Oscars 2019: Rami Malek becomes the first Egyptian to win Best Actor

Ramy Malek Oscars 2019 Thu, Feb. 28, 2019
CAIRO - 25 February 2019: The 37-year-old Egyptian-American actor, Rami Malek won an Academy Award for Best Actor In A Leading Role for his iconic performance in Bohemian Rhapsody when he played Freddy Mercury. During his acceptance speech Malek paid homage to his Egyptian heritage.

"We made a film about an immigrant who lived his life unapologetically himself,"Malek said, of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. "I am the son of immigrants from Egypt. I am a first-generation American, and my story is being written right now. I cannot be more grateful to each and every one of you."

Malek was born in Los Angeles to Coptic Egyptian immigrant parents, his parents are originally from Samalut, a city and a municipal division in the Minya Governorate in Egypt.

The amazing actor made his big screen debut in 2006's Night at the Museum and its 2009 and 2014 sequels Battle of the Smithsonian and Secret of the Tomb playing, appropriately enough or stereotypically enough, depending on your viewpoint, Pharaoh Ahkmenrah.

He also had supporting roles in movies including 2012's teen vampire romance The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn and Spike Lee's 2013 Oldboy remake.

It was his Emmy Award-winning, and twice Golden Globe-nominated role as socially awkward computer hacker Eliot in the TV hit Mr Robot that really brought him into the spotlight, however. Malek won his Emmy in 2016, and in doing so became the first non-white actor to take home the Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Series in over 18 years.

While winning an Oscar is by far Malek’s most outstanding and memorable achievement, it is more than necessary to mention that Malek managed to win a SAG, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA for his performance in Bohemian Rhapsody.

We couldn't be more proud of Malek, and we wished him all the best in his career.