British crime films have produced some of the UK’s most memorable characters and franchises over the years, and actress Emily Wyatt has quietly built an impressive career within that world. From her standout role as Charlotte in the Rise of the Footsoldier series to stepping into a completely different role as Detective Constable Gray in Tales from the Trap, Emily continues to prove her versatility on screen.
Appearing on the Tales from the Trap podcast with Terry Stone, Emily opened up about her acting journey, memorable moments from the Footsoldier films, life as a working actress, balancing family life and why Tales from the Trap feels like an exciting new chapter in her career.
From Criminal to Police Detective
Fans of the Rise of the Footsoldier franchise will remember Emily Wyatt as Charlotte, a character caught up in the dangerous world surrounding Tony Tucker and the Essex underworld. In Tales from the Trap, however, she finds herself on the opposite side of the law.
Playing Detective Constable Gray marked the first time Emily had portrayed a police officer, something she admitted felt surprisingly natural.
Rather than returning to familiar territory as another character connected to organised crime, she enjoyed exploring the perspective of law enforcement. The role allowed her to show a more mature side of her acting while working alongside Terry Stone once again, this time as police partners investigating crime across London.
Why Tales from the Trap Feels Different
While Tales from the Trap sits comfortably within the British crime genre, Emily believes the film offers something different from traditional gangster movies.
The script combines authentic street culture, music and modern London with emotional storytelling. Rather than relying purely on violence or action, the film explores ambition, loyalty, betrayal and the consequences of life-changing decisions.
Emily explained that one of the first things that stood out when reading the script was its heart. Although elements such as rap culture initially surprised her, she quickly recognised there was far more beneath the surface.
That authenticity also carried through to filming. Watching the teaser trailer, Emily felt parts of the production almost resembled a documentary because of how realistic the performances, locations and cinematography appeared.
Returning to Work with Terry Stone
Having worked together on several productions, including Rise of the Footsoldier, The Last Heist and Pat Tate Story, Emily and Terry clearly share an easy chemistry.
The conversation was filled with jokes about previous scenes together, including an infamous moment from Rise of the Footsoldier: Marbella that fans still remember.
Behind the humour, however, both spoke about how enjoyable it has been developing a professional relationship over multiple productions. Working together repeatedly has allowed them to build trust on set while continuing to challenge each other with very different characters.
For Emily, moving from playing someone involved with criminals to portraying a detective alongside Terry created a satisfying full-circle moment in her career.
How Emily Wyatt Got Into Acting
Emily’s acting career did not follow the traditional route.
Although she attended Saturday drama classes as a child, she drifted away during her teenage years before eventually rediscovering acting later in life.
Initially planning to study English at university, she changed direction after becoming inspired by a friend studying drama. Since she had not completed Drama A-Level, she returned to college as an adult before eventually earning a place to study acting.
Alongside her education, Emily built a successful commercial modelling career, appearing in campaigns for major brands including Optrex, PlayStation, McDonald’s, Kopparberg and Häagen-Dazs.
One particularly memorable story involved landing an Optrex campaign simply because she could keep her eyes open for an unusually long time during the audition. The advert continued generating royalty payments for years afterwards, highlighting how unpredictable the entertainment industry can be.
Landing Rise of the Footsoldier
Emily’s breakthrough into the Rise of the Footsoldier franchise came through determination and networking rather than luck.
While directing her own theatre production, she happened to meet producer Andy Loveday at the Groucho Club. After handing out flyers promoting her play, she was invited to audition for Rise of the Footsoldier.
She initially missed out on the role she auditioned for but later received a phone call offering a newly written character. That role became Charlotte.
Reflecting on the experience, Emily and Terry agreed the story demonstrates an important lesson for anyone hoping to work in the creative industries. Opportunities often come from unexpected conversations, making it essential to put yourself out there and tell people what you do.
As Terry explained, every rejection moves you one step closer to the right opportunity.
The Reality of Building an Acting Career
One of the strongest parts of the conversation focused on the realities of acting.
Emily was refreshingly honest about how competitive the profession can be. Success requires persistence, resilience and accepting rejection as part of the process.
She encouraged aspiring actors to surround themselves with hardworking, ambitious people while ensuring acting never becomes their entire identity. Family, friendships and personal happiness remain just as important as career success.
Terry echoed those thoughts by describing the financial uncertainty many actors face between jobs and why developing additional skills such as producing, directing or podcasting can provide valuable stability throughout a long career.
Their discussion highlighted that lasting careers are rarely built overnight. Behind every apparent success story are years of auditions, setbacks and continuous hard work.
Looking Ahead
As Tales from the Trap prepares for release, Emily Wyatt continues to establish herself as one of the recognisable faces within British crime cinema.
Whether portraying a gangster’s partner, a determined detective or exploring future ambitions behind the camera as a director or producer, she approaches every opportunity with honesty, humour and a genuine passion for storytelling.
For fans of British crime films, Tales from the Trap promises another compelling chapter, not only for Terry Stone’s growing film universe but also for Emily Wyatt’s evolving career. If this conversation is anything to go by, audiences can expect much more from both the film and the actress in the years ahead.
