Jasmine Jobson is a BAFTA winning British actress best known for her role as Jaqs in Top Boy.
From Bird and MobLand to her latest leading role in In the Shadows, Jobson continues to build a career around complex characters and powerful stories. In the biopic, she portrays British Somali Olympic boxer Ramla Ali, whose journey from fleeing Somalia as a child to making history in the ring is one of resilience and determination.
Jobson discusses the physical and emotional demands of bringing Ali’s story to screen, finding strength through personal loss, and stepping into a new chapter as both star and executive producer of the forthcoming Top Boy spin-off, Jacs.
Please introduce yourself …
My name is Jasmine Jobson. I’m an actress; I’m from West London, and I’m a Taurus.
Describe your life in one word or a sentence …

Anything is possible.
Why are we here?
We’re here because of my movie In the Shadows, where I have the privilege of playing Ramla Ali, a British-Somali Olympic boxing champion. It’s a biopic, and I get to portray her life, struggles, and everything she’s overcome. It’s an amazing movie. I’m really proud of it. It’s being released officially today in, I believe, 35 cinemas across the UK, which is crazy. I’m super-duper excited. It’s a massive career moment for me, but I’m honoured to share Ramla’s story. She is genuinely a beautiful human being.
What does the story mean to you?
It means that no matter what struggles you go through in life, you have to keep pushing to achieve what you’ve worked hard for. And this is the heart of the movie.
Ramla Ali has had an extraordinary journey, from fleeing Somalia as a child to making history in boxing. What were your first conversations with director Anthony Wonke about how you would approach this epic story?
We agreed we had to approach it from emotional vulnerability. I’m naturally emotional, and I’m not afraid of showing that side of myself. But I’m also thick-skinned. I’m a tough cookie. Casting me to play Ramla came down to them trusting me and my instincts. Anthony made it clear by saying to me, “It’s your space. Have fun.”
You’re of Jamaican, Irish and Greek Cypriot heritage, while Ramla is a Somali Muslim woman whose cultural and religious identity is central to her story. Did you have any reservations about taking on the role, and what did you do to ensure you approached her identity and experiences authentically?
I didn’t worry about it at all. When Ramla and I met, we realised we had quite a few similarities. We could almost pass for sisters. I grew up around Edgware Road in West London, in a predominantly Muslim area. The majority of my friends are Muslim, Bengali, Kurdish, Iraqi. I’ve got friends from all over the gaff. I was raised in a Christian home, but my mum, my great-grandmother and my nan are Greek Orthodox, so some of our traditions are different. At the end of the day it’s all about respect. I’m grateful that the way I grew up gave me that understanding because I was able to walk into this role with respect and a genuine willingness to learn.
You had just two weeks to prepare, training for up to eight hours a day. Growing up you took karate and kickboxing; how did that experience translate into filming the boxing sequences, and what were the biggest technical challenges of making the fights look convincing on screen?
I learned very quickly that boxing is completely different to karate and kickboxing. It’s all in your stance, and it’s physically demanding. The difference in boxing for a film is that you have to choreograph the fight sequences. In the acting world, we call it movement. It’s like a dance routine; every mark and every beat has to be exactly where it needs to be. We based our fight sequences on Ramla’s real fights, which made them difficult and technical. I even accidentally got punched in the nose! But these things happen on set.
I also had the privilege of getting trained by Valerian, Ramla’s coach. I love her dearly. She’s phenomenal at what she does. We had a fight coordinator making sure everything worked for the camera and that nobody actually got hit. It was beautiful, but filming the sequences was extremely technical. Everything is structured; everything has to be precise. If anything isn’t in sync, it can affect how the fight looks on camera. It was a lot of fun, though. I loved it.
Ramla was involved in almost every aspect of the production, from the script and boxing choreography to helping with Somali dialogue. What was it like having the person you’re portraying so closely involved on set?
I was hoping she would be involved, especially because it’s her life. But my goodness, she was involved a lot more than I expected, and it was the best thing ever. Any time I felt unsure, I was able to ask Ramla and Richard directly. Bless them, they made me feel at ease. They encouraged me to trust my intuition and would let me know if something didn’t work for them. And they didn’t need to. I’m so used to being directed and told what to do, so it was nice to have the reassurance to trust myself.
