Riz Ahmed's Pets

Rizwan Ahmed is a British actor and rapper. As an actor, he has won a Primetime Emmy Award, National Board of Review Award, Independent Spirit Award, London Film Critics’ Circle Award, and two British Independent Film Awards, and received nominations for an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, two Emmy Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was initially known for his work in independent films such as The Road to Guantanamo (2006), Shifty (2008), Four Lions (2010), Trishna (2011), Ill Manors (2012), and The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2013), as well as television series such as Britz (2007) and Dead Set (2008), before his breakout roles in the films Nightcrawler (2014) and The Night Of (2016).

One of Riz Ahmed’s early collaborations was in 2010, alongside Paddy Considine and Arsher Ali in “The Road to Guantanamo.” His standout performance in this film led to his casting in the dark comedy “Four Lions,” co-starring with Kayvan Novak and Nigel Lindsay. Fast forward to 2014, Riz delivered an electrifying performance alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in “Nightcrawler,” a gritty tale set in Los Angeles’ nocturnal underbelly. In 2016, Ahmed teamed up with Felicity Jones and Diego Luna in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” His heart-rending performance in HBO’s “The Night Of,” the following year, opposite John Turturro, earned him widespread recognition. In 2020, Ahmed demonstrated his exceptional acting range alongside Olivia Cooke in “Sound of Metal,” which resonated profoundly with both critics and audiences.

One of his earliest recognitions came in 2008 when he received the British Independent Film Award for “Shifty.” In 2016, Ahmed received an Emmy for his role in “The Night Of,” making history as the first Asian man and first Muslim to win in the lead acting categories. He also received nominations at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards for the same role. His performance in “Sound of Metal” garnered him a nomination for Best Actor at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021. Furthermore, Riz has used his musical talents to address political and social issues, leading to his album “The Long Goodbye” being shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2020.