{{Short description|British actor (born 1980)}} {{similar names|Khalid Abdullah (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=December 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox person | image = Khalid Abdalla.JPG{{!}}border | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|10|26|df=yes}} | birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom | education = King's College School | alma_mater = {{ubl|Queens' College, Cambridge|École Philippe Gaulier}} | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|activist}} | years_active = 1998–present | spouse = {{marriage|Cressida Trew|2011}} }} '''Khalid Abdalla''' ({{langx|ar|خالد عبد الله|Khālid ‘Abd Allāh}}; born 26 October 1980) is a British actor and activist. He became known after starring in the 2006 film ''United 93''.
Abdalla starred as Amir in ''The Kite Runner'' (2007) and acted with Matt Damon in ''Green Zone'' (2010), his second film with director Paul Greengrass. Abdalla appears as himself in Jehane Noujaim's documentary on the 2011 Egyptian revolution, ''The Square'', which won the Audience Award at Sundance Festival in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2013-jan-24-la-et-mn-sundance-egypt-the-square-movie-tahrir-jehane-noujaim-reviews-20130124-story.html |title=Sundance 2013: In Egypt doc 'The Square,' a new kind of muckraking |work=Los Angeles Times |date=24 January 2013 |access-date=2 September 2013 |first=Steven |last=Zeitchik}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Felperin |first=Leslie |url=http://www.varietyarabia.com/Docs.Viewer/0a118829-3811-4754-997b-bd6bc7839864/default.aspx |title=Variety Default Web Image 640×360 (16:9) | Variety |publisher=Varietyarabia.com |date=23 February 2013 |access-date=2 September 2013 |archive-date=8 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508013614/http://www.varietyarabia.com/Docs.Viewer/0a118829-3811-4754-997b-bd6bc7839864/default.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2022 and 2023, he starred as Dodi Fayed in seasons 5 and 6 of the historical drama series ''The Crown'', for which he received a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Abdalla is on the board of the National Student Drama Festival. In 2011, he became one of the founding members of the ''Mosireen'' ("We Insist") Collective in Cairo: a group of revolutionary filmmakers and activists dedicated to supporting citizen media across Egypt in the wake of Hosni Mubarak's fall.<ref name="mosireen.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.mosireen.com/?page_id=6 |title=About Mosireen | |publisher=Mosireen.org |access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> Three months after it began, Mosireen became the most watched non-profit YouTube channel in Egypt of all time, and in the whole world in January 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/0/32185/Egypt/0/Egyptian-citizen-journalism-Mosireen-tops-YouTube.aspx |title=Egyptian citizen journalism 'Mosireen' tops YouTube - Media - Egypt - Ahram Online |publisher=English.ahram.org.eg |date=20 January 2012 |access-date=2 September 2013}}</ref>
==Early life== Abdalla was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to Egyptian parents, and was brought up in London.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/movies/news/n14095.htm |access-date=24 December 2007 |title=Archived copy |archive-date=4 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104072815/https://nypost.com/entertainment/movies/news/n14095.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/ny-fffast5498328dec16,0,2784921.story |title=Fast Chat: Khalid Abdalla|website=www.newsday.com |access-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070703224700/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/ny-fffast5498328dec16,0,2784921.story |archive-date=3 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Abdalla's father and grandfather were well-known anti-regime activists in Egypt. His parents were both physicians who immigrated to the UK before he was born.<ref>{{cite news|title=Patrick Barkham - talks to actor Khalid Abdalla - 'To screw it up would be offensive'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/dec/10/afghanistan.film|work=The Guardian|date=10 December 2007|last=Barkham|first=Patrick|location=London}}</ref>
Abdalla was educated at King's College School, an independent school for boys in Wimbledon in south-west London and his classmates included actor Ben Barnes and comedian Tom Basden.<ref>{{cite news|title=KCS Newsletter - Khalid Abdalla returns to King's|url=http://www.kcs.org.uk/system/files/page/238/Autumn%25202011.pdf|page=13|publisher=kcs.org.uk|date=2011}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He became interested in acting after becoming involved in his school's thriving drama scene. In 1998, he directed a production of ''Someone Who'll Watch Over Me'' by Frank McGuinness, which ended up having a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival and earned five stars in ''The Scotsman'' newspaper,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philipswan.homestead.com/Island.html#anchor_1379 |title=Island |publisher=Philipswan.homestead.com |access-date=2 September 2013}}</ref> making him the youngest director to receive this accolade.