Playing a real person is quite different from creating a fictional character. How did you balance capturing Ramla’s mannerisms, voice and physicality with bringing your own instincts and interpretation to the performance?
It’s crazy because Ramla and I actually talk quite similarly. We’re both West and South London-based, so we’ve got that little twang in our accents. I remember her pulling me up on some of her specific little manoeuvres. Just before the bell rings and she steps into the ring, she does a little shimmy. Then, at the end, after a win, she’s got a signature manoeuvre. It was about making sure I implemented those little details.
The film explores Ramla’s relationships with her family, her husband Richard and those who shaped her boxing career. How did you build those connections with your fellow actors, particularly Finn Cole as Richard, and find that chemistry between you?
Every scene I had with Finn, our chemistry was there. He’s a phenomenal actor, and it was amazing to work with him. We had a coffee before we started filming, so we could get to know each other. So when we came to set, he wasn’t a stranger. It was the same for the rest of the cast; we sometimes went to dinners, which was nice. We had time to bond and become a proper close-knit family.
Director Anthony Wonke originally comes from a documentary background. What was his approach to directing In the Shadows, and how did that influence the atmosphere on set and the performances he wanted from you?
It was always fun on set. It was always light. I love Anthony. He’s so warm. He’s literally like, “Right, this is what I need you to do. Get here…” And then he’s like, “You do your thing, and I’ll do my thing.” It was very much like that. He was so easy to work with.
Every production comes with its own challenges and memorable moments. What was the toughest day on set, and was there a moment when you felt particularly proud of what you and the team had achieved?
My toughest day on set had nothing to do with filming. During the filming of In the Shadows, I was burying a few close friends and family members. I’d experienced ten family deaths in the space of a year and a half, so I was already grieving, and it was just non-stop. I’m so grateful for the support I had. One day my agents randomly pulled up to set, and I just burst into tears because I felt like, “Okay, now I can actually let it out.” If it wasn’t for my team, production, Anthony, Ramla, Richard, Finn, everybody being so patient and understanding with me, I honestly don’t know how I would have got through it. I’m proud of how I managed to push through and make an amazing film that I’m proud of.
From Top Boy to Bird, MobLand and now In the Shadows, you’ve worked across very different productions. How has your approach to acting changed over the years, and what have these experiences taught you about your craft?
I’ve learned to trust myself a lot more. We all have our insecurities, and I have to remind myself to believe in my skills. I wouldn’t be in this craft if I wasn’t good at it. I’ve learned not to care about other people’s opinions. Instead, I focus on constructive criticism that helps me grow. My mum and dad taught me a lot about self-reflection. They would tell me to sit down and take a good look at myself in the mirror, so that’s something I’ve practised from a young age.
You’ve spoken about how important it is to advocate for yourself and know when to say no. Now that you’re a BAFTA-winning actor taking on leading roles, has your relationship with the industry changed? Do you feel you have greater freedom to choose the work you want to do?
Yes, definitely. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been a little bit picky about the roles I take because I like to tell stories that are meaningful to me. Things have changed since the BAFTAs. I’ve been getting more offers, and I’m grateful, but it doesn’t change my intention when it comes to choosing roles. I’m passionate about being a storyteller. I’m here to save a life and change a life.
We thought we’d said goodbye to Jaq when Top Boy ended, but now she’s getting her own series. As both star and executive producer alongside writer Ryan Calais Cameron, how has your involvement in developing the series differed from Top Boy, and what does that creative ownership mean to you?
I’m so glad it’s actually come to fruition, and my prayers have been answered. The difference now is that I’ve got a lot more creative input. I’m a lead. This is my show. I’m number one, and I’m an executive producer. It’s a completely different ball game now. It’s a nice little step up for my career. You never know what will come next. Producing, directing. I’m really excited and proud of the little girl who used to say, “I want to see my name in lights and have my face on billboards.“
I’m 31 now, and I can actually say I’ve done all of that. My dreams have come true. That’s the one that’s going to get me crying in here! Bloody hell. I’m excited to see what the future holds. It’s limitless. It’s limitless.
