Ashley Thomas AKA Bashy reveals biggest hope for Netflix drama Hostage and how acting came before rapping

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In the latest Netflix thriller titled “Hostage,” Ashley Thomas portrays Dr. Alex Anderson, a physician affiliated with Doctors Without Borders, who happens to be the spouse of Prime Minister Abigail Dalton. While on duty in French Guiana, he finds himself kidnapped during his service.

I immersed myself in ‘War Doctor,’ written by renowned Welsh surgeon David Nott, whose experiences have significantly influenced my character. Additionally, I had conversations with a doctor from Médecins sans Frontières who worked in Haiti. Yet, it’s essential to remember that they are ordinary people like us, which was also enlightening. Fundamentally, Alex enjoys playing football, socializing at the pub, and participating in everyday activities just as everyone else does. The aim was to avoid portraying him as a stereotypical doctor.

To most, Thomas is recognized as the rapper known as Bashy. His first album, Catch Me If You Can, received numerous award nominations, and his 2024 album Being Poor Is Expensive earned him not only the MOBO Album of the Year award but also the title of Best Hip-Hop Act. This year alone, his song How Black Men Lose Their Smile has been nominated for a Novello Award in the category of best contemporary song, and he graced the stage at Glastonbury in June.

As a devoted cinephile, I’d like to clarify a common misconception about him: it’s not that he’s a rapper who dabbles in acting-it’s quite the opposite! In truth, he embarked on his journey as an actor. My mom enrolled me in acting workshops, and then I honed my skills further at the prestigious Brit School. Acting has always been my primary passion, with music entering the picture a bit later in life.

In my perspective, I believe that mirroring racial diversity in my on-screen marriage with Suranne Jones is simply a reflection of reality, much like how art imitates life. My hope is that the audience will embrace it wholeheartedly and focus on the captivating characters and their performances rather than the ethnicities of the actors. I aspire for people to discuss these elements, fostering an open dialogue about representation in media.

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2025-08-12 03:29