After spending a gap year travelling around the Middle East, Abdalla went on to Queens' College, Cambridge, where he read English.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thinking the unthinkable wins accolades|url=http://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/uploads/File/CAMArticles/Easter%202006/cambridge%20news.pdf|page=4|publisher=Cambridge Alumni News|date=2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703180825/http://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/uploads/File/CAMArticles/Easter%202006/cambridge%20news.pdf|archive-date=3 July 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was active in the student drama scene alongside the likes of contemporaries Rebecca Hall and Dan Stevens.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rebecca Hall takes the lead|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/8852878/Rebecca-Hall-takes-the-lead.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029142805/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/8852878/Rebecca-Hall-takes-the-lead.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 October 2011|work=Daily Telegraph|date=29 October 2011|location=London}}</ref> He was a joint winner with Cressida Trew, his future wife, of the Judges' Award for Acting at the National Student Drama Festival for his performance in ''Bedbound'' by Enda Walsh.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why student theatre matters|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/theatreblog/2007/dec/16/ifirstventuredupto?INTCMP=SRCH|work=The Guardian|date=16 December 2007|location=London|first=Chris|last=Wilkinson}}</ref> Abdalla trained under Philippe Gaulier at École Philippe Gaulier.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abdalla |first1=Khalid |title=Khalid Abdalla bio |url=https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/artists/khalid-abdalla/ |website=www.nationaltheare.org.uk |publisher=National Theatre |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>
==Career== In 2003, Abdalla played the title role in Christopher Marlowe's ''Tamburlaine the Great'' at the Rose Theatrein Kingston, London. This was the inaugural production of Peter Hall's Canon's Mouth Theatre Company, composed of "young actors intent on discovering a new voice for the great metaphorical dramas of the Renaissance".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821063212217|title=Great Tamburlaine 'Reopens' Rose After 400 Years|author=Terri Paddock|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120703170654/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821063212217|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 July 2012|date=11 September 2003}}</ref>
Abdalla's first screen role was in a 2005 episode of ''Spooks'' entitled ''Infiltration of a New Threat''.
In 2006, Abdalla made his Hollywood debut in ''United 93'', a film about the 11 September attacks, and garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of Ziad Jarrah.<ref>{{cite news|title=Do they really want the part?|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-apr-26-et-terrorist26-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=26 April 2006|first=John|last=Horn}}</ref> He was cast in the lead role of the film ''The Kite Runner''. In preparation for that role, he spent time in Kabul learning Dari Persian and kite-flying.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/thirty-years-of-kites-weddings-and-funerals-in-afghanistan/26340614.html |title=Thirty years of kites, weddings and funerals in Afghanistan |author= Fanning, Evan|work=Irish Independent |date=23 December 2007 |access-date=30 November 2023}}</ref>
In 2008, Abdalla appeared as Guy Pringle in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of ''Fortunes of War''. He starred as Freddy in ''Green Zone'' with Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass.<ref name=independent>{{cite news|title=Khalid Abdalla: My acts of defiance - Features, Film & TV|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/khalid-abdalla-my-acts-of-defiance-770490.html|work=The Independent | location=London}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
In 2009–10, Abdalla produced and acted in the independent Egyptian film ''In the Last Days of the City'', directed by Tamer El Said.
In November 2010, Abdalla was awarded special recognition for achievements in cinema at the Cairo International Film Festival.
In 2011, he narrated the documentary film ''East to West'', also known as ''The River Flows Westward''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cast - East to West: Series|url=http://instantwatcher.com/titles/188165|work=instantwatcher.com|access-date=21 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514212251/http://instantwatcher.com/titles/188165|archive-date=14 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The River Flowing Westward Exhibition|url=http://en.medam.org.tr/?p=38|work=MEDAM {{!}} CIVILIZATION STUDIES CENTER|publisher=medam.org.tr|access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=East to West|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/documentary/program/911#Menu:#join_the_discussion|work=SBS: Documentary|publisher=sbs.com.au|access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref>
In 2016, he appeared as Muhammad XI of Granada in the film ''Assassin's Creed''.
In 2022–23, Abdalla played Dodi Fayed, the lover of Diana, Princess of Wales, in the fifth and sixth seasons of ''The Crown''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/khalid-abdalla-dodi-the-crown-newsupdate/ |title=Who is Khalid Abdalla? Meet Dodi Fayed actor in The Crown |last=Hibbs |first=James |website=Radio Times |date=16 November 2023 |access-date=18 November 2023}}</ref> His performance in the sixth season earned his nomination for a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TELEVISION NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 29TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS – Critics Choice Awards |url=https://www.criticschoice.com/2023/12/05/tv-nominees-for-the-29th-annual-critics-choice-awards/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2024, Nowhere, a solo play written and performed by Abdalla, premiered at [https://bac.org.uk/whats-on/nowhere/ Battersea Arts Centre] and was published by [https://salamanderstreet.com/product/nowhere-by-khalid-abdalla-paperback/ Salamander Street].
