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Alexander SiddigEnglish actor and director
Date of Birth: 21.11.1965
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Early Life and Family
- Education and Theatrical Beginnings
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Career Breakthrough
- Post-Deep Space Nine Success
- Game of Thrones and Other Notable Roles
- Personal Life and Family
- Recent Projects and Shantaram
Early Life and Family
Alexander Siddig, born Siddig El Tahir El Fadil in Omdurman, Sudan, on November 21, 1965, descends from a lineage steeped in culture and history. His father, Tahir El Mahi, a Cambridge-educated Sudanese politician and brother of the late Prime Minister, descends from a line of Nubian religious leaders. His mother, Gloria, was a model and theater agent and the elder sister of acclaimed British actor Malcolm McDowell.
Education and Theatrical Beginnings
Young Siddig primarily spoke Arabic until moving to London with his family at age two. He studied geography and anthropology at University College London and later pursued acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Career Breakthrough
Siddig began his acting career in theater, but his breakout role came in 1993 as Dr. Julian Bashir in the series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." He initially auditioned for another role but impressed the casting directors with his performance, leading to his iconic portrayal.
Post-Deep Space Nine Success
After seven seasons on "Deep Space Nine," Siddig's career expanded with roles in films such as "Kingdom of Heaven," "Death on the Nile," and "Clash of the Titans." He also returned to theater in productions like "Whose Life Is It Anyway?"
Game of Thrones and Other Notable Roles
In 2014, Siddig joined the cast of "Game of Thrones" as Prince Doran Martell. He also portrayed Ra's al Ghul in the superhero series "Gotham" and artist Ruben Oliver in "Peaky Blinders."
Personal Life and Family
Siddig married actress Nana Visitor in 1997. They had a son, Django El Tahir El Fadil, in 1996, but divorced in 2001. In 2015, he married producer Shana Elliott.
Recent Projects and Shantaram
In 2021, Siddig joined the cast of the Apple TV+ series "Shantaram," replacing Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan in the role of Afghan mobster Kader Khan. The series premiered in October 2022 to critical acclaim.
