Barkhad Abdi

Birthday: 10 April 1985, Mogadishu, Somalia

Birth Name: Barkhad Abdinasir Abdi

Height: 178 cm

Barkhad Abdi was born on April 10, 1985 in Mogadishu, Somalia as Barkhad Abdinasir Abdi. He is an actor, known for Captain Phillips (2013), The Oscars (2014) and Eye in the Sky (2015).

I used to play football all the time. In the U.S., people don't play football, so I had to learn bas...Show more »

I used to play football all the time. In the U.S., people don't play football, so I had to learn basketball. Looking back, that's what I like about my life - doing new things, having a new perspective. Show less «

I just want to keep acting and better my craft and see how far it goes.

I would DJ pool parties in Minneapolis, but I never swam there!

I left Somalia when I was seven years old, but I witnessed a whole year in a war.

What I believe will make my acting career successful going forward is hard work. I like to challenge...Show more »

What I believe will make my acting career successful going forward is hard work. I like to challenge myself. Then it's the people I meet and choosing the projects I want to work on correctly. There's a lot of characters I can play. Show less «

I was lucky enough to have parents that took me out from country to country and go to school and lea...Show more »

I was lucky enough to have parents that took me out from country to country and go to school and learn how to be a better person. Show less «

I was never interested in becoming an actor. I was directing videos. I was never into acting. I was ...Show more »

I was never interested in becoming an actor. I was directing videos. I was never into acting. I was into shooting music videos. I've only ever been behind the camera. Never in front of it. Show less «

When you work with a great director, you realise you are far from being a director.

When I was leaving Yemen to come to America, things were tough. My dad had just been laid off, and i...Show more »

When I was leaving Yemen to come to America, things were tough. My dad had just been laid off, and it was a challenge. When I lived in Yemen, I thought America was a perfect place. Everything was bigger and better. I dreamed big. The American dream, you know? You have to work hard for your dream to come true. Show less «

I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster f...Show more »

I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds of films, dramas, romance. I'll watch comedies. I like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle. I'd like to meet them. Show less «

I don't see myself only as a Somali character. I think of myself as an actor, and if the job fits me...Show more »

I don't see myself only as a Somali character. I think of myself as an actor, and if the job fits me and I like the story, I will go for it. Show less «

It is weird. A lot of people try to ask me political questions. I'm not a politician.

Barkhad Abdi

Barkhad Abdi's FILMOGRAPHY

Barkhad Abdi'S roles

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