Music

Singer Raye to Make Acting Debut in Crime Drama

British singer Raye has landed her first major acting role, set to appear in Yann Demange's

Rolling Stone·May 11, 2026·via Rolling Stone

Singer Raye to Make Acting Debut in Crime Drama

Raye of Light

Raye Lands First Major Acting Role in Upcoming Crime Drama

The British singer will make her feature debut in the Yann Demange-directed film Lineage

By Brian Hiatt

Brian Hiatt

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May 11, 2026

Fresh off her acclaimed second album , This Music May Contain Hope , Raye is setting her sights on the big screen. The British singer, born Rachel Keen, has been cast in Lineage , a crime feature set in London and directed by Yann Demange, Variety reports.

Lineage marks Raye’s first scripted dramatic role, though she previously played herself in an episode of Netflix’s Black Rabbit . Along with Raye, the film will star the legendary French actress Isabelle Huppert, as well as Dali Benssalah and Adam Bessa.

According to a synopsis, Lineage will be set in present-day London and center around Tariq, a young father aiming to build a new life for himself and his son, Amine, after he’s released from prison. However, Tariq finds himself drawn back into the criminal underworld after receiving a cry for help from his brother. Capping it all off: Tariq’s own mother is a London crime boss. (It’s unclear who Raye will play in the film.)

Filming for Lineage begins in London in early August. Demange, who made his feature debut with 2014’s ’71 (2014), went on to direct 2018’s White Boy Rick and episodes of HBO’s Lovecraft Country .