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Youssef Kerkour

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Youssef Kerkour is a Moroccan-British actor. He is best known for portraying Syrian refugee Sami in the comedy-drama series Home, a role for which he was nominated at the 2020 British Academy Television Awards.

Early life and education

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Kerkour grew up in Rabat, Morocco.[1] His father was a Moroccan mathematics professor and his mother an English schoolteacher; they had met in France in the 1960s and moved together to Morocco.[2]

As a child, Kerkour loved to sing and dance, and idolised Bruce Lee after his father took him to a screening of the film Enter the Dragon. In his early teens, Kerkour took a school trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, the home town of William Shakespeare, and attended a production of Henry V; he credits this experience with inspiring his love of acting.[2]

Kerkour moved to the United States to study psychology at Bard College, but spent much of his time taking dance and acting classes instead.[2] He began pursuing an acting career at the encouragement of a university professor.[3][2]

Career

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In 2001, Kerkour played The Visitor in a production of the Steve Martin play Picasso at the Lapin Agile.[4]

Unable to obtain a visa to remain in the United States, Kerkour moved to England and continued his acting career. He spent two years at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and five years with the Royal Shakespeare Company.[2]

Kerkour starred in the comedy-drama TV series Home, which debuted in March 2019 and lasted for two series.[1] In the series, he played Sami Ibrahim, a Syrian asylum seeker who moves in with a middle-class English family. The role was based on the experiences of real-ife Syrian refugee Hassan Akkad. Kerkour had not expected to be cast as Sami, since it was such a departure from the typecast violent characters he would usually play.[1] In 2020, he said:

"I spent my life playing terrorists. That's my USP, that's why I grew my beard. I'm a very big guy. I speak Arabic, so a big bearded Arabic man, there's really one kind of part, traditionally. [Playing] Sami is the first time somebody has taken the chance and given me something more."[1]

For his role as Sami, Kerkour was nominated for Best Male Comedy Performance at the 2020 British Academy Television Awards, losing the award to Jamie Demetriou (for Stath Lets Flats).[5]

In 2021, Kerkour starred in Ridley Scott film House of Gucci, playing the role of Iraqi Turkmen financier Nemir Kirdar.[6] He also appears in Scott's 2023 historical drama Napoleon, alongside Joaquin Phoenix.[7]

Kerkour is slated to appear in a film adaptation of The Alchemist, alongside Sebastian de Souza and Tom Hollander.[2] In August 2024, it was announced that Kerkour had been cast as Steely Pate in the upcoming series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.[8]

Personal life

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As of July 2021, Kerkour was married, with a two-year-old daughter. He described himself as a "notorious coffee drinker" in the cafes of Soho.[2]

Filmography

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Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 American Tale Nate Collins Short film
2006 Cross Eyed Ernie
Infinite Justice Drunk G.I.
The Discipline of D.E. Bartender / Drunkard / Cop Short film
2010 Idle-Hands Achilles Short film
2011 360 Policeman Phoenix (Morgue)
The Lighter Boris Short film
2013 Hummingbird Bouzanis
Side by Side Dark Knight
2017 Lost in London Winston the Bouncer
2018 Another Day of Life Farrusco
2019 Close Mr. Kabila
Hamsbury Book Club George Short film
2021 Ron's Gone Wrong Additional voice
House of Gucci Nemir Kirdar
Pirates Uncle Ibbs
2022 A Bit of Light Joseph
2023 Matar Jameel
Napoleon Marshal Davout
2024 A Bit of Light Joseph
TBA The Actor Black Jack / Ed / Defense Attorney / Bus driver Post-production[9][10]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 The Path to 9/11 Red / Abouhalima 2 episodes
2007 Holby City Jalil Amara Episode: "Someone to Watch Over Me"
2013 Royal Shakespeare Company: Richard II Lord Willoughby Television film
2014 Royal Shakespeare Company: Henry IV Part I Westmoreland
Royal Shakespeare Company: Henry IV Part II
Royal Shakespeare Company: The Two Gentlemen of Verona Eglamour, Sir
2016 Marcella Hassan El-Sayed 2 episodes
2017 Doctors Jamahl Habib Episode: "It's Strange"
Strike Back Sabil Adiz Episode: "Retribution: Part 1"
Bounty Hunters Youssef 3 episodes
2018 Jack Ryan Mr. Sadik Episode: "End of Honor"
Nightflyers Hartley Suczek 3 episodes
2019 Criminal: UK Jay Muthassin Episode: "Jay"
Gavin & Stacey Emlyn Episode: "A Special Christmas"
2019–2020 Home Sami 12 episodes
2020 Dracula Olgaren Episode: "Blood Vessel"
Sex Education Nathan Episode #2.5
Baghdad Central Karl 6 episodes
Cursed Pellam 3 episodes
Worzel Gummidge Farmer Brawn Episode: "Saucy Nancy"
2021 0121 Mr. Simmons Miniseries
Domina Maecenas 3 episodes
Stay Close Fester 6 episodes
2022 Murder, They Hope Bob Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Scream"
Doctor Who: The Seventh Doctor Adventures Agrandir (voice) Episode: "London Orbital"
2023 Man Like Mobeen Megalodon 4 episodes
Significant Other Sam 6 episodes[11]
Death in Paradise Dave Chadwick Episode: "Christmas Special"
2024 We Might Regret This Baker Episode: "Series 1, Episode 3"
Disclaimer Richard Perkins Episode: "I"
2025 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Steely Pate In Production
TBA Lockerbie Nabil In Production

Video games

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Year Title Role
2003 Conflict: Desert Storm II US Foley, US Sgt. Arnold
2004 Street Racing Syndicate Voice
2020 Assassin's Creed Valhalla French Militant
2021 Assassin's Creed Valhalla – The Siege of Paris Voice
2023 Saltsea Chronicles Jayantha / Miquel / QA (voice)
2024 Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Orod / Deserter / Erlik (voice)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Badih, Samia (18 June 2020). "'We should tell our stories': How Youssef Kerkour is knocking down Arab stereotypes, one role at a time". The National. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Maghribi, Layla (23 July 2021). "Much ado about something: Youssef Kerkour just had to be a big shot". The National. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Youssef Kerkour | Performer". bafta.org. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  4. ^ Osenlund, Kathryn (2001). "A CurtainUp Review: Picasso at the Lapin Agile". curtainup.com. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  5. ^ "BAFTA TV 2020: Winners of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". BAFTA. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  6. ^ "'House of Gucci' star Youssef Kerkour on working with director Ridley Scott". Arab News. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Youssef Kerkour on "House of Gucci" and Challenging Typecasting". goldenglobes.com. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. ^ Petski, Denise (8 August 2024). "'A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' 'Game Of Thrones' Prequel Adds 7 To Cast". Deadline.
  9. ^ "Youssef Kerkour". Spotlight.com. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. ^ McDonald, David (29 October 2022). "The Actor: Olwen Fouéré Joins Cast of Crime Thriller". FilmBook.
  11. ^ Whittock, Jesse; Shackleton, Liz (14 November 2022). "Mark Heap Joins ITVX Comedy 'Significant Other'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
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