DUBAI: French-Algerian actor Tahar Rahim has been long listed for the 2021 British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards (BAFTA), it was announced this week.
The 39-year-old star is competing in the Leading Actor category for his role in the thriller-drama “The Mauritanian,” set for release on Feb. 26.
Just last week, the actor was nominated in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama category at the 2021 Golden Globes for the same role.
The film, which also stars actors Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch and Shailene Woodley, tells the story of Mohamedou Ould Salahi, who fights for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the US government after the 9/11 terror attacks.
“The Mauritanian” is not the only film competing at the BAFTAs that stars an Arab actor.
British director Ben Sharrock’s “Limbo,” which sees Egyptian-British actor Amir El-Masry star as a Syrian asylum-seeker who finds himself living on a small Scottish island, is long listed for the Outstanding British Film Award.
The nominations will be announced on March 9.
Rahim is best known for his roles in the 2021 mini crime series “The Serpent,” the US series “A Looming Tower” and the film “Mary Magdalene,” which he starred in alongside actors Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara.
Meanwhile, this year has been fruitful for El-Masry. In December, El-Masry was nominated for Best Actor in the British Independent Film Award, and in November the young actor secured a spot on the 2020 BAFTA Breakthrough Brits list.
