Youssef Kerkour
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[]
Kerkour grew up in Rabat, Morocco.[1] His father was a Moroccan mathematics professor and his mother an English school teacher; they had met in France in the 1960s and moved together to Morocco.[2] As a child, Kerkour loved to sing and dance,[2] and idolised Bruce Lee after his father took him to a screening of the film Enter the Dragon.[2] 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[]
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 continue his acting career.[2] 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 series Home, which debuted in March 2019 and lasted 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.[1] 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] Kerkour is slated to appear in a film adaptation of The Alchemist, alongside Sebastian de Souza and Tom Hollander.[2]
Personal life[]
As of 2021, Kerkour is married and has a two-year-old daughter.[2] He has lived in London for two decades, and describes himself as a "notorious coffee drinker" in the cafes of Soho.[2]
Filmography[]
Film[]
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 |
Television[]
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 |
Video games[]
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2003 | Conflict: Desert Storm II | US Foley, US Sgt. Arnold |
2004 | Street Racing Syndicate | Voice |
References[]
- ^ a b c d e 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.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Maghribi, Layla (23 July 2021). "Much ado about something: Youssef Kerkour just had to be a big shot". The National. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "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.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "BAFTA TV 2020: Winners of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". www.bafta.org. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- Living people
- Moroccan actors
- British actors