Most mornings, Ashley Walters wakes up, goes to the gym in his garden and trains vigorously

Ashley Walters is a man transformed, both in body and spirit. As the morning sun filters through the trees of his Kent garden, he begins his rigorous workout—a mixture of 5k runs, high-intensity interval training on a SkiErg, and sessions on an air bike. His gym walls are adorned with photographs from five years ago, displaying a chiseled figure with muscles defined like a Greek statue. “I’ve never been able to get back to that shape,” he confesses, his expression a blend of nostalgia and humor. “Sometimes it really pisses me off, because I’ll be in the gym looking at it like, ‘Shit.’ But it’s good to have them in there. It’s something to work towards.”

Shifting Personas

Walters’ life has been a kaleidoscope of identities—a chart-topping garage MC with the group So Solid Crew, a troubled youth imprisoned for possession of a firearm, and an acclaimed actor renowned for his roles in hit TV series like Top Boy. Each label has forged a different facet of his being. “Like the pictures on the gym wall, some of these titles have fueled me, while others have proved heavy burdens to bear,” he reflects. “But each of them has contributed to who I am today: happier, healthier, and more courageous than ever.”

Addicted to the Life

Walters’ struggle with addiction began young, at just 11 years old. During a family gathering, he swiped an open bottle of alcohol, only to find himself violently ill soon after. “Alcohol was a cure for my social awkwardness,” he admits. “I looked at everyone else, wondering how they could communicate so effortlessly. I wanted that.” His relationship with drinking escalated—what started as a social lubricant became a source of isolation.

“I became the life of the party, but in reality, I was a prisoner of my own making,” he says, drawing from a pool of self-awareness fueled by years of struggle. “The main aim of alcohol or drugs is to isolate you, to take everything away from you until you are left with nothing.”

• Early years: Walters grew up in Peckham, with his mother, Pamela, seeking to expand his horizons beyond the estate.
• Rise to fame: As part of So Solid Crew, their track “21 Seconds” epitomized their meteoric rise.
• Crisis points: Arrests and alcohol-fueled incidents marred his career, yet the turning point came in 2020.

A Defining Moment

Walters hit rock bottom during a volatile argument with his wife in late 2020, imploring him for change. “My daughter told me I was destroying our lives. It brought everything into sharp focus,” he recalls, the gravity of that moment etched in his memory. The next day, he sought help—his first step toward recovery.

“Alcoholism is a disease that centers in the mind. It’s not merely about stopping consumption; it’s about tackling the issues that led to the addiction,” Walters explains, noting the importance of professional help in confronting his internal battles. He likens his journey to a relationship gone awry: “I remember I was in rehab and I wrote a letter to my addiction. I was like, ‘Unfortunately, we’ve got to part ways.’” Experts agree; in a study by the Institute for Addiction Research, they found that addressing underlying mental health issues is crucial for long-term recovery success.

Life Beyond Addiction

Now almost five years sober, Walters’ path has been illuminated by clarity and newfound opportunities. “I engage in situations I would have once shunned,” he beams, sharing how he had an enriching conversation with actor Michael B. Jordan—something that would have terrified him in earlier years. “I sat down, laughed, and joked naturally with someone I look up to. It’s a marker of how far I’ve come.”

Fatherhood and Reflection

Despite the successes, their transient nature haunts Walters. Memories of past glories overshadowed by tumultuous setbacks remind him that life often oscillates between triumph and tragedy. “Sobriety has given me the lens to see my wrong choices, understanding that they were often a product of who I surrounded myself with,” he says. His latest project, Adolescence, has further prompted him to reassess his parental roles and the impact of his past on his children.

“As parents, we should uplift our children’s passions,” he asserts. “But it’s a balancing act—how do we keep them from screen addiction?” In his conversations with peers and children, he notes the urgency of discussing these modern challenges. The show’s critical acclaim serves as a catalyst, urging parents to confront uncomfortable truths about youth culture.

Emotional Legacy

The poignant storytelling in Adolescence forced Walters to reconcile with his own father’s absence throughout his upbringing. “He wasn’t physically there, but I’ve found myself embodying some of his traits despite trying not to,” Walters admits. His path to healing has included grappling with his father’s legacy while striving to be present for his eight children.

The Future Awaits

With plans to helm his first feature film, Animol, which delves into the realities of youth crime, Walters is prepared to leverage his rich experiences for a greater narrative purpose. “I’m not naïve. I know this journey will take time, but I’m excited for what lies ahead,” he states, embodying resilience and hope. As he gazes at the gym wall filled with those inspiring yet frustrating photos, he’s ready to capture a new future—one that accurately reflects the man he has become.

Source: www.menshealth.com