Wikipedia

Adeel Akhtar

Adeel Hamayun Akhtar (born 18 September 1980) is a British actor. He won the 2017 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor for his role in Murdered by My Father (2016); He received the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Sherwood (2022); He won the Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance for his role in Sweet Tooth (2022).

Adeel Akhtar
Akhtar in 2026
Born
Adeel Hamayun Akhtar

(1980-09-18) September 18, 1980 (age 45)
London, England
EducationCheltenham College
Alma mater
OccupationActor
Years active2002–present

Other credits include Four Lions (2010), The Dictator (2012), Pan (2015), Murdered by My Father (2016), Victoria & Abdul (2017), The Night Manager (2016), Ghosted (2017–2018), Back to Life (2019), Enola Holmes (2020), Ali & Ava (2021), Showtrial (2024), Fool Me Once (2024), and Down Cemetery Road (2025).

Early life and education

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Adeel Humayan Akhtar[citation needed] was born in Hammersmith, London to a Pakistani father and an Indo-Kenyan mother.[1]

Akhtar was privately educated at Cheltenham College[2] He completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree at Oxford Brookes University, after which he decided to follow his passion and change to acting, training at the Actors Studio Drama School, part of The New School in New York City.[3] While travelling to New York to audition for the New School, Akhtar was detained and questioned by the FBI at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport after a tip-off from security staff at Heathrow Airport in London, who had mistaken him for a suspect on a security watchlist circulated after the September 11 attacks.[4] He says that this experience has informed the acting roles which he has chosen.[5]

Career

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Akhtar began his acting career performing at the Half Moon Theatre in London.[6] His first major film role was as the bumbling Muslim extremist Faisal in Chris Morris's film Four Lions (2010).[7][8] Other comedic performances include Gupta in The Angelos Epithemiou Show,[9] as Maroush alongside Sacha Baron Cohen in The Dictator (2012),[9] and Smee in Joe Wright 's Pan (2015).[10]

In 2014, Akhtar was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Wilson Wilson on Channel 4's Utopia.[11] He played shopkeeper Ahmed alongside Toby Jones in the BBC mini-series Capital (2015),[12] and DS Ira King in the BBC's River.[13]

In 2016, Akhtar appeared as Shahzad in the BBC one-off drama Murdered by My Father, for which, he won the 2017 BAFTA award for Lead Actor.[14] thus becoming the first non-white best actor bafta winner.[15] In 2017, he also took part in the American romantic comedy film playing the role of the protagonist's brother, Naveed, in The Big Sick (2017),[16] and appeared as Mohammed Bakhsh in Victoria & Abdul (2017).[16] He appeared as Rob Singhal in the BBC miniseries based on John le Carré's The Night Manager.[17] He played Barry Shaw for 2 seasons of Ghosted (2017–2018).[16]

In 2019, Akhtar appeared as Billy in the BBC Three series, Back to Life,[18] written by Daisy Haggard and Laura Solon, returning in 2021 for the second series.[18] He played Inspector Lestrade in the film Enola Holmes (2020).[16] in 2022, he was for BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for playing Ali in Ali & Ava (2021).[19]

In 2024, Akhtar appeared as Sam Malik in the second series of BBC drama Showtrial.[20] He played DS Sami Kierce alongside Michelle Keegan in the Netflix series Fool Me Once (2024).[21]

In 2025 he starred as Hamza in 8 episodes of Down Cemetery Road.[16]

Other activities

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In 2016, Akhtar became a patron of the Half Moon Theatre, Whitechapel.[6]

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2008TraitorHamzi
2010Four LionsFaisal
Side by SideIsaacShort film
Stranger ThingsMani[22]
2012The DictatorMaroush
2013JadooVinod
ConvenienceShaan
The Cost of LivingJimmyShort films
Keeping Up with the JonesesJerry
2014War BookMo
2015PanSmee
2016The Big Return of Ray LamereRayShort film
2017The Big SickNaveed
HampsteadWiggin
Victoria & AbdulMohammed Bakhsh
2018Swimming with MenKurt
The TherapistAdamShort film
2019Murder MysteryMaharajah Vikram Govindan
The ShowCarpenter
2020The NestSteve
Enola HolmesInspector Lestrade
2021Ali & AvaAliNominated - British Academy Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Everybody's Talking About JamieIman Masood
The Electrical Life of Louis WainDan Rider
Robin RobinDad Mouse (voice)Short film
2022Save the CinemaMayor Tom
Enola Holmes 2Inspector Lestrade
2023Murder Mystery 2Maharajah Vikram Govindan[23]
F.O.GSanjayShort films
The Puppet AsylumThe Narrator
The WalkAmar
TBAElsinore †TBA