Also in 2024, Abdalla starred in the 2024 reproduction of Mnemonic (play), taking over from Simon McBurney in the main role. In this production, the main role's name was changed from Simon/Virgil to Khalid/Omar, to reflect the change in cast. It ran from 22 June to 10 August at the Olivier Theatre, within the National Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mnemonic {{!}} National Theatre |url=https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/mnemonic/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=www.nationaltheatre.org.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Personal life== In January–February 2011, Abdalla was among protesters in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt in the major protests against the Hosni Mubarak regime.<ref>{{cite news|title=Khalid Abdalla: 'Fight for noble ideals will continue'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-12352294|work=BBC News|date=3 February 2011}}</ref> He also appeared on ''The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer'' show on CNN on 9 February 2011 and Anderson Cooper<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebjh_R3C3Ww |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117112644/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebjh_R3C3Ww |archive-date=2016-01-17 |url-status=dead|title=Lies & Brutality of Mubarak's Regime: Anderson Cooper & Egyptian Actor Khalid Abdalla Discuss |publisher=YouTube |date=8 February 2011 |access-date=2 September 2013}}</ref> to reflect his views on the protest. He continues to be active in Egypt.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jun/15/revolution-egypt-election |title=Revolution is the only way to save Egypt | Khalid Abdalla | Comment is free |work=The Guardian|date=25 April 2013 |access-date=2 September 2013 |location=London}}</ref>
In 2011 Abdalla became one of the founding members of the Mosireen Collective in Cairo: a group of revolutionary filmmakers and activists dedicated to supporting citizen media across Egypt in the wake of Mubarak's fall.<ref name="mosireen.org"/> Mosireen films the ongoing revolution, publishes videos that challenge state media narratives, provides training sessions and equipment and screenings and holds an extensive library of footage. At three months old, Mosireen became the most watched non-profit YouTube channel in Egypt of all time, and in the whole world in January 2012.<ref name="mosireen.org"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/04/crowdfunding-citizen-journalism-in-cairo/|title=Crowdfunding Citizen Journalism in Cairo|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=16 September 2013|first=Robert|last=Mackey|date=4 November 2012}}</ref> [[File:Khalid Abdalla - Stop the genocide (2024 film).jpg|thumb|Abdalla participating in a plea to end the Gaza genocide in 2024]] Abdalla has been an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights.{{Says who|date=March 2026}} In March 2025, he was invited to an interview under caution by the Metropolitan Police over his part in a pro-Palestine protest in London in January of that year, following "alleged breaches of Public Order Act conditions." Abdalla said that it was evidence that "the right to protest is under attack in this country."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gallagher |first1=Charlotte |title=Police to interview Crown actor over Gaza rally |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy05jeq2rv2o |website=BBC News |access-date=9 March 2025 |date=4 March 2025}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 2006 || ''United 93'' || Ziad Jarrah || |- | rowspan="2"| 2007 || ''Hush Your Mouth'' || JJ Farouk || |- | ''The Kite Runner'' || Amir Qadiri || |- | rowspan="2"| 2010 || ''Green Zone'' || Farid Yusuf "Freddy" Abdurrahman || |- | ''Maydoum'' || Sharif || Short |- | rowspan="3"| 2012 || ''Predella'' || Magid || Short |- | ''Al Alamayn'' || Mahmoud || Short |- | ''Une arme de choix'' || Himself || Documentary short |- | 2013 || ''The Square'' || Himself || Documentary |- | rowspan="2"| 2014 || ''Tigers'' || Nadeem || |- | ''Narrow Frame of Midnight'' || Zacaria || |- | 2015 || ''1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham'' || Ibn Al-Haytham || Voice |- | rowspan="3"| 2016 || ''In the Last Days of the City'' || Khalid El-Said || |- | ''Our Kind of Traitor'' || Luke || |- | ''Assassin's Creed'' || Muhammad XI of Granada || |- | 2017 || ''Birds Like Us'' || Bat || Voice |- | 2020 || ''Undergods'' || Octavius || |- |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 2005 || ''Spooks'' || Yazdi || Episode: "Road Trip" |- | 2007 ||''Secret's Out'' || Himself || Episode: "The Kite Runner" |- | 2011 || ''East To West'' || Narrator || Voice, 7 episodes |- | 2019–2020 || ''Hanna'' || Jerome Sawyer || 6 episodes |- |2022 | ''Moon Knight'' || Selim / Osiris || 3 episodes |- |2022–2023 |''The Crown''||Dodi Fayed|| 7 episodes<br>Nominated—Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series<br>Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film<br>Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |- |2024 |''The Day of the Jackal''||Ulle Dag Charles|| |- |2026 |''Secret Service''||Zak Hussein|| |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|2043234}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdalla, Khalid}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Queens' College, Cambridge Category:British activists Category:British activists for Palestinian solidarity Category:British male film actors Category:British male radio actors Category:British male stage actors Category:British male television actors Category:British male voice actors Category:British Muslims Category:British people of Egyptian descent Category:Male actors from Glasgow Category:Male actors from London Category:People educated at King's College School, London