scripts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/my-heart-truly-lies-in-good-scripts/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [Being authentic can be a good thing in that often people who are fixated on that are also fixated on having very high standards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-meyer/being-authentic-can-be-a-good-thing-in-that-often-people-who-are/) [Edgar Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-meyer/) > [Anything that I ever do is from the heart and authentic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-carlisle/anything-that-i-ever-do-is-from-the-heart-and-authentic/) [Belinda Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-carlisle/) > [When somebody comes across as authentic and genuine and sweet, people just want to spend time with that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-somebody-comes-across-as-authentic-and-genuine-and-sweet-people/) [Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/) > [“RIGHT Do you do what feels right or what is seen right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-downer/right-do-you-do-what-feels-right-or-what-is-seen-right/) [Kitty Downer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-downer/) ## More by Ashley Walters > [My mum put me into the Sylvia Young Theatre School aged four, and I'd go there at weekends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/my-mum-put-me-into-the-sylvia-young-theatre-school-aged-four-and-i-d/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [My heart truly lies in good scripts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/my-heart-truly-lies-in-good-scripts/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [I never wanted my kids to have the experience of not knowing me or where they came from. I never want them to wonder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/i-never-wanted-my-kids-to-have-the-experience-of-not-knowing-me-or/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [When I was released from prison, I didn't want to leave my house for the first three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/when-i-was-released-from-prison-i-didn-t-want-to-leave-my-house-for/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [For me, exercise isn't really about being healthy, it's more about vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/for-me-exercise-isn-t-really-about-being-healthy-it-s-more-about/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [When I was young, I would go to youth clubs after school, run by my teachers and there were places to go where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/when-i-was-young-i-would-go-to-youth-clubs-after-school-run-by-my/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [I'm not a fan of social media, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/i-m-not-a-fan-of-social-media-to-be-honest/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [It would be beautiful to be able to walk up and down Peckham still, because I love it; it's where I grew up. 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