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I
t’s a bright, sunny Wednesday be intelligent with the character everyone together and everything
afternoon when actor Aml and that character gave me the on a low. Then a rivalry begins
Ameen breezes into the studio confidence and freedom to believe between him and his best friend
in South London. Looking casual in what I do as an actor.’ because his best friend has a girl-
in jeans, trainers and a T-shirt his Aml is very proud to say that friend who Dwayne’s in love with.’
attire along with his baby face and his character, ‘won the heart of a
boyish grin make him look five nation’, and allowed young people Exploring the dark side
years younger than his 23 years to see someone that they could With such an innocent face, it’s
– but he is soon transformed into easily relate to on television. When hard to see him as a bad character
a debonair young man when he he left the series, the programme but it’s easy to believe he has
slips into a sharp grey D&G suit. makers ensured his leaving story- never committed a crime. ‘I’ve
As the shoot slowly begins, his line was one of the most explosive, never been in any trouble. Maybe I
manager Adenike arrives with Aml’s expensive and talked about in the might seem like I’m a bit boring to
(pronounced ‘AM-EL’) little sister show’s history. ‘I won an award for people. The most excitement I’ve
Aretha in tow. His sister is doing the role,’ he says proudly. ‘Best had is playing the villain as it let me
work experience with his manager actor at The Screen Nations Award explore a side of my personality
and as she watches him pose for and I was nominated for a BAFTA.’ that has previously laid dormant.’
the camera she shouts: ‘Jump! Unlike some actors, since Aml admits that he has been in
Look young and ambitious then.’ leaving the show, the Hertfordshire a fight before. ‘I had scraps when
Laughing, he turns to her and native hasn’t been short of roles, I was at school, but it was a stage
playfully tells her to shut up. It is which is a testament to his ability school so it was posh boys fighting
evident that they are close and and work ethic. In 2008 he will be so it ain’t nothing to write home
he admits that his whole family seen on our screens in four high- about,’ he says laughing.
is very tight knit. Throughout the profile TV shows. BBC Three’s teen ‘I’ve always focused on what
afternoon, he talks about his unit: drama Disconnected, ITV’s Timothy I’ve wanted to do. I haven’t time
his brother, a rapper called Spall-directed Gun Rush, Channel for any drama.’ An ambassador for
Mickey Negro who won the 4’s Fallout and the latest instalment The Prince’s Trust, the actor’s next
freestyle rap battle at the hip hop of the Silent Witness franchise. move is to go to Hollywood like his
event Jump Off; his older brother acting idol Idris Elba. ‘He’s a real
who is a singer; his mum who Playing the villain inspiration. His outlook and what
works as a counsellor and helps Although he has enjoyed all of his he’s managed to achieve reinforces
him psychologically get into projects and is pleased that all of the idea that what I want from my
characters when he’s acting and his work up until now has made career is more than a possibility.
finally his dad who used to perform an impact, he is extremely excited It’s Idris, who is originally from
as a warm up act for Rod Stewart about his role in Fallout because Hackney, East London moved
and with whom Aml has set up an for the first time he had to play the to America and has starred in a
entertainment company. ‘Family is villain. Based on a play by Roy Wil- number of hit movies and critically
everything to me,’ he states. ‘It’s liams and starring fellow Brit actor acclaimed US series The Wire. ‘He
the essence of who I am.’
If it weren’t for his parents
seeing his acting potential, he
may not be where he is today. ‘I
used to watch a lot of old movies
and enjoyed performing with my
Aml Ameen
brother. My dad saw a lot of acting
potential in me so he signed me
up to the Barbara Speake Stage
“Family is everything to me.
School
from the age of 7 to 16.’
It’s the essence of who I am”
It was here where Aml honed is Lennie James (from the American [Idris] said: Jump ship – what are
craft, acting, dancing and singing series Jericho) as a policeman you waiting for? Get over to the
and the prestigious school clearly returning to an estate he grew up States. They’re loving us out there.’
prepared him well as he has gone on to investigate the murder of a ‘I’m friends with a lot of black
on to become a gifted actor who black teenager, Aml says, ‘Fallout actors in this country. David
has appeared in West End stage is loosely based on the murder’s Harewood, who I just did a film
shows like Oliver and Jolson, made of Damilola Taylor and Stephen called Gun Rush with said to me:
his film debut as teenager Trife in Lawrence. It’s really topical and ‘Aml, you’ve got the chops to do
the powerful and gritty Brit movie it’s about a group of black boys everything, you’ve got the looks;
Kidulthood and has continued to being murdered by another group you just need to be brave and go.’
shine on the small screen in the of black boys and it basically deals Everyone’s telling me to do it so I’m
long-running ITV police drama with psychologically what happens going to. I have had a fortunate ca-
series The Bill as PC Lewis Hardy. to them all when the murder takes reer that I’ve been able to work the
place. Their life changes forever.’ best of my peers and Idris Elba is
Learning his craft A wide grin materializes on someone for me that has inspired
‘I have to commend the team at his face as he eagerly talks about me to achieve even greater things.’
The Bill about the way they allowed his role. ‘I play Dwayne, he’s the With his diverse showreel, good
me to have creative control over general. He’s the villain of the looks and hard-working attitude,
my character. It was amazing. They piece – which is nice because I’ve it won’t be long before we loose
allowed me to use my own twang, never played the villain before. I’ve another talented Brit to the other
so instead of saying ‘geezer’ I’d always had some sense of morality side of the Atlantic.
say ‘bruv’ or ‘blood’. I used to with my character. He tries to keep www.amlameen.com
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