MovieChat Forums > Riz Ahmed Discussion > Seriously Talented Man

Seriously Talented Man


Before IMDB shuts down the message boards, I just wanted to write about how wonderful Riz is, both as a performer and human being.

Nightcrawler (first time I saw him), Four Lions, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Centurion (I had NO idea he was in that film 0.0), The Night Of (the series that made me an official fan), Rouge One, Jason Bourne; he has such a rich and diverse resume, and he shines in almost everything he's in. He's also a wonderful musician :)

Based on interviews and his self-written essays, he appears to be very intelligent, down-to-earth, and self-aware. His commentary on the arts and current events are often very insightful, articulate, and humble. He's also a celebrity who acts: he created a charity for Syrian refugees and actually raised over $100k! He seems very aware of the power he, as a celebrity, holds over some individuals and channels it into more constructive projects.

I'm beyond glad he's finally getting the recognition he's deserved for quite some time! I hope he finds nothing but success :0)

P.S: I apologize if I'm fawning over him :/

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He's also a celebrity who acts: he created a charity for Syrian refugees and actually raised over $100k! He seems very aware of the power he, as a celebrity, holds over some individuals and channels it into more constructive projects. Add, staying close with his long time friends to the list of what makes Riz such a great person. Most celebrities no longer remain close with their own relatives...let alone long time friends, especially those from childhood.

I recently came across an article at a business website, the man Riz partnered with for the Syrian refugee fund, Ryan Kohn, the co-founder of Propercorn gourmet popcorn....is one of Riz's best friends from childhood. They've known each other since they were 11.
http://www.businessinsider.com/riz-ahmed-propercorn-cofounder-ryan-kohn-syria-charity-appeal-2017-1

"Riz and I were at school together from the age of 11," says Kohn. "We met at school at 11 and to be honest hit it off immediately and always remained best friends. Even at school, he was always the lead in all of the plays and all that kind of stuff."

Kohn says Ahmed was "really keen" to get involved in the charity drive, saying: "What's amazing about Riz is he's such a good genuine person. The fame and all the success he's getting is not changing him one bit. He's still got really strong opinions and wants to do the right thing. He's got a good moral compass on him."

That's high praise from a long time friend.

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That's very interesting :D I didn't realize how far his and Kohn's relationship went! It definitely adds value to an already important project!

He's a terrific actor and a very self-aware person, which I really value in Hollywood. Like I said, he understands the power and privilege he has, so he uses them for more constructive activities. I'd love to meet him :)

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He's a terrific actor and a very self-aware person, which I really value in Hollywood. Like I said, he understands the power and privilege he has, so he uses them for more constructive activities. I'd love to meet him :) Riz comes across as the real deal. He's very personable to everyone he works with and is always kind to fans.

You must know, he also raps and has a band, Swet Shop Boys. He usually meets fans after each gig, I'm sure you can meet him at one of his concerts. Some relatives in LA met him a few months ago after a gig, they were quite impressed with his intelligence and sense of humor. They also said, Riz was "super charming" and "even more gorgeous in person."

From the tons of fan pics posted, he does seem to make time for his fans, even if they stop him out of the street, he poses for a selfie with them. A few weeks ago, there were some Instagram pics of him with fans at the London Women's March.

I honestly hope he doesn't get too wrapped up with the Hollywood scene and become A-List, that's usually the kiss-of-death for most serious actors. There's no reason for him to become part of the Hollywood/LA scene, there's really no need for him to make California his home base. He can work in films and TV shows from anywhere. Moving to California might prove to be a disaster for him, especially as he doesn't appear to be too impressed by the peripheral nonsense which comes with fame.

Poor guy, since he's always talking about his Pakistani Muslim roots, he now seems be getting a bit of flack for having an ivory skinned red headed girlfriend.

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Does he really rap and have a band? I can’t believe that.

Your film gods: Lee Van Cleef and Laura Gemser
http://tinyurl.com/pa4ud44

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Yeah dude :)

He goes by Riz MC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5W8x4Q7N9c

I wouldn't necessarily call Swet Shop Boys a band, but rather as small hip-hop/rap group https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5W8x4Q7N9c

While I'm more drawn to his acting, he does seem pretty solid as a musician.

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You must know, he also raps and has a band, Swet Shop Boys

Yeah! His group is the ****!! He reminds me of Childish Gimbo; very talented dude, in many fields, with a decent personality.

I honestly hope he doesn't get too wrapped up with the Hollywood scene and become A-List, that's usually the kiss-of-death for most serious actors. There's no reason for him to become part of the Hollywood/LA scene, there's really no need for him to make California his home base. He can work in films and TV shows from anywhere. Moving to California might prove to be a disaster for him, especially as he doesn't appear to be too impressed by the peripheral nonsense which comes with fame.

I can't really envision him consuming the Hollywood scene. Like I've said, he's a unique celebrity in many ways.

1.) He's extremely self-aware! He seems to fully understand that being a celebrity comes with immense privilege, opportunities, and responsibilities. Based on interviews (that I'm too tired to locate), he understands that being a person of power automatically draws attention from both critics and fans. He also appears to acknowledge and appreciate the individuals that helped him reach his current stance, which could be the reasoning behind his kindness.
He usually meets fans after each gig, I'm sure you can meet him at one of his concerts. Some relatives in LA met him a few months ago after a gig, they were quite impressed with his intelligence and sense of humor. They also said, Riz was "super charming" and "even more gorgeous in person."
From the tons of fan pics posted, he does seem to make time for his fans, even if they stop him out of the street, he poses for a selfie with them. A few weeks ago, there were some Instagram pics of him with fans at the London Women's March.

2.) He uses his earned privilege for good causes. There are many celebrities who simply hold up signs on twitter or star in star-studded ads in order to highlight certain issues: that is their contribution. While I am not dissing any celebrity who opts to those means, I have more respect for those who actually act. In order to show solidarity for women's rights, Riz marched in the Women's Rights March in London; in order to show support for Syrians, he created a charity for them and has continually given fans updates on the mission. I understand that Riz isn't the only celebrity who dedicates a lot of time towards causes, but it seems that media outlets tend to focus on acts of temporary generosity and those who create them.


I apologize if I sound like an unhealthy fan; I swear that I am not :) Riz is a unique actor and person, and I hope that stays the course!

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