Adeel Akhtar, known for roles in Four Lions, Black Doves, and Sherwood, has opened up about his identity, career, and family history in a new interview. The 45-year-old actor, who made history as the first non-white male to win the Bafta for lead actor, reflected on his early experiences as a Brown man growing up in the UK.
Early struggles and industry pressure
Akhtar recalled attending a predominantly white boarding school as a teenager, which he described as tough. 'Just trying to work out your racial and cultural identity in a space where you had to work it out for yourself before you presented it,' he said. He also felt early roles were often stereotypical, and in his late 20s and early 30s he thought there was 'a template you have to adhere to.' However, he emphasised self-determination: 'You have to be self-determined in the idea of who you are and what you represent.'
Exploring family history on Who Do You Think You Are
In his upcoming episode of Who Do You Think You Are, Akhtar delves into his family's past. His mother, Mumtaz, arrived in Britain from Kenya at age 16 to avoid an arranged marriage, and his father is from Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The actor described revisiting his mother's story as 'a real gift to my mum.' Travelling to Nairobi, he uncovered systemic racism and attempted apartheid faced by his ancestors, as well as how his great-great-grandfather established an all-girls school his grandmother later attended.
Representation and legacy
Akhtar hopes his career inspires others to 'keep telling their stories,' citing writer Hanif Kureishi as an influence. He said, 'I'm a product of immigration. I'm a product of people having struggled to get to where they are.' Despite serious themes, he also enjoys lighter roles in thrillers like Black Doves, calling them 'a nice world to be in sometimes.'
Adeel Akhtar's episode of Who Do You Think You Are airs at 9pm on BBC One tonight and streams on BBC iPlayer.
