Riz Ahmed
He became the first Muslim and first Asian to win an Emmy for acting in 2017, for his role in the HBO miniseries 'The Night Of.'
Born 1982 (age 44)·British actor and rapper·Birthday: December 1·Millennials
Biography
Riz Ahmed earned a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Christ Church, Oxford. He studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama. His breakthrough film role came in 2010's 'Four Lions,' a satire about inept British jihadists. He released his first rap mixtape, 'Microscope,' in 2011. Ahmed played Nasir Khan in the 2016 HBO miniseries 'The Night Of,' winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series. He starred as Bodhi Rook in the 2016 film 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.' His 2020 rap album 'The Long Goodbye' examined the breakup of Britain and its relationship with immigrants, winning a Grammy Award. He co-founded the Left Handed Films production company and the Moslime Collective creative group. Ahmed's 2020 essay 'Airports and Auditions' detailed the humiliations of travel security and typecasting, framing both as functions of the same surveillance. His work systematically documents the psychological cost of existing as a suspect body in Western societies.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Riz was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Riz Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Riz's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series for 'The Night Of' (2017).
- Won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media for 'The Long Goodbye' (2021).
- Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film as co-writer and star of 'The Long Goodbye' (2022).
Did You Know?
He is a trained boxer and performed his own fight scenes in the film 'Mogul Mowgli.'
He provided the voice for the character Aaron in the 2023 video game 'The Last of Us Part II.'
He is a member of the British Asian band the Swet Shop Boys.
“Representation isn't just about seeing yourself on screen. It's about seeing yourself in the writers' room, in the editing suite.”
