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Khalid AbdallaAnglo-Egyptian actor
Country:
 Egypt |
Content:
Biography of Khaled Abdalla
Khaled Abdalla, an English-Egyptian actor, gained international recognition after his role in the crime drama "United 93," which was nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA award in 2006. The film, directed by Paul Greengrass, depicts the events that unfolded on board United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001. Abdalla portrayed Ziad Jarrah, a Lebanese pilot and the leader of the four hijackers.
Early Life and Education
Khaled Abdalla was born in 1980 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, to a family with Egyptian roots. He grew up in London, England, and received his education at King's College School in Wimbledon, West London. Abdalla attended the same school as actor Ben Barnes and comedian Tom Basden. After completing high school, he enrolled at Queens' College, University of Cambridge, where he studied English literature.
During his school years, Abdalla discovered his passion for acting and excelled on stage. He landed the lead role in Shakespeare's tragedy "Macbeth" and directed Frank McGuinness's play "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me" in 1998. The latter received critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival and earned Abdalla the distinction of being the youngest director to receive such recognition. Following this success, Abdalla embarked on a year-long journey across the Middle East before resuming his acting career in Cambridge.
Acting Career and Activism
Abdalla showcased his talent in various theater productions, including leading roles in plays such as "Othello," "Britannicus," and "Equus." His performance in Enda Walsh's play "Bedbound" earned him the prestigious Cressida Trew of the Judges' Award for acting at the National Student Drama Festival. He further honed his skills at the Philippe Gaulier School in Paris.
In 2003, Abdalla played the titular role in Christopher Marlowe's play "Tamburlaine the Great" at the Rose Theatre. He made his television debut in 2005, appearing in an episode of the series "Spooks" titled "Infiltration of a New Threat." Following his portrayal of Ziad Jarrah in "United 93," Abdalla joined the ensemble cast of the drama "The Kite Runner." As preparation for his leading role in the film, Abdalla spent a month in Kabul, Afghanistan, immersing himself in the Dari language and learning to fly kites.
Abdalla agreed to play the role of Guy Pringle in the radio adaptation of "Fortunes of War" in 2008. He also starred as Freddie in Greengrass's action film "Green Zone" alongside Matt Damon. In 2009-2010, he produced and acted in the independent Egyptian film "In the Last Days of the City," which is currently in post-production.
In addition to his acting career, Abdalla has been involved in activism. In early 2011, he participated in the major protests on Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak. Abdalla is also a member of the board of directors of the National Student Drama Festival.
In November 2010, Abdalla received special recognition for his contributions to cinema at the Cairo International Film Festival.
