RAYE to make her big-screen acting debut in London-set thriller Lineage

From Billboard cover to the big screen

RAYE is stepping into a new discipline. The British singer-songwriter has been cast in Lineage, a crime thriller directed by Yann Demange, the filmmaker behind Top Boy and '71. According to Billboard, RAYE will star opposite French actors Dali Benssalah, Adam Bessa, and Isabelle Huppert in a story set in modern-day London. The screenplay was written by Edna Walsh, based on a story developed by Demange himself. Production is scheduled to begin in August in London.

The film follows Tariq, a father trying to rebuild his life after being released from prison. While RAYE previously appeared as herself in the 2025 Netflix limited series Black Rabbit, Lineage marks her first proper acting role.

Good timing

The casting announcement lands at a particularly busy moment for the artist. Her second studio album, This Music May Contain Hope, came out in March and peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!", became her highest-charting Billboard Hot 100 entry, also reaching No. 11. She is currently on tour under the name This Tour May Contain New Music, with the North American leg wrapping on May 13 before two nights at The O2 Arena in London.

On top of that, RAYE is nominated for best vocal performance for "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!" at the American Music Awards on May 25. It is, by any measure, a strong hand to be playing right now, and adding a Yann Demange film to the pile only raises the stakes.