Amr Waked

**Amr Waked** is a prominent Egyptian film, television, and stage actor, whose rise to global recognition is largely attributed to his work in Hollywood films such as 'Syriana' in 2005. He was born on April 12, 1973, in Maadi, Egypt. He has showcased his dynamic acting skills in various other prominent roles, such as playing a Yemeni sheikh named Muhammad in 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' and Pierre Del Rio in Luc Besson's 'Lucy'. Waked's portrayal of Farouk Hassan in the series Ramy has also been widely acclaimed. Over his career, he has convincingly played roles of diverse cultural backgrounds, earning him praise from critics and audiences alike. Waked's first significant role was in 'Ashab wallah business' in 2002. His performance led many to believe he was Palestinian rather than Egyptian. His first lead role was in 'Deil el Samaka' in 2003, and his work in 'Syriana' in 2005 earned him an award at the Cairo International Film Festival. Waked further proved his versatility with his work in TV series such as 'Lahazat Harega' and 'House of Saddam'. However, his work on the latter caused friction with the Egyptian Actor's Union due to the portrayal of Saddam by an Israeli actor. Waked's political stances have led to legal challenges in his home country. He moved to Spain in 2017 after his sentence by an Egyptian court for advocating democracy on social media.