Flair Magazine How refreshing is it to see one of our own among the nominations for the International Rising Star category at Toronto’s International Film Festival this year? Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek, 23, was nominated alongside French Stéphane Bak, American Josh Wiggins and English Eleanor Worthington-Cox. We’re excited to see how this turns out.
Interestingly enough, this is not the only thing going for Ahmed Malek’s career right now. His latest movie, Sheikh Jackson, which revolves around Michael Jackson’s death, was selected as Egypt’s candidate to be considered for the 2018 Oscars. Before that, it was chosen as the opening movie for the first edition of El Gouna Film Festival and was also screened at the 61st London Film Festival last year.
Not only that, but Malek is expected to play his first international role as the leading character in the upcoming Canadian movie, Montreal Girls, by Canadian director Patricia Chica.
Malek was eight when he went to his first audition, which was for a commercial. His first role in a TV series was in 2005 in Ayamna el Helwa (Our Good Days). He is mainly known, though, for his role as young Hassan Al-Banaa, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, in the TV series, The Brotherhood which was a hit in Ramadan. After that, he played the role of a young Egyptian revolutionary activist in the show The Backstreets, alongside stars like Gamal Soliman, Leila Elwi, Samy El-Adl and Gihan Fadel.
His talents were officially being recognized by then. In 2012, he achieved more success with his TV role in Ma’aa Sabk el Esrar (With Premeditation), and in 2013, he played the role of a troubled teenager in the series Hekayet Haya (Haya’s Tale). For the latter, he won the DG Award for Best Young Actor.
By Sarah Guirguis
