Top Boy Star Jasmine Jobson To Lead In The Shadow’s Ramla Ali Biopic
Filming has begun in London for the Ramla Ali Biopic, In The Shadows, True Brit Entertainment announced.
The film will tell the incredible true story of refugee Ali who, without her parents’ knowledge, secretly pursued boxing to become the first Somali-British professional boxing champion.
BAFTA-winning actor Jasmine Jobson, best known for her role as Jaq in Netflix’s Top Boy and upcoming in Andrea Arnold’s Bird starring Barry Keoghan, is set to portray the trailblazing Somali-British professional boxer, model, and UNICEF Ambassador. Finn Cole (Peaky Blinders) will star alongside Jobson as her husband, Richard Moore, while Gershwyn Eustache Jr (Andor, Small Axe) plays her boxing coach.
Ramla Ali and Richard Moore will serve as executive producers. Award winning documentary filmmaker Anthony Wonke (Dettori Ronaldo) is set to direct what will be his narrative fiction film debut. Wonke said: “There is no doubt Jasmine Jobson is one of Britain’s finest and most exciting actors out there today and brings an incredible intelligence and emotionally raw honesty to her roles. Ramla’s story is one of perseverance and bravery against the odds and we couldn’t be more delighted to have an actor that so connects and empathises with Ramla’s story in such a profound way.”
Reflecting on portraying Ramla Ali, Jasmine Jobson remarked: “It’s a complete honour to take on the role of Ramla and to be trusted to help share her incredible story. Not only to celebrate her talent, strength, and determination as a boundary-breaking athlete – but also as an incredibly inspirational Somali woman who has overcome huge adversity. Her experience of arriving in the U.K. as a refugee is important and has the power to educate and empower people at a time of so much division. I’m thrilled to get started.”
Ali lso commented on Jobson : “I, along with everyone else, fell in love with Jasmine after seeing her incredible performance as Jaq in Top Boy. She understands more than anyone the true experience of growing up in London and fighting for yourself and your place in this world. She brings with her an incredible amount of authenticity, rawness, and real emotion that can’t be taught. I couldn’t be more excited to see her embody me on the screen.”
Here’s the official synopsis version one:
It was at the boxing club where Ramla trained that she met her future husband, Richard Moore, who converted to Islam – a testament to his profound love for her. At its heart, “In the Shadows” is a unique love story woven into a rich family drama that showcases the challenges and triumphs of Ramla and Richard, a mixed-race couple. As they navigate racial and cultural barriers, their shared strength and mutual support sets them apart as role models for a new generation.
‘In the Shadows’ transcends the typical sports drama, exploring deep social issues and themes of identity, belonging, family, love, and faith. This coming-of-age film traces Ramla’s extraordinary journey within a strict Muslim family in London’s multicultural East End, capturing her pursuit of self-discovery and empowerment. This helped her “step out of the shadows” to claim her identity and voice amidst her own religious and cultural frameworks. The film also illuminates the collective challenges faced by Somali British Muslim women and similar diaspora and refugee communities globally, demonstrating the power of perseverance against cultural and societal odds.
The screenplay is written by playwright and screenwriter Ursula Rani Sarma (Bodkin, Delicious). Christopher Aoun (Capernaum) is the cinematographer and Kharmel Cochrane (A Quiet Place: Day One, Saltburn, Rye Lane) is casting the film.
British independent film distributors True Brit Entertainment, will release In The Shadows in 2025 in cinemas across the UK and Ireland, with Altitude handling International Sales.
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