After "Top Boy" [1] was cancelled by Channel 4 back in 2013, the gritty crime drama was taken on and revived by Netflix, and on 18 March, it returns for a fourth series. While the earlier series [2] have predominantly focused on the lives of male gang members in Hackney, the later editions see more and more women introduced, bringing their own storylines to the forefront.
One main character we're all excited to see return to our screens is Little Simz [3], who's due to reprise her role as Shelley, the single mother with a dream of opening her own nail salon. Speaking to The Face [4] about her role, Simz opened up about the fact that watching the show growing up and feeling represented is what made her want to be a part of it so much more. "I saw myself in these characters. I saw my friends in these characters. I saw my siblings in these characters, my older cousins in these characters. I actually know people who have lived Shelley's life, whether they do hair and nails, or if they're single parents and trying to do better for their kid," she explained. Simz also shared that she'd been raised by a single mother, someone who she drew from when playing the role of Shelley.
Alongside Simz, the upcoming series features a whole host of new and returning faces, including a starring role from Adwoa Aboah and a return from Jasmine Jobson. Ahead of the show's return to Netflix, read on to find out more about the new and existing women of "Top Boy".
Little Simz (Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo) as Shelley
Alongside an illustrious career in music, Little Simz has been acting since the age of 9, appearing in E4's "Youngers" and BBC's "Spirit Warriors". In series four of "Top Boy", Simz returns as Shelley, a single mother who owns a nail salon.
Shelley is also a carer for Dushane Hill's mother and later ends up pursuing a relationship with Hill (played by Ashley Walters). Speaking to "The Guardian [5]" back in 2019, Simz said she'd been a longtime fan of the show, back when it originally aired on Channel 4. "I was at school when it first came out and that's what everyone was talking about — the fact that we finally had a TV show that represented us," she said.
Jasmine Jobson as Jaq
Though she's primarily known as Jaq from "Top Boy", Jasmine Jobson has also previously starred in feature film "Surge", which first premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2020. Jobson's character, Jaq, returns for season four of the show, where she continues to work alongside Dushane and Sully (played by Kane Robinson).
In a recent roundtable interview with POPSUGAR, Jobson said that "Jaq is that little sister that everybody wishes that they had. She's annoying, but she's got your back. She's loyal to a fault. And she will defend you till forever". On her character's journey, Jobson added that "Jaq goes on a massive, massive emotional journey [in this series]. So I think for me it was more because I pride myself on being a method actor. I wear my heart on my sleeve when it comes down to my work. So I really had to channel some really, really dark emotions that I haven't actually felt or experienced in a long time."
Saffron Hocking as Lauryn
Saffron Hocking plays Jaq's sister Lauryn, set to return for "Top Boy"'s fourth series. Toward the end of the third series, Lauryn's found fraternising with the enemy (aka Dris, played by Shone Romulus) and sent away to avoid the wrath of Sully. In the new series, we find a pregnant Lauryn in a difficult relationship with a new character called Curtis (played by Howard Charles).
In a roundtable interview with POPSUGAR, Hocking noted that "Lauryn's a fighter. Especially in this season, there's just a constant fight in her. There's now this new fight to survive. Not only for her, but also for her unborn child. Also for her sister, her family, the people that she feels perhaps she's betrayed and let down. There's a fight in her to make things better. To make her life better, to make herself better."
Adwoa Aboah as Becks
Model and founder of Gurls Talk Adwoa Aboah [6] stars in the upcoming series of "Top Boy" as Becks, a mysterious new character we're introduced to via Jaq (Jasmine Jobson).
In a roundtable interview with POPSUGAR, Aboah said that "Becks is curious and vulnerable. I think she sees her vulnerability as a massive strength. And her curiosity is something that I think we should all embody. And be a little bit more open to different people."
Jolade Obasola as Attica's Mum
Jolade Obasola is returning for series four of "Top Boy" and continuing her role as the mother of Attica, best friend of Stefan (played by Araloyin Oshunremi). In the last episode of series three, Ats and his mum struggle to see eye to eye about his increasing lack of attendance at school and his involvement with Jaq, Dushane, and Sully. In a recent interview with "The Face", Obasola explained that part of her decision to take the role in "Top Boy" stemmed from the fact that she has a son in real life.
"I feel like there needs to be more awareness. I want viewers to have a better understanding of the fact that life on the streets and crime affects so many more people than you would expect. It touches so many lives," she said.
NoLay as Mandy
South London-based MC NoLay turns her cameo from series three into a fully fledged role in the upcoming series of "Top Boy", returning as the newly out-of-prison girlfriend of dealer Dris.
Lisa Dwan as Lizzie
First introduced in series three of "Top Boy", Lisa Dwan is returning to her role as Lizzie for series four. Initially, Lizzie's character works closely with Jamie (played by Michael Ward), but towards the end of series three, she's recruited by Dushane and Sully to help them instead.
Joséphine de La Baume as Delphine
French actor Joséphine de La Baume is joining the cast of "Top Boy" series four as a seemingly friendly face and Sully's new neighbour who may help him to get through a particularly difficult time.
Erin Kellyman as Pebbles
English actor Erin Kellyman is joining the cast for "Top Boy"'s new series as a supposed young relative of Sully named Pebbles who comes back into his life to ask him for help.
Ava Brennan as Vee
Ava Brennan's previously starred in "Hellboy", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Rocketman", and in 2022, she joins the cast for series four of "Top Boy". Brennan plays Vee, the overprotective sister of Curtis who ends up in a relationship with Jaq's sister Lauryn.