Riz Ahmed, an accomplished actor, rapper, and activist, has captivated audiences worldwide with his remarkable talent and compelling performances. Born in London to Pakistani parents, Ahmed’s journey in the entertainment industry has been characterized by his dedication to breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes.
In addition to his acting prowess, Ahmed has made significant contributions to the music scene. As a talented rapper under the moniker “Riz MC,” he has released thought-provoking tracks that tackle societal issues.
From Independent Films To Global Stardom
Ahmed studied acting at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He began his acting career with drama-based independent films such as “The Road To Guantanamo” directed by Michael Winterbottom which garnered critical acclaim. He was brought on again by Winterbottom for “Trishna” in 2011 which was nominated for Best Film at the London Film Festival, the Tokyo Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival, and for Politiken’s Audience Award at CPH:PIX in Copenhagen.
Ahmed finally broke onto the big screen in “Jason Bourne” and “Rouge One,” both filmed in 2016. He went on to play a lead role in the blockbuster hit, “Venom,” as antagonist Carlton Drake. Shortly after reaching mainstream success, Ahmed took on the role of writer and director of “Mogul Mowgli.” The film won Best Narrative Feature at the 2020 San Diego Asian Film Festival and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film.
Riz MC & Swet Shop Boys
Ahmed discovered a love for music while in his teens, inspired by Jungle and Hip Hop music. Throughout the mid-2000s, Ahmed created controversial and politically sensitive songs that would cause some of his music to be banned in the United Kingdom.
He competed as Riz MC on JumpOff TV’s “Spin the Mic” freestyle rap battle contest in 2006. Although he didn’t win, he beat many notable names. According to JumpOff TV, Riz was at a disadvantage due to racial double standards from the crowd. He opened the Meltdown Festival in 2008 with Bristol-based trip-hop group Massive Attack and was appointed “Emerging Artist in Residence” at the Southbank Centre in London.
Ahmed later formed the group Swet Shop Boys alongside musician Heems and producer Redinho. In 2016, they released their debut full-length album, “Cashmere,” and it received critical acclaim.
Among his musical appearances is “Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)” from The Hamilton Mixtape which topped the Billboard 200 chart. This created the rare combination of Ahmed sitting at number one on both the Billboard 200 album chart and the movie box office chart with “Rogue One” simultaneously.
What’s next for Riz Ahmed?
Ahmed has two notable works on the horizon that are generating a lot of buzz. He is set to play Prince Hamlet alongside Morfydd Clark in “Hamlet” directed by Aneil Karia. The film is set to be released by Netflix soon as filming wrapped in December of 2023. In the upcoming film “Relay,” Ahmed plays a secretive fixer for corporate companies. Co-stars include Lily James and Sam Worthington. The film is being directed and produced by David Mackenzie.
