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[edit]
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[edit]
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]
Personal life[edit]
As of July 2021[update], Kerkour was married, with a two-year-old daughter. He described himself as a "notorious coffee drinker" in the cafes of Soho.[2]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Cross Eyed | Ernie | |
| 2006 | Infinite Justice | Drunk G.I. | |
| 2011 | 360 | Policeman Phoenix (Morgue) | |
| 2013 | Hummingbird | Bouzanis | |
| 2013 | Side by Side | Dark Knight | |
| 2017 | Lost in London | Winston the Bouncer | |
| 2018 | Another Day of Life | Farrusco | |
| 2019 | Close | Mr. Kabila | |
| 2021 | Ron's Gone Wrong | Additional voice | |
| 2021 | House of Gucci | Nemir Kirdar | |
| 2021 | Pirates | Uncle Ibbs | |
| 2023 | Napoleon | Marshal Davout | |
| 2024 | A Bit of Light | Joseph | |
| TBA | The Actor | Black Jack/Ed/Defense Attorney/Busdriver[8][9] | Post-production |
Television[edit]
| 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 | |
| 2014 | Royal Shakespeare Company: Henry IV Part II | ||
| 2014 | 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" |
| 2017 | Strike Back | Sabil Adiz | Episode: "Retribution: Part 1" |
| 2017 | Bounty Hunters | Youssef | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Jack Ryan | Mr. Sadik | Episode: "End of Honor" |
| 2018 | Nightflyers | Hartley Suczek | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Criminal: UK | Jay Muthassin | Episode: "Jay" |
| 2019 | Gavin & Stacey | Emlyn | Episode: "A Special Christmas" |
| 2019–2020 | Home | Sami | 12 episodes |
| 2020 | Dracula | Olgaren | Episode: "Blood Vessel" |
| 2020 | Sex Education | Nathan | Episode #2.5 |
| 2020 | Baghdad Central | Karl | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | Cursed | Pellam | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Worzel Gummidge | Farmer Brawn | Episode: "Saucy Nancy" |
| 2021 | 0121 | Mr. Simmons | Miniseries |
| 2021 | Domina | Maecenas | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Stay Close | Fester | 8 episodes |
| 2023 | Man Like Mobeen | Megalodon | 4 episodes |
| 2023 | Significant Other | Sam | 6 episodes[10] |
Video games[edit]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Conflict: Desert Storm II | US Foley, US Sgt. Arnold |
| 2004 | Street Racing Syndicate | Voice |
References[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Youssef Kerkour | Performer". www.bafta.org. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ Osenlund, Kathryn (2001). "A CurtainUp Review: Picasso at the Lapin Agile". www.curtainup.com. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "'House of Gucci' star Youssef Kerkour on working with director Ridley Scott". Arab News. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Youssef Kerkour on "House of Gucci" and Challenging Typecasting". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Youssef Kerkour". Spotlight.com. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ McDonald, David (29 October 2022). "THE ACTOR: Olwen Fouéré Joins Cast of Crime Thriller". FilmBook.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse; Shackleton, Liz (14 November 2022). "Mark Heap Joins ITVX Comedy 'Significant Other'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
