“I’m up for the adventure,” actor Barkhad Abdi told The Guardian in 2014. He took this attitude after his sudden rise to the spotlight with his role as Abduwali Muse in Captain Phillips. His current adventure? The creepy world of Stephen King in Castle Rock.
The anthology series’ second season incorporates a number of plotlines, including a young Annie Wilkes from King’s Misery. Abdi plays the role of Abdi Omar, a Somali immigrant fighting to build a community center in nearby Jerusalem’s Lot.
Barkhad Abdi launches to fame with Captain Phillips
Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Abdi grew up primarily in Minneapolis due to war breaking out in Somalia in 1991. Until his acting debut, Abdi worked as a limousine driver in his father’s company, and dabbled in hip-hop. He mentions also working on his own film, but after his experience in Hollywood he says humbly, “when you work with a great director you realize you are far from being a director.”
Abdi went to the Captain Phillips audition with three of his friends, who had heard about an open casting call for young Somali men.
“We auditioned together, we went home and we practiced,” remembers Abdi. “We loved acting and we really wanted to get this.” All four friends got parts – Abdi got the lead, acting opposite Tom Hanks.
An improvised line makes waves in Hollywood
Rarely do actors win Oscars for their first ever acting role – but that’s just what happened to Abdi.
Abdi delivers the movie’s most iconic line: “Look at me,” he says. “I’m the captain now.”
In fact, he improvised the line as a result of the tension that built up in the scene, and his anxiety as a new actor in such an intense role. He took these feelings and channeled them into a truly chilling performance.
Additionally, Abdi uniquely qualified for this role in many ways, from his unexpectedly commanding presence to the fact that his life story reflects the same hope that his character holds in the film.
As a result of the tremendous success of Captain Phillips, Abdi found himself a recognized face in the streets. This happened so much that he could no longer work in his brother’s shop, since people would come just to see him.
He also found himself confronted with a lot of political questions. He often felt treated as a kind of representative of the Somali-American community in American media. However, his response consistently has been praise of the adaptability of the community within and outside of Somalia. He has steered clear of further politics.
Barkhad Abdi returns to the screen
Several roles after Captain Phillips later, Abdi joined the main cast of Hulu’s Castle Rock for its second season. Described as a “psychological horror anthology web television series”, the show is based on the works of the legendary horror author Stephen King.
In the series, Abdi’s character has tensions with his adopted family over a plan he is making to help his community. The show weaves together multiples storylines, including that of two Somali immigrants adopted into Castle Rock and the tensions that ensue, throwing in horror and intrigue.
Season 2 of Castle Rock is available to stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime, alongside many other entertaining options.
