Ashley ‘Bashy’ Thomas talks to heDD about his lead role in new movie ‘The Man Inside’

Actor and Musician, Ashley Thomas aka Bashy has done it all. We caught up with London’s most hungry/grinding grafter to see what he’s been up to lately……

Hey Bashy, in the past couple of years you’ve focussed a lot on acting, which do you prefer, music or acting? 

I don’t prefer one over the other, i love them both equally, but just different aspects of them. I did acting before music and it just so happened that music took over and i managed to gain more exposure and recognition through that.

So tell us about your new film ‘The Man Inside’. 

It stars myself and peter Mullan, who’s a well-respected actor, David Harewood, who’s in a big American TV series called Homeland and also Michelle Ryan. I play a young boxer who struggles with his temper. Then a series of events occur which means he has to dig deep inside himself and control some demons.

What’s your character like?

I play a character called Clayton Murdoch. He’s a very quiet individual, but he has a strong inner presence, quite a dark nature, and he’s very serious. All he really cares about is looking after his family and making sure that he can protect his mum, brother and sister.

Do you see yourself in Hollywood one day? 

I’d like to explore and find where my acting talents are going to take me. I wouldnt turn down any opportunities. If Hollywood comes knocking i wouldn’t say no.

Who do you look up to in the acting world? 

From a youngster i’ve been a massive fan of Will Smith for what he has achieved: being a musician/rapper and taking his career successfully into the acting world; and being one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood. I really look up to him as a role model.

You had some films showing at Cannes this year……

Yeah, ‘The Man Inside’, showed at Cannes and also ‘Cockney’s vs Zombies’, which comes out in september, so i had two films showing then another one called ‘My Brother The Devil’ which was showing at Sundance and The Berlin Film Festival, which has won a few awards so it’s really cool stuff, another step in the right direction.

What advice would you give to someone who is trying to make it in the industry?

Definitely for them to have thick skin. Go out there, and create opportunities for yourself, don’t sit around and wait for handouts, learn your craft and set goals that you can reach, so that you can monitor your progress.

FOLLOW BASHY ON TWITTER @BASHY 

‘THE MAN INSIDE’ IS OUT JULY 27TH. ALSO LOOK OUT FOR ‘COCKNEYS VS ZOMBIES’ & ‘MY BROTHER THE DEVIL’ OUT LATER THIS YEAR.