'In the Shadows': Jasmine Jobson to Star in Biopic of Somali-British Boxing Champion Ramla Ali
Filming has commenced in London on "In the Shadows," a biopic about Somali-British boxing champion Ramla Ali, starring BAFTA-winning actress Jasmine Jobson.
Jobson, who recently triumphed at the television awards for her role in "Top Boy," will portray Ali, a woman who secretly pursued her dream of becoming the first Somali-British professional boxing champion. The film also features Finn Cole ("Peaky Blinders," "Last Breath") as Ali's husband, Richard Moore, and Gershwyn Eustache Jr ("Andor," "Small Axe," "Fortitude") as her boxing coach.
The film's synopsis describes "In the Shadows" as "a unique love story woven into a rich family drama" that explores the challenges and triumphs of Ali and Moore, a mixed-race couple navigating racial and cultural barriers. The real-life couple will serve as executive producers on the project.
"It's a complete honour to take on the role of Ramla and to be trusted to help share her incredible story," said Jobson. "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 UK 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 expressed her excitement about Jobson's casting, stating, "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."
Ali, who made history as the first boxer, male or female, to represent Somalia at the 2020 Olympic Games, has achieved numerous accolades throughout her career. She holds the distinction of winning the first-ever professional female boxing match in Saudi Arabia, clinched her first professional IBF intercontinental title at Super bantamweight at Madison Square Garden in 2023, and was recognized as one of TIME magazine's 2023 Women of the Year.
"In the Shadows" is directed by Emmy Award and three-time BAFTA-winning documentary filmmaker Anthony Wonke ("Dettori," "Syria: Children on the Frontline," "Ronaldo"), making his narrative fiction film debut. The screenplay is penned by Ursula Rani Sarma ("Bodkin," "Delicious").
The film is executive produced by Zygi Kamasa for True Brit Entertainment, Will Clarke, Andy Mayson and Mike Runagall for Altitude, Anushka Shah for Civic Studios, Richard Fearn and Jane Reid Fearn at Affine Films, Natasha Mudhar for The World We Want Studios, Anne Sheehan, Ali and Moore.
"In the Shadows" is scheduled for release in 2025 in cinemas across the UK and Ireland, with Altitude handling international sales.
