Love Island's Maya Jama reveals surprising new career move alongside huge A-list co-star as she gushes 'this is a dream come true'
Maya Jama has revealed she has made a surprising new career move as she shared an update on Instagram on Wednesday.
The presenter, 30, who is gearing up to host her hit ITV dating show Love Island in the coming weeks, has taken time away from presenting and turned to acting.
Maya revealed that she is 'gassed' as she is set to star in Guy Ritchie 's hit Netflix series The Gentlemen as they film series two.
Taking to her Instagram Story, the ITV star shared the exciting announcement with her 3.2million followers and penned: 'Told you I've been on some side quests'.
In a second post, she said: 'Gassed is an understatement. Only gone and got a little role in one of my favourite series!
'To work alongside such amazing & accomplished actors who I admire, incredible production and with a legendary director Guy Ritchie is honestly a dream come true. So so grateful for the opportunity & I cant wait for you all to meet my character, she's a G'.
Production is currently underway in the UK on hit show, which stars Theo James and Kaya Scodelario as the masterminds behind a drug empire.
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It is reported that Maya will play the glamorous wife of a shady associate linked to Theo's lead character Eddie Horniman.
Filming is already underway at the stunning Badminton House in Gloucestershire - a grand estate that doubles as the fictional Halstead Manor in the series.
The British gangster drama, which also stars Vinnie Jones, has also added new cast member, Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville.
Others joining The Gentlemen are Benjamin Clementine (Dune), Benedetta Porcaroli (The Leopard), Michele Morrone (Another Simple Favour), Sergio Castellito (Conclave), Amra Mallassi (Dune: Part Two), and Tyler Conti.
Returning cast includes Daniel Ings, Ray Winstone, Joely Richardson, Vinnie, Jasmine Blackborow, Michael Vu, Harry Goodwins, Ruby Sear, Pearce Quigley, and Giancarlo Esposito.
Speaking of directing the new series, Guy said: 'This chapter sees a deliberate expansion, both geographically and thematically, as we journey from the English countryside to the Italian lakes.
'Eddie (James) and Susie (Scodelario) find themselves navigating an increasingly volatile empire as they're besieged on all fronts by an influx of enigmatic new players. The stakes are heightened, the power dynamics are more precarious.'
Maya teased fans earlier this year when she posted a Netflix script on social media , followed by a cryptic photo alongside The Gentlemen star Kaya Scodelario, who plays mob boss Susie Glass in the series.
In the series Maya is thought to play the glamorous wife of a shady associate linked to Theo James ' lead character Eddie Horniman
She previously hinted she might have been in meetings with the streamer by posting a Netflix branded cup to social media, but it was unclear where she was at the time.
MailOnline has contacted Maya Jama's representatives for comment.
Back in January, the BBC Three Glow Up presenter revealed she had been auditioning behind the scenes for a 'dream role' and hinted she wanted to play something completely different from her bubbly TV persona.
She said: 'My dream role, I would want to be like a villain or something that's completely not like me, so then it shows that I can actually act.
'And then people would be like, wow, two different people.'
The Gentlemen, launched on Netflix last year and became an instant hit thanks to its gritty storyline, razor-sharp dialogue and Guy Ritchie's signature gangster flair.
The plot follows Eddie Horniman, an ex-Army officer who inherits his family's estate only to discover it's at the centre of a massive cannabis empire.
It became one of the platform's biggest hits of the year after it reached 44million views in just four weeks.
Maya is expected to juggle filming with her ongoing Love Island duties, as the new summer series kicks off soon in Majorca.
She has presented Love Island since 2023, when she took over from Laura Whitmore, after finding fame on ITV's obscure show, Don't Hate the Playaz.
The former girlfriend of rapper Stormzy has since gone from strength to strength career-wise and has gone from brand deals with fast fashion brand, Pretty Little Thing, to gracing the cover of Vogue and partnering with Dolce and Gabbana.
It was only a matter of time before she was snapped up by Netflix, and on turning 30, the former radio host said: 'I feel like I need to set new goals because I have been so fortunate that all my childhood goals have been achieved now before I am 30.'
The star – who was recently announced as a new judge on The Masked Singer – confirmed she does want to retire and have children one day, but it has to be with the 'right person'.
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