This year’s Oscars marked the rise of a former limo driver to red carpet stardom! Somalian-born Barkhad Abdi received an Oscar nomination for his performance of a Somalian pirate in “Captain Phillips”, opposite Tom Hanks. Abdi had no previous acting experience, and only auditioned because the film’s producers came to his area looking for Somalian actors. You can read his full story here:
Barkhad Abdi: From Limo Driver to Oscar Contender
When I ask Barkhad Abdi how confident he is about winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor on March 2, he laughs down the phone from his family’s home in Minneapolis. “I’m not confident at all,” the 28-year-old actor says. …
In addition to his Oscar nomination, this previously unknown actor also won Best Supporting Actor at the 2014 British Academy Film Awards:
Captain Phillips’ Barkhad Abdi WINS Best Supporting Actor at BAFTAs 2014!
Barkhad Abdi stops to pose in the winner’s room at the 2014 British Academy Film Awards held at The Royal Opera House on Sunday (February 16)in London, England. …
Fortunately, Abdi does seem to have let his overnight success go to his head too much. After an interview, ABC News reports that he is “humble”:
How Fame Hasn’t Changed Humble ‘Captain Phillips’ Star Barkhad Abdi
Barkhad Abdi is the epitome of an overnight success story. The “Captain Phillips” star, who was nominated for an Oscar last week, was working in his brother’s store in Minnesota this time last year. …
Who knows, next time you take a ride from a Charlottesville limo service you could be in the same car with a future Hollywood star!
Image Credit: http://nypost.com/2014/01/24/captain-phillips-breakout-star-barkhad-abdi-talks-tom-hanks-oscars-nod/