Ryan, I love him. He is absolutely amazing. It’s been so fun working with him, sitting in the writers’ room, hearing their ideas and contributing some of my experiences.
You’ve spoken about wanting to create opportunities for young people through community arts. Is that still part of your ambition, and beyond acting, what would you like the next chapter of your career to look like?
I have no idea what the next chapter of my career will look like, but I definitely want to be booked and busy. People like Ashley Walters, Letitia Wright and Kano opened the door and sent the ladder down for people like me to climb. So it’s only right that I send the ladder back down. One hundred per cent.
GETTING TO KNOW …
If not this, then what? I would probably be in music. I’ve been singing since I was two and was told that I was singing before I could string a sentence together. I remember in secondary school, I wanted to be a pop star. So it’s funny that I’ve got a career in acting. But you never know what the future holds.
What’s made you sad, mad, & glad this week?
 Glad this week is my movie’s official cinema release. I would say something that’s made me mad has probably been traffic. I cannot stand London traffic, and it has delayed me for everything that I’ve needed to get to this week, which has been annoying. And I would say sad, not having enough hours in the day this week to get what I need done.
What are you watching?
 I literally finished watching season 2 of The Gentlemen earlier this morning. I absolutely love it.
What are you reading?
 I can’t say I don’t read books anymore; I’m constantly reading scripts.
The last film you watched?
 Practical Magic 2. Sandra Bullock is in it. I watched the first one back in the day, and I was like, no way they’ve done a second one, so I had to watch it. I grew up on Hocus Pocus and all of that, so when they’re making the sequels I feel like they’re making them for us, the adults reliving our childhoods.
The last play you saw?
 Oh gosh, it was a while ago. It was one of Ryan’s (Calais Cameron) pieces; it’s on the tip of my tongue. I am going to watch his new theatre production Afronauts soon, which I’m excited about because Ryan’s writing is phenomenal.
The last live music event? I think it was Chris Brown last year. Who doesn’t love Chris Brown? He’s phenomenal. I don’t necessarily agree with some of the things that he’s done, but that doesn’t mean that he is a horrible person. He’s a wonderful performer, and yeah, gotta give credit where it’s due
What’s currently on your playlist? I would say Jacob Banks, Unholy War or Kendrick Lamar featuring Mary J. Blige, Now or Never.
What’s on your bucket list?
 I want to touch Marvel. I want to join the Marvel cast. I know it’s not far away because back in the day I did audition for Batwoman, the series, so I know I’m on their radar.
Where’s your happy place? At home with my family. Specifically with my sisters, my dad and my niece. Gives me peace.
Celebrate someone else … I can’t forget my best mate, Johnny.
Celebrate yourself … Everything I’ve achieved. Literally everything. I was a young person in care, and my social workers labelled me the worst-behaved child in Westminster. It’s crazy to me that anyone could put that kind of label on a child. I spent much of my childhood feeling misunderstood.
To now have a voice, to perform and do something that genuinely makes me happy means so much. I’ve also been able to challenge how people perceive young people going through difficult times. When you’re young, you don’t always know how to express your emotions, and sometimes adults need to take the time to understand rather than judge.
Now I’m on Netflix, I’m leading a film, and I’ve got my own spin-off series coming out. I can’t be that bad! I’m proof that no matter what you go through, you can come out fighting and prove people wrong.
I’m lucky to have thick skin, but those labels can really hurt young people and affect how they see themselves. So I’m not just proud of my career, I’m proud of everything I’ve overcome and that I can now be someone others look up to.
And having my own spin-off? Super duper exciting! I’ve prayed for this moment, and now we’re here.
What’s next?
 Jaqs.
Where can we find you? Instagram: JasmineJobson. TikTok: Official_jasminejobson. Twitter: jobson_jasmine
Where can we watch you at work? In The Shadows is available to watch in 35 UK & Irish Cinemas
Ramla Ali’s world title fight takes place this Sunday, 8 November 2026. For more information about In the Shadows, including where to watch the film, visit the official Metis Films website.