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2002Let's Roll: The Story of Flight 93Hijacker Saeed Al GhamdiTelevision film
2006Law & Order: Criminal IntentHazimEpisode: "Dollhouse"
ConvictionDr. Darpan BanerjeeEpisode: "Downhill"
2010Angelos Epithemiou's Moving OnGupta5 episodes
2011Coming UpHasanEpisode: "Hooked"
Comedy ShowcaseGuptaEpisode: "The Angelos Neil Epithemou Show"
2013TrolliedRaySeries 3; 13 episodes
The TunnelAnwar RashidEpisode #1.7
Coming UpBazEpisode: "Doughnuts"
2013–2014The Job LotGeorge Dhot9 episodes
UtopiaWilson Wilson11 episodes
Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor[24]
2015RiverDetective Sergeant Ira KingMini-series. 6 episodes
Capital[12]Ahmed Kamal3 episodes
2016The Night Manager[25]Rob Singhal5 episodes
Murdered by My FatherShahzadTelevision film
Won – British Academy Television Award for Best Actor
FlowersDoctorEpisode #1.4
The CircuitGabeTelevision films
The Last DragonslayerMr. Brittles
2017UnforgottenHassan MahmoudSeries 2; 6 episodes
Apple Tree YardJaspreetMini-series. 2 episodes
2017–2018GhostedBarry ShawMain cast. 16 episodes
2018Fairy JobMagical AhmedMini-series. 3 episodes
CounterpartCasper2 episodes
2018–2019Les MisérablesMonsieur Thénardier6 episodes
2019–2021Back to LifeBilly11 episodes
2019–2022Killing EveMartin5 episodes
2021–2024Sweet ToothAditya SinghMain role. 23 episodes
Nominated – Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance (2022)
Won - Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance (2023)
2022SherwoodAndy FisherMain cast. 5 episodes
Won – British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor
2024Fool Me OnceDS Sami KierceMini-series. Main cast. 8 episodes [21]
ShowtrialSam MalikSeries 2
Black Doves Prime Minister Richard Eaves Co-starring
2025 Down Cemetery Road Hamza 8 episodes
2026 Who Do You Think You Are? Himself One episode[26]

Stage

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Awards and honours

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In January 2026, Akhtar was interviewed by Lauren Laverne as a castaway on the BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs.[2] Akhtar's other awards and honours include:

Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
British Academy Television Awards 2015 Best Supporting Actor Utopia Nominated [27]
2017 Best Actor Murdered by My Father Won [28]
British Academy Film Awards 2022 Best Actor in a Leading Role Ali & Ava Nominated [19]
British Academy Television Awards 2023 Best Supporting Actor Sherwood Won [29]
Children's and Family Emmy Awards 2022 Outstanding Supporting Performance Sweet Tooth Nominated [30]
2023 Won [31]
Royal Television Society Programme Awards 2025 Leading Actor: Male Showtrial Nominated [32]

References

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  1. ↑ Moshakis, Alex (6 February 2022). "'I've had some hairy experiences': actor Adeel Akhtar on racism, role models and feeling hopeful". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 Laverne, Lauren (2026). "Adeel Akhtar, actor: Desert Island Discs". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  3. ↑ Fisher, Alice; John, Emma; Shaitly, Shahesta (11 May 2014). "Dominic West, Adeel Akhtar, Rory Kinnear, Andrew Buchan, Jodie Whittaker, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Simon Bird: Bafta TV awards 2014". The Observer. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  4. ↑ Bowcott, Owen (4 March 2002). "Briton held as terror suspect threatens to sue FBI". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  5. ↑ Khomami, Nadia (22 June 2025). "Interview | Adeel Akhtar: 'It seemed late in the day to start noticing Asian actors ... we've been here a really long time'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Adeel Akhtar on Stages of Half Moon". stagesofhalfmoon.org.uk.
  7. ↑ Greenstreet, Rosanna (2018). "Adeel Akhtar: 'My wife says I'm a tired, older version of Riz Ahmed'". theguardian.com. The Guardian.
  8. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (6 May 2010). "Review: Four Lions". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Adeel Akhtar". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  10. ↑ Ford, Rebecca (24 April 2014). "Amanda Seyfried Joins Warner Bros.' Peter Pan Adaptation". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "Who should win best supporting actor at the TV Baftas 2015?". Radio Times. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Capital | Episode 1". BBC iPlayer. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "River | Episode 1". BBC iPlayer. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Bafta TV Awards 2017: All the winners and nominees". BBC News. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "Bafta TV awards: Adeel Akhtar is first non-white best actor winner". BBC News. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Adeel Akhtar Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "The Night Manager". BBC iPlayer. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  18. 1 2 Morris, Lauren (1 September 2021). "Back to Life season 3: Release date rumours, cast, plot and news around BBC Three comedy-drama's return". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  19. 1 2 "WILL SMITH - LEADING ACTOR". bafta.org. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2024.[dead link]
  20. ↑ "Showtrial". Series 2. 13 October 2024. BBC TV. BBC One. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  21. 1 2 Oganesyan, Natalie (20 February 2023). "Netflix Adapting Harlan Coben's 'Fool Me Once' With Star Michelle Keegan". The Wrap. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  22. ↑ "Stranger Things". The New York Times. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  23. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (24 January 2022). "Jodie Turner-Smith, Mark Strong Join Netflix's 'Murder Mystery 2'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  24. ↑ Ritman, Alex (8 April 2015). "BAFTA TV Awards: Benedict Cumberbatch Gets Third Nomination for 'Sherlock'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  25. ↑ Gill, James (18 May 2017). "Meet the cast of The Night Manager". The Radio Times. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  26. ↑ "Who Do You Think You Are? spring 2026 line-up revealed". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 30 March 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "Supporting Actor". Bafta. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  28. ↑ "Bafta TV awards 2017: Full list of winners". The Guardian. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  29. ↑ "Bafta TV awards 2023: the full list of winners". The Guardian. 14 May 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  30. ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (1 November 2022). "Emmys: Mysterious Benedict Society, Sneakerella, Heartstopper, Sweet Tooth Lead Children's & Family Nominees". TVLine. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  31. ↑ Coates, Tyler. "Children's & Family Emmy Awards: Disney Dominates Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  32. ↑ "RTS announces winners of the RTS Programme Awards 2025". rts.org.uk. 25 March 2025.


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