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HONOURED: Ashley Walters

THE BT British Urban Film Festival will honour actor of stage and screen Ashley Walters with its’ highest accolade at the BT BUFF Awards on Sunday 10 September.

The BUFF honorary award is given to an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or theatre. Ashley will be the third recipient of the award following actor Wil Johnson last year and Richard Pryor (posthumously) in 2015.

Ashley Walters said: "To receive this special honorary award from BUFF means a lot to me. In such a competitive profession, sometimes you look forward so much you forget what you have left behind. This is a welcome reminder. I would also like to say that I share this with my peers and supporters. Without them I wouldn't be doing what I love. Thank you BUFF!".

Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, CEO and founder of BUFF, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Ashley Walters is to receive the 2017 honorary award."

"Ashley is one of the UK's most famous faces in a career which has already clocked up 25 years. It has been an incredible 25 years which has seen Ashley star in some of the most iconic TV shows and movies ever made - from Top Boy to Grange Hill, Bullet Boy to Get Rich or Die Trying, it is an unrivalled list of credits which, if you include all the stageplays plus his work as a recording artist, demonstrates his relentless work ethic, the sheer breadth of quality and the massive admiration that i have for him as a trailblazer."

The UK should be very very proud of Ashley. He is one of our very best and his career is to be savoured by all who live and breathe the acting game".

Walters appeared on television as Omar in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles at the age of 10, and as Andy in Grange Hill at the age of 14. His list of film credits includes Montana (which received a BUFF world festival premiere in 2014) Bullet Boy, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Demons Never Die, Life and Lyrics, Sugarhouse, Goal, Fedz & Anuvahood.

His list of TV credits includes Top Boy, Hustle, West 10 LDN, Small Island, Inside Men, Storm Damage, Silent Witness, Cuffs, Truckers, Outcasts and Doctor Who.

Walters performed on stage in 2002 at the Royal National Theatre in Roy Williams' Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads and in 2008 at the Royal Court Theatre in Levi David Addai's Oxford Street. He also appeared in Bola Agbaje's play Off the Endz at the Royal Court Theatre during February and March 2010.

The 2017 BT BUFF Awards take place in London on Sunday 10 September from the BT Tower in Fitzrovia.

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