Amr Waked
Encyclopedia
Amr Waked is an Egyptian
film, television, and stage actor, known for his roles portraying Middle Eastern and Mediterranean characters. He is best known to international audiences and in Hollywood as the terrorist leader in the 2005 film Syriana
(2005). He also played the role of Rafik in Steven Soderbergh
's movie Contagion
.
, and has performed in theater from 1992 through 2002. He originally just moonlighted
as an actor, and relied on his day job as a stock trader
, before finally dedicating himself to a career as an actor. Waked joined the 2011 Egypt anti-government protests
.
actor, rather than Egyptian. His first lead role was as Ahmed in Deil el Samaka (The Fish's tail) (2003), and in 2005 he worked alongside George Clooney
in the film Syriana
, for which in 2006 he won a 'Special Award for Arabs in The International Cinema' at the Cairo International Film Festival
. Waked joined the cast of the Egyptian television series "Lahazat Harega" "Critical Moments" in 2007, shooting 32 episodes for season one.
In 2008, Waked joined the cast of the BBC
/HBO television series House of Saddam
to portray Saddam Hussein
's son-in-law Hussein Kamel
. Since the lead role of Saddam Hussein was played by Israel
i actor Yigal Naor
, Waked faced punishment by Egypt's Actors Union which opposes normalization of ties with Israel. The union threatened banning him from all future projects in Egypt.
In 2009 he was invited co-host of the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival, and in 2010 he rejoined the cast of Lahazat Harega.
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
film, television, and stage actor, known for his roles portraying Middle Eastern and Mediterranean characters. He is best known to international audiences and in Hollywood as the terrorist leader in the 2005 film Syriana
Syriana
Syriana is a 2005 geopolitical thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, and executive produced by George Clooney, who also stars in the film with an ensemble cast. Gaghan's screenplay is loosely adapted from Robert Baer's memoir See No Evil...
(2005). He also played the role of Rafik in Steven Soderbergh
Steven Soderbergh
Steven Andrew Soderbergh is an American film producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, and an Academy Award-winning film director. He is best known for directing commercial Hollywood films like Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and the remake of Ocean's Eleven, but he has also directed smaller less...
's movie Contagion
Contagion (film)
Contagion is a 2011 American medical thriller disaster film directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film has an ensemble cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, and Bryan Cranston. Contagion follows the rapid progress of a lethal...
.
Background
Waked was born on August 7, 1972. He is a graduate of the American University in CairoAmerican University in Cairo
The American University in Cairo is an independent, non-profit, apolitical, secular institution of higher learning located in Cairo, Egypt...
, and has performed in theater from 1992 through 2002. He originally just moonlighted
Moonlighting
Moonlighting is the practice of holding a second job . It may also refer to:* Moonlighting , a 1982 drama film by Jerzy Skolimowski* Moonlighting , broadcast in 1985–1989 and starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd...
as an actor, and relied on his day job as a stock trader
Stock trader
A stock trader or a stock investor is an individual or firm who buys and sells stocks in the financial markets. Many stock traders will trade bonds as well...
, before finally dedicating himself to a career as an actor. Waked joined the 2011 Egypt anti-government protests
2011 Egyptian revolution
The 2011 Egyptian revolution took place following a popular uprising that began on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 and is still continuing as of November 2011. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil...
.
Career
Waked's first major role was in Ashab wala business (2001), for which reviewer's offered that he portrayed the role of "Gehad " so well that many viewers left the theater believing he was actually a PalestinianPalestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
actor, rather than Egyptian. His first lead role was as Ahmed in Deil el Samaka (The Fish's tail) (2003), and in 2005 he worked alongside George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
in the film Syriana
Syriana
Syriana is a 2005 geopolitical thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, and executive produced by George Clooney, who also stars in the film with an ensemble cast. Gaghan's screenplay is loosely adapted from Robert Baer's memoir See No Evil...
, for which in 2006 he won a 'Special Award for Arabs in The International Cinema' at the Cairo International Film Festival
Cairo International Film Festival
The Cairo International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cairo, Egypt. It was established in 1976 and was the first international film festival held in the Arab world...
. Waked joined the cast of the Egyptian television series "Lahazat Harega" "Critical Moments" in 2007, shooting 32 episodes for season one.
In 2008, Waked joined the cast of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
/HBO television series House of Saddam
House of Saddam
House of Saddam is a 2008 drama that charts the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein. A co-production between BBC Television and HBO Films, the series was first broadcast on BBC Two in four parts between 30 July and 20 August 2008. The mini-series has been very well received across the Arab...
to portray Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's son-in-law Hussein Kamel
Hussein Kamel
Hussein Kamel Hassan al-Majid was the son-in-law and second cousin of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. He defected to Jordan and assisted United Nations Special Commission and International Atomic Energy Agency inspection teams assigned to look for weapons of mass destruction in...
. Since the lead role of Saddam Hussein was played by Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i actor Yigal Naor
Yigal Naor
Yigal Naor is an Israeli actor.Naor was born in Giv'atayim of Iraqi Jewish descent. He has appeared in the American movies Munich, Green Zone and Rendition...
, Waked faced punishment by Egypt's Actors Union which opposes normalization of ties with Israel. The union threatened banning him from all future projects in Egypt.
In 2009 he was invited co-host of the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival, and in 2010 he rejoined the cast of Lahazat Harega.
