{{Short description|British actor and filmmaker}} {{Infobox person | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1999 | birth_place = | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = 2019–present }} '''Adam Ali''' (born 1999) is a British actor and filmmaker. Ali began their career in the Apple TV+ anthology ''Little America'' and the feature film ''Europa'' (2021). Their short film ''Baba'' (2021) won two Iris Prizes. On television, Ali has since appeared in the BBC series ''Waterloo Road'' (2023–2024) and ''What It Feels Like for a Girl'' (2025).
==Early life== Ali was born in Libya and fled the civil war as a young child.<ref name="bni may 22">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bigissuenorth.com/features/2022/05/strong-and-silent/#close|title=Strong and silent|work=Big Issue North|first=Christian|last=Lisseman|date=9 May 2022|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref> After stints in Canada, Italy and Bristol, the family settled in Manchester.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/101-the-future-adam-ali-424844/|title='I'm freer than ever': For Waterloo Road star Adam Ali, acting is a form of activism|work=Attitude|first=Kanune|last=Morrissey|date=10 February 2023|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref> Ali took classes at the Television Workshop in Salford.<ref name="bni may 22"/>
==Career== Ali made their television debut in an installment of the Apple TV+ drama anthology ''Little America''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://decider.com/2020/01/17/little-america-cast-apple-tv-plus/|title='Little America' Cast Guide: Who's Who in Apple TV+'s Anthology Series|work=Decider|first=Brett|last=White|date=17 January 2020|accessdate=19 March 2020}}</ref> For their performance, Ali was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. This was followed by Ali's debut feature film role starring as Kamal in the 2021 thriller ''Europa'' directed by Haider Rashid.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/europa-review-1235139460/|title='Europa' Review: An Iraqi Refugee Runs for His Life|work=Variety|first=Richard|last=Kuipers|date=21 December 2021|accessdate=23 December 2021}}</ref> Ali also made their directorial debut with the short film ''Baba''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2023/08/29/baba-adam-ali-sam-arbor/|title=BABA - a queer short film set in Libya by Adam Ali & Sam Arbor|work=Short of the Week|first=Rob|last=Munday|date=29 August 2023|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref> ''Baba'' won the top Iris Prize as well as the prize in the British category.<ref name="attitude oct 21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/iris-prize-2021-baba-wins-both-30000-main-prize-and-best-british-award-303892/|title=Iris Prize 2021: Baba wins both £30,000 main prize and Best British award|work=Attitude|first=Jamie|last=Tabberer|date=10 October 2021|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref>
In 2023, Ali joined the cast of the BBC One school drama ''Waterloo Road'' for its eleventh series revival as Kai Sharif.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/01/03/adam-ali-waterloo-road-interview/|title=Waterloo Road reboot is bringing 'queer Arab magic' without the 'cliche tragedy', says actor Adam Ali|work=PinkNews|first=Asyia|last=Iftikhar|date=3 January 2023|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref> Ali also appeared in an episode of the Amazon Prime series ''The Power''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sapeople.com/fab-south-african-stuff/filming-in-south-africa-is-a-must-says-award-winning-foreign-actor-adam-ali/|title=Filming in South Africa is a Must, Says Award-Winning Foreign Actor Adam Ali|work=SA People|first=Cassie|last=Jo|date=1 February 2022|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref> and the Switchboard short film ''The Call''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/03/03/switchboard-lgbt-helpine-phone-number-adam-ali/|title=Waterloo Road's Adam Ali stars in powerful film to launch Switchboard LGBT free helpline number|work=Pink News|first=Charlie|last=Duncan|date=3 March 2023|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref> In 2025, Ali played Dirty Damian in the BBC Three adaptation of ''What It Feels Like for a Girl'' by Paris Lees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/g64955900/what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-cast-characters/|title='What It Feels Like For A Girl': Meet The Cast And Characters Of BBC's 'Visceral, Wild' New Drama|work=Elle UK|first=Panashe|last=Nyadundu|date=4 June 2025|accessdate=10 June 2025}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2019 | ''Blind'' | Daniel | Short film |- | 2021 | ''Expiation'' | Junayd | Short film |- | 2021 | ''Europa'' | Kamal | |- | 2021 | ''Baba'' | Britannia | Short film; directed, wrote |- | 2023 | ''The Call'' | Amir | Short film |- | 2025 | ''Truckload'' | George | Short film |- |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2020 | ''Little America'' | Zain | Anthology: "The Son" |- | 2023–2024 | ''Waterloo Road'' | Kai Sharif | 21 episodes (series 11–) |- | 2023 | ''The Power'' | Mahmud | Episode: "The Day of the Girls" |- | 2024 | ''Ludwig'' | Tour Guide | 1 episode |- | 2025 | ''What It Feels Like for a Girl'' | Dirty Damian | 7 episodes |- |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{Ref heading}} |- | rowspan="4" | 2021 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series | ''Little America'' | {{nom}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/04/2021-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-1234630882/|title=2021 Independent Spirit Awards Winner's List|work=IndieWire|first=Zack|last=Sharf|date=23 April 2021|accessdate=24 December 2021}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | Iris Prize | | rowspan="2" | ''Baba'' | {{won}} | rowspan="2" | <ref name="attitude oct 21"/> |- | Best British Short | {{won}} |- | Red Sea International Film Festival | Best Actor | ''Europa'' | {{won}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://graziamagazine.com/me/articles/culture-red-sea-international-film-festival-wins/|title=Red Sea International Film Festival: Big Wins, Star-Studded Red Carpet, And More|work=Grazia|first=Blanche|last=Dmello|date=2021|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | 2022 | Flickerfest | Best Rainbow Short | ''Baba'' | {{won}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://if.com.au/eddy-bells-giants-wins-big-at-flickerfest/|title=Eddy Bell's 'Giants' wins big at Flickerfest|work=If|first=Sean|last=Slatter|date=31 January 2022|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref> |- | Critics Awards for Arab Films | Best Actor | ''Europa'' | {{nom}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/2022/05/23/egypts-feathers-wins-big-at-cannes-critics-awards-for-arab-films/|title=Egypt's 'Feathers' wins big at Cannes Critics' Awards For Arab Films|work=The National|first=Katy|last=Gillett|date=23 May 2022|accessdate=16 April 2025}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|9670148}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Adam}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from Manchester Category:Arab LGBTQ people Category:British LGBTQ film directors Category:English LGBTQ actors Category:English people of Libyan descent Category:LGBTQ people from Manchester Category:Libyan emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Mass media people from Manchester