# Adam Ali (actor) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Adam_Ali_(actor) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Adam_Ali_(actor).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Ali_(actor) > Source revision: 1352170374 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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+](/source/Apple_TV%2B) anthology ''[Little America](/source/Little_America_(TV_series))'' and the feature film ''[Europa](/source/Europa_(2021_film))'' (2021). Their short film ''Baba'' (2021) won two [Iris Prize](/source/Iris_Prize)s. On television, Ali has since appeared in the BBC series ''[Waterloo Road](/source/Waterloo_Road_(TV_series))'' (2023–2024) and ''[What It Feels Like for a Girl](/source/What_It_Feels_Like_for_a_Girl_(TV_series))'' (2025). ==Early life== Ali was born in Libya and fled the civil war as a young child.{{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}} After stints in Canada, Italy and Bristol, the family settled in [Manchester](/source/Manchester).{{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}} Ali took classes at the [Television Workshop](/source/Central_Junior_Television_Workshop) in [Salford](/source/Salford). ==Career== Ali made their television debut in an installment of the [Apple TV+](/source/Apple_TV%2B) drama anthology ''[Little America](/source/Little_America_(TV_series))''.{{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}} For their performance, Ali was nominated for an [Independent Spirit Award](/source/Independent_Spirit_Award). This was followed by Ali's debut feature film role starring as Kamal in the 2021 thriller ''[Europa](/source/Europa_(2021_film))'' directed by Haider Rashid.{{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}} Ali also made their directorial debut with the short film ''Baba''.{{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}} ''Baba'' won the top [Iris Prize](/source/Iris_Prize) as well as the prize in the British category.{{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}} In 2023, Ali joined the cast of the [BBC One](/source/BBC_One) school drama ''[Waterloo Road](/source/Waterloo_Road_(TV_series))'' for its eleventh series revival as Kai Sharif.{{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}} Ali also appeared in an episode of the [Amazon Prime](/source/Amazon_Prime) series ''[The Power](/source/The_Power_(TV_series))''{{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}} and the [Switchboard](/source/Switchboard_(UK)) short film ''The Call''.{{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}} In 2025, Ali played Dirty Damian in the [BBC Three](/source/BBC_Three) adaptation of ''[What It Feels Like for a Girl](/source/What_It_Feels_Like_for_a_Girl_(TV_series))'' by [Paris Lees](/source/Paris_Lees).{{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}} ==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2019 | ''Blind'' | Daniel | Short film |- | 2021 | ''Expiation'' | Junayd | Short film |- | 2021 | ''[Europa](/source/Europa_(2021_film))'' | 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](/source/Little_America_(TV_series))'' | Zain | Anthology: "The Son" |- | 2023–2024 | ''[Waterloo Road](/source/Waterloo_Road_(TV_series))'' | Kai Sharif | 21 episodes (series 11–) |- | 2023 | ''[The Power](/source/The_Power_(TV_series))'' | Mahmud | Episode: "The Day of the Girls" |- | 2024 | ''[Ludwig](/source/Ludwig_(2024_TV_series))'' | Tour Guide | 1 episode |- | 2025 | ''[What It Feels Like for a Girl](/source/What_It_Feels_Like_for_a_Girl_(TV_series))'' | Dirty Damian | 7 episodes |- |} ==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{Ref heading}} |- | rowspan="4" | 2021 | [Independent Spirit Awards](/source/36th_Independent_Spirit_Awards) | [Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series](/source/Independent_Spirit_Award_for_Best_Male_Performance_in_a_New_Scripted_Series) | ''Little America'' | {{nom}} | {{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}} |- | rowspan="2" | [Iris Prize](/source/Iris_Prize) | | rowspan="2" | ''Baba'' | {{won}} | rowspan="2" | |- | Best British Short | {{won}} |- | [Red Sea International Film Festival](/source/Red_Sea_International_Film_Festival) | Best Actor | ''Europa'' | {{won}} | {{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}} |- | rowspan="2" | 2022 | [Flickerfest](/source/Flickerfest) | Best Rainbow Short | ''Baba'' | {{won}} | {{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}} |- | Critics Awards for Arab Films | Best Actor | ''Europa'' | {{nom}} | {{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}} |- |} ==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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Adam Ali (actor)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Ali_(actor)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Ali_(actor)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.