Filmography
- Lilly (1991)
- Gannat Al Shayateen (2000) -- AKA "The Paradise of Fallen Angels"
- Ashab Walla Business (2001) -- AKA "Friends or Business"
- Min Nazret Ain (2003) -- AKA "At First Sight"
- Dail Al Samakah (2003) -- AKA "The Fish Tail"
- Sahar Al Layaly (2003) -- AKA "Sleepless Nights" (Voice)
- Ahla Al Awqat (2004) -- AKA "Best Times"
- Khalty Faransa (2004) -- AKA "Auntie Faransa"
- Tito (2004)
- Seeb Wana Aseeb (2004) -- AKA "You Let Go, Then I Let Go"
- Dam Al Ghazal (2005) -- AKA "The Gazelle's Blood"
- SyrianaSyrianaSyriana is a 2005 geopolitical thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, and executive produced by George Clooney, who also stars in the film with an ensemble cast. Gaghan's screenplay is loosely adapted from Robert Baer's memoir See No Evil...
(2005) - Kalam Fel Hob (2006) -- AKA "Talk About Love"
- Elaqat Khassa (2006) -- AKA "Private Relations"
- Genenet Al Asmak (2008) -- AKA "The Aquarium"
- Ibrahim Al Abyad (2009)
- Al MosaferThe Traveller (2009 film)The Traveller is an Egyptian Film directed by Ahmed Maher The story takes place in the course of three days of the life of Hassan, the octogenarian protagonist, played by Khaled El Nabawy as the young Hassan and Omar Sharif as the older Hassan...
(2009) -- AKA "The Traveler" - Il Padre E Lo Straniero (2010) -- AKA (The Father and the Stranger)
- Alf Leila We Leila (2010) -- AKA (One Thousand and One Nights)
- ContagionContagion (film)Contagion is a 2011 American medical thriller disaster film directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film has an ensemble cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, and Bryan Cranston. Contagion follows the rapid progress of a lethal...
(2011) - Salmon Fishing in the YemenSalmon Fishing in the YemenSalmon Fishing in the Yemen is an upcoming British comedy film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Kristin Scott Thomas. The screenplay is by Simon Beaufoy, based on a novel of the same name by Paul Torday. Principal photography began on August 6, 2010 and was...
(2012) [post production]
Television
- "Lahazat Harega" "Critical Moments, Season One" (32+ episodes, 2007)
- House of SaddamHouse of SaddamHouse of Saddam is a 2008 drama that charts the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein. A co-production between BBC Television and HBO Films, the series was first broadcast on BBC Two in four parts between 30 July and 20 August 2008. The mini-series has been very well received across the Arab...
(3 episodes, 2008) - The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall (2008)
- "Lahazat Harega" "Critical Moments, Season Two" (32+ episodes, 2010)
- Abwab el khoof (2011)
Theater
- 1992, Afareet Hamza We Fatma as Hamza
- 1992, Vinegar Tom as The Devil
- 1993, Crimes Of The Heart as Doc
- 1993, Al Ghaba Al Saeeda as The Fox
- 1994, Tales From Agabad as Hero
- 1994, Compass Berserk as Montigu
- 1994, The Bus as Ahmed
- 1995, Oedipus The President as Prometheus
- 2000, Al Ze'ab Yohaddid Al Madinah as The Journalist
- 2002, Shabab Rewish Tahn as Ahmed
Awards & nominations
- 1999, won 'Film Writers and Critics Special Award' at Alexandria International Film FestivalAlexandria International Film FestivalAlexandria International Film Festival for Mediterranean Countries is the second oldest film festival in Egypt. Organized by the Egyptian Association of Film Writers and Critics . The AIFF aims to broaden film culture and strengthen the relationship between filmmakers throughout the world with a...
- 1999, won 'Best Supporting Actor' award at Alexandria International Film FestivalAlexandria International Film FestivalAlexandria International Film Festival for Mediterranean Countries is the second oldest film festival in Egypt. Organized by the Egyptian Association of Film Writers and Critics . The AIFF aims to broaden film culture and strengthen the relationship between filmmakers throughout the world with a...
for Gannat al shayateen - 2003, won 'Best Actor' award at Alexandria International Film FestivalAlexandria International Film FestivalAlexandria International Film Festival for Mediterranean Countries is the second oldest film festival in Egypt. Organized by the Egyptian Association of Film Writers and Critics . The AIFF aims to broaden film culture and strengthen the relationship between filmmakers throughout the world with a...
for Dail el samakah - 2006, won 'Special Award for Arabs in The International Cinema' at Cairo International Film FestivalCairo International Film FestivalThe Cairo International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cairo, Egypt. It was established in 1976 and was the first international film festival held in the Arab world...
for SyrianaSyrianaSyriana is a 2005 geopolitical thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, and executive produced by George Clooney, who also stars in the film with an ensemble cast. Gaghan's screenplay is loosely adapted from Robert Baer's memoir See No Evil... - 2006, won 'Horus Award' for 'Best Supporting Actor' at Cairo National Festival for Egyptian Cinema for Dam el ghazal
- 2010, won 'Best Supporting Actor' at Dear Guest Festival for Ibrahim Labyad
- 2010, won "Best Actor for Second Role" at Cairo National Festival for Egyptian Cinema for Ibrahim Labyad
External links
- Carlo Coppola, Anche l’attore Amr Waked sulle barricate del Cairo per la libertà, lsdmagazine.com (in Italian)