Riz Ahmed in Shifty
This week sees the release of British urban thriller Shifty set on the outskirts of London.
The film follows a day in the life of Shifty, a young Muslim crack cocaine dealer. Charismatic, compassionate and intelligent, he comes from a respectable family, but is also the most prolific dealer in the area.
When his old friend returns to the town, it sets into action a series of events that will see Shifty fighting for survival.
So to celebrate this British release FemaleFirst introduces the very talented cast that make this film a must see.
Riz Ahmed - Shifty
Riz Ahmed is one of the most exciting actors and musicians of his generation. Recently nominated for Best Actor at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards for his lead role in Shifty, Riz will also attend the 2008 Berlin Film festival for the worldwide premiere of his next feature Rage; a Sally Potter film, with Jude Law and Judi Dench scheduled for release in summer 2009.
Riz's previous credits include the BAFTA-winning Britz, the multi-award-winning Road to Guantanamo (Silver Bear at the 2006 Berlin Film Festival and Best British Documentary at the 2006 British Independent Film Awards), both hotly debated and critically acclaimed. In October 2008 he starred alongside Jaime Winstone in E4's hugely successful Dead Set.
Daniel Mays - Chris
RADA graduate Danny Mays has performed five plays at the Royal Court Theatre garnering critical praise for parts written specifically for him including Motortown by Simon Stephens and The Winterling by Jez Butterworth.
He won the Best Actor prize at the Palmare Television Festival in 2003 for his role in the hard hitting improvised BBC drama Rehab. His television credits include series lead Carter Kranz in Funland, Consent, Class of 76, Tipping the Velvet, Top Buzzer, Saddam's Tribe and Half Broken Things.
Danny’s film credits include two collaborations with Oscar nominated film maker Mike Leigh, Vera Drake and All or Nothing and Joe Wright’s Atonement. He was also seen on screens in 2008 opposite Jason Statham in British thriller The Bank Job.
Jay Simpson - Trevor
Jay Simpson is an experienced television and theatre actor whose television credits include Primeval, the Doctor Who spin off series The Sarah Jane Adventures, Rome, The Bill, Foyle’s War and Holby City.
On stage, Jay has appeared in Diamond Hard at the Almeida Theatre and Kathy Burke’s The Quaire Fellow. His film credits include The Holiday, Pride & Prejudice, The I Inside and This Year’s Love.
Jason Flemyng - Glen
Jason Flemyng is a veteran of the stage and screen well known for creating distinct characters in an array of films including The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen opposite Sean Connery, Rock Star starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston, From Hell opposite Johnny Depp, and Bernardo Bertolucci's Stealing Beauty opposite Liv Tyler.
The 2007 release of Stardust with Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer marked Jason’s fourth collaboration with Matthew Vaughn who also directed the actor in Layer Cake and produced Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, in which he co-starred.
Jason starred in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett and can currently by seen in hit ITV show Primeval.
Francesca Annis - Valerie
A veteran of the stage and screen Francesca Annis began her career in her teens receiving critical applause as Estella in a television adaptation of Great Expectations in 1967. In addition to numerous leading roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company she played Lady Macbeth in Roman Polanski’s film version of Macbeth in 1971.
She has been nominated six times for a Bafta winning for Best Actress, TV for her performance in the title role of mini-series Lillie in 1978.
Shifty is released 24th April.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Riz Ahmed