I left Somalia when I was seven years old, but I witnessed a whole year in a war.

I just want to keep acting and better my craft and see how far it goes.
BARKHAD ABDI

Acting Crafts Want
I was lucky enough to have parents that took me out from country to country and go to school and learn how to be a better person.
BARKHAD ABDI

Country Parent School
What I believe will make my acting career successful going forward is hard work. I like to challenge myself. Then it’s the people I meet and choosing the projects I want to work on correctly. There’s a lot of characters I can play.
BARKHAD ABDI

Believe Character Hard Work
When you work with a great director, you realise you are far from being a director.
BARKHAD ABDI

Director Far Realising Work
I left Somalia when I was seven years old, but I witnessed a whole year in a war.
BARKHAD ABDI

Seven War Years
It is weird. A lot of people try to ask me political questions. Im not a politician.
BARKHAD ABDI

People Political Trying
I dont see myself only as a Somali character. I think of myself as an actor, and if the job fits me and I like the story, I will go for it.
BARKHAD ABDI

Character Jobs Thinking
The line was originally, ‘Captain Phillips, get a load of me: fancy-free on the seven seas,’ but I ad-libbed.
BARKHAD ABDI

Fancy Lines Sea

More Barkhad Abdi Quotes