The Diamond Heist promises to be a pulse-pounding crime thriller, following a crew of flawed criminals as they attempt an impossible robbery at London’s most secure vault. With twists reminiscent of Ocean’s Eleven meets Heat, the film explores loyalty, greed, and the cost of ambition. Directed by Jesse Vile, this sleek caper features a mix of rising stars and seasoned performers, each bringing unique intensity to their roles.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the cast and creative mind behind this adrenaline-fueled drama, highlighting their careers and contributions to the heist genre.
The Diamond Heist Cast List:
1. Luke Philpott as Lee Wenham
Born: March 19, 1992 in Birmingham, England
Notable Works: The Gentlemen (2024), Peaky Blinders (2022), The North Water (2021)
Luke Philpott takes the lead as Lee Wenham, the mastermind behind the heist. A rising star in British cinema, Philpott gained recognition for his role as a cunning street hustler in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen spin-off series. His ability to balance charm with menace makes him perfect to play Wenham, a strategist haunted by a botched robbery that left his brother dead.
Philpott’s background in gritty dramas (Peaky Blinders) and psychological thrillers (The Nest) informs his portrayal of a man walking the line between genius and self-destruction. For The Diamond Heist, he trained with real ex-thieves to perfect Wenham’s calculating demeanor and physicality, promising a performance that’s both cerebral and visceral.
2. Tuncay Gunes as Ray Betson
Born: August 8, 1988 in London, England (of Turkish descent)
Notable Works: Top Boy (2019–2023), The Lazarus Project (2022–present), SAS: Rogue Heroes (2022)
Tuncay Gunes stars as Ray Betson, the crew’s volatile explosives expert. Known for his explosive energy in Top Boy as a rival gang leader, Gunes brings raw intensity to the role of a man whose loyalty is as unreliable as his homemade bombs. His character’s tragic backstory—a former military engineer discharged for PTSD—adds depth to the film’s exploration of fractured minds.
Gunes’ breakout role in The Lazarus Project showcased his ability to portray morally ambiguous characters, a skill he sharpens here. The actor performed many of his own stunts, including a harrowing scene where Betson narrowly escapes a collapsing tunnel, cementing his status as one of the UK’s most daring young talents.
3. Nicholas Blatt as Robert Adams
Born: November 12, 1995 in Manchester, England
Notable Works: Industry (2020–present), The Crown (2022), Boiling Point (2023)
Nicholas Blatt plays Robert Adams, the crew’s tech genius and former banking prodigy. Blatt, best known for his role as a cutthroat financier in Industry, transforms into a socially awkward hacker whose code-breaking skills are matched only by his naivety. Adams’ arc—from sheltered genius to reluctant criminal—becomes the film’s emotional core.
The actor spent months studying cybersecurity experts to prepare, even earning a basic ethical hacking certification. Blatt’s stage background (Royal Shakespeare Company) lends Shakespearean gravity to Adams’ internal conflict, making him the crew’s unlikely conscience.
4. Jesse Vile – Director
Born: February 14, 1983 in Bristol, England
Notable Works: Forgetting Dad (2008), Tyson (2020), The Last Breath (2023)
Jesse Vile, the visionary director behind The Diamond Heist, brings his documentary-rooted realism to the crime genre. Known for intimate character studies like Tyson (a biopic of boxer Tyson Fury), Vile shifts gears to orchestrate complex heist sequences without sacrificing emotional depth. His signature use of long takes amplifies the robbery’s tension.
Vile spent a year researching real heists, consulting with Interpol advisors and ex-convicts to ensure authenticity. His collaboration with cinematographer Rob Hardy (Mission: Impossible – Fallout) results in breathtaking set pieces, including a 22-minute single-track vault breach sequence that redefines heist filmmaking.
