Top Boy star looks unrecognisable 13 years after appearing in hit drama as he stars in huge Netflix show
THIS Top Boy star looks unrecognisable 13 years on since his time on hit British series as he goes on to star in a huge Netflix show.
The actor made his debut in 2011 on the gritty crime drama Top Boy: Summerhouse starring alongside Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson (Kano), where he became a well-loved character for fans.
Xavien Russell bagged the role when he was just 14 years-old playing the character of Michael in season one and two.
Michael was a young drug dealer who always missed school working for Dushane Hill who is played by Ashley in the Summerhouse estate.
His character featured in one of the shows saddest storylines when he was sent to retrieve drugs stolen by a rival Albanian gang.
Following this Michael runs to a balcony to try and warn Dushane before he is thrown off the building to his death by Albanian thugs.
After his character’s storyline ended Xavien seemed to go quiet with his acting before reappearing to feature in the 2020 film Justine and bagging a role on the BBC programme Casualty in 2024.
The actor from East London has now has landed himself a role on the huge Netflix show Supacell.
Written and directed by Rapman, the Sci-fi series achieved international success when it reached the number one spot on Netflix in the UK and worldwide.
The ground breaking show follows the lives of five normal people from London who discover they have superpowers.
Xavien plays the character of Dots in the show who is part of a gang known as the Tower Boys which become an important part of the plot.
The TV star certainly looked dapper as he hit the red carpet in style for the show’s premiere donning a bold blue suit.
The actor looked completely different since his stint on Top Boy growing out his beard and trimming down his hair for an older look.
Speaking to British Black List about his role on the show, Xavien said: “The first thought I had when I read the script was, ‘woah, this is crazy‘.
“Finally we have a show based in London that involves powers, a show that is on one hand very inspirational and fantastical, but yet on the other hand so relatable and so grounded to the point I thought ‘this could actually be based on a true story‘.
“Rapman did such a great job with putting this story together,” he added.
Last month it was revealed that the Netflix show would be renewed for Season 2 after being given the green light.
Rapman previously revealed that he had made it clear to Netflix that he plans for at least three seasons.
Even though Season two has been confirmed, as of yet there’s no official date on when it could be landing back on our screens.