Adeel Akhtar
Known for
Adeel Akhtar is a British actor of Pakistani descent, born in London in 1980, who has quietly become one of the UK's most respected character players. He first drew notice as the hapless would-be jihadist Faisal in Chris Morris's satire 'Four Lions' (2010) and as Wilson Wilson in 'Utopia' (2013-2014). In 2017 he became the first non-white actor to win the BAFTA for best television actor, for 'Murdered by My Father', and earned another nomination for the romance 'Ali & Ava' (2021). Wider audiences know him from 'The Big Sick' (2017), 'Enola Holmes' (2020) and 'Murder Mystery' (2019). Melancholy and comedy sit unusually close together in his work.
Adeel Akhtar
29 Movies
21 Series
Adeel Akhtar is a British actor of Pakistani descent, born in London in 1980, who has quietly become one of the UK's most respected character players. He first drew notice as the hapless would-be jihadist Faisal in Chris Morris's satire 'Four Lions' (2010) and as Wilson Wilson in 'Utopia' (2013-2014). In 2017 he became the first non-white actor to win the BAFTA for best television actor, for 'Murdered by My Father', and earned another nomination for the romance 'Ali & Ava' (2021). Wider audiences know him from 'The Big Sick' (2017), 'Enola Holmes' (2020) and 'Murder Mystery' (2019). Melancholy and comedy sit unusually close together in his work.
Movies
Plays Maroush
The Dictator
2012
Plays Lestrade
Enola Holmes
2020
Plays Lestrade
Enola Holmes 2
2022
Plays Naveed Nanjiani
The Big Sick
2017
Plays Steve
The Nest
2020
Plays The Maharajah
Murder Mystery 2
2023
Plays Sam "Smee" Smiegel
Pan
2015
Plays The Maharajah
Murder Mystery
2019
Plays Dan Rider
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
2021
Plays Faisal
Four Lions
2010
Plays Mohammed
Victoria & Abdul
2017
Plays Hamzi
Traitor
2008
Plays Dad Mouse (voice)
Robin Robin
2021
Plays Donald's Lawyer
Hampstead
2017
Plays Iman Masood
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
2021
Plays Kurt
Swimming with Men
2018
Plays Shaan
Convenience
2015
Plays Tom
Save the Cinema
2022
Plays Ali
Ali & Ava
2022
Plays Vinod
Jadoo
2013
Plays Mo
War Book
2015
Plays Shahzad
Murdered by My Father
2016
Plays Jerry
Keeping Up with the Joneses
2013
Plays Gabe
The Circuit
2016
Plays Mani
Stranger Things
2013
TV Shows
Plays Dr. Aditya Singh
Sweet Tooth
2021
Plays Dr. Barry Shaw
Ghosted
2017
Plays Wilson Wilson
Utopia
2013
Plays Billy
Back to Life
2019
Plays George Dhot
The Job Lot
2013
Plays Sami Kierce
Fool Me Once
2024
Plays Hamza Malik
Down Cemetery Road
2025
Plays Ira King
River
2015
Plays Gupta
The Angelos Epithemiou Show
2012
Plays Rob Singhal
The Night Manager
2016
Plays Andy Fisher
Sherwood
2022
Plays Thénardier
Les Misérables
2018
Plays Sam Malik
Showtrial
2021
Plays Martin
Killing Eve
2018
Plays Ahmed
Capital
2015
Plays Prime Minister Eaves
Black Doves
2024
Plays Casper
Counterpart
2017
Plays Darpan Banerjee
Conviction
2006
Plays Hazim
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
Plays Doctor
Flowers
2016
Plays Wilson Wilson
Utopia
2013
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
National Theatre Live: The Estate
Full Filmography
Down Cemetery Road
Hamza Malik · 8 episodes
2025
TV
National Theatre Live: The Estate
Angad Singh
2025
Film
Showtrial
Sam Malik · 5 episodes
2024
TV
Fool Me Once
Sami Kierce · 8 episodes
2024
TV
Black Doves
Prime Minister Eaves · 3 episodes
2024–
TV
The Walk
Amar
2023
Film
Murder Mystery 2
The Maharajah
2023
Film
Sherwood
Andy Fisher · 6 episodes
2022
TV
Killing Eve
Martin · 5 episodes
2019–2022
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Adeel Akhtar and where are they from?
Adeel Akhtar is 45 years old, born on September 18, 1980 in London, England, UK.
What are the most famous roles of Adeel Akhtar?
Adeel Akhtar is best known for roles in Enola Holmes, The Dictator, Murder Mystery.
How many movies has Adeel Akhtar been in?
Over a 18-year career (since 2008), Adeel Akhtar has appeared in 29 movies and 21 TV shows.
What was Adeel Akhtar's first movie?
The career of Adeel Akhtar began with Traitor (2008).
What is Adeel Akhtar's most recent movie or series?
Adeel Akhtar's most recent release is National Theatre Live: The Estate, which premiered on November 12, 2025.
What TV shows has Adeel Akhtar appeared in?
On television, Adeel Akhtar has appeared in Sweet Tooth, Killing Eve, The Night Manager, Utopia.
Does Adeel Akhtar have any upcoming projects?
Yes, Adeel Akhtar's upcoming work includes: Letters to My Younger Future Self (2026), Elsinore (2026).
Adeel Akhtar
1980-09-18 · London, England, UK
Akhtar is known for the bumbling Muslim extremist Faisal in Chris Morris's film Four Lions. Other comedic performances include Gupta in The Angelos Epithemiou Show, Maroush in The Dictator and Smee in Joe Wright and Pan.
Akhtar has also won acclaim for his dramatic performances: in 2015, he was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his 2014 role as Wilson Wilson on Channel 4's Utopia. He played shopkeeper Ahmed alongside Toby Jones in the BBC mini-series Capital, and DS Ira King in the BBC's River. Reviewing River in The Daily Telegraph, Michael Hogan wrote, "This series was beautifully written by Abi Morgan, stylishly directed, and most of all, superbly acted. The quieter, less showy supporting players also shone. Not just stalwarts [...] but fresher faces: Adeel Akhtar as River's endlessly patient sidekick and Georgina Rich as his psychiatrist".
In 2016 Akhtar appeared as Shahzad in the BBC one-off drama Murdered by My Father. He won the 2017 BAFTA award for Lead Actor for this role, the first non-white actor to do so. He also appeared as Rob Singhal in the acclaimed BBC miniseries based on John le Carré's The Night Manager.
Adeel became a patron of Half Moon Theatre in autumn 2016.