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Ashley Walters recently opened up about one of his most nerve-wracking moments on set while filming Netflix’s new series Adolescence. During an interview on Capital XTRA Breakfast Show, the Top Boy star revealed how he accidentally ruined a crucial one-shot take—an experience that left him “nearly in tears.”
The incident came to light when host Shayna Marie mentioned that Walters’ co-star, Stephen Graham, had previously spilled the story. Walters confirmed, explaining that in Episode 2, he mistakenly called a character by the actor’s real name instead of the character’s name while filming an intense chase scene.
“I was in bits, bro,” Walters admitted, describing how devastated he felt after the slip-up. Given the challenging one-shot technique used throughout the series—where entire scenes are filmed in a single take without cuts—the mistake meant the entire sequence had to be redone.
Director Philip Barantini, known for his immersive filmmaking approach, stepped in to comfort Walters, attempting to justify the moment by saying, “No, but maybe, you know, the character is so discombobulated…” Walters, however, was determined to get it right and requested another take.
The Get Rich or Die Tryin’ actor likened the experience to being part of a football team, where every player’s performance affects the whole game. The pressure of executing a flawless take made the blunder even more gut-wrenching.
Adolescence, co-written by Stephen and Jack Thorne, has already been generating buzz since its release on Netflix. The series employs Barantini’s signature one-shot technique across all four episodes, immersing viewers in its raw and unfiltered storytelling.