September 25, 2016 23 Culture Actor Rami Malek accepts the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Mr. Robot at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 18th. Arab-American actor Rami Malek wins Emmy Award Amr Emam ue to live in my memory forever.” in the sequels Night at the Museum: Malek won the Outstanding Lead Battle of the Smithsonian in 2009 Actor in a Drama Series award for and Night at the Museum: Secret of Cairo his role in Mr. Robot, finishing the Tomb in 2014. ahead of Kevin Spacey for House In the psychological drama Mr. gyptian-American actor of Cards and four other nominees. Robot, which premiered on June Rami Malek expressed Malek was voted the Best Actor in 24th, 2015, Malek plays the socially utmost joy after winning a Drama Series at the Critics Choice awkward and reclusive hacker- the Emmy Award for Out- Television Awards and was nomi- turned-vigilante Elliot Alderson, standing Lead nated in the Outstanding Perfor- drawing praise from the tech world EActor in Drama Series mance by a Male Actor in a Drama and Hollywood alike. The show’s for his work as Elliot Series category by the Screen creator, Sam Esmail, is also an Alderson, a hacktiv- Actors Guild Awards. Egyptian American. ist at the centre of Mr. Robot, in its second the USA Network’s season, had six nominations Mr. Robot, in its thriller Mr. Robot. at this year’s Emmy Awards. second season, had six “I cried of In addition to Malek’s acting nominations at this happiness and award, Mac Quayle took the year’s Emmy Awards. didn’t expect honour for Outstanding Music getting this big Composition for a Series (Orig- Upon winning the Emmy, Malek prize,” Malek told inal Dramatic Score). The pro- described his character in the dra- The Arab Weekly in gramme was nominated in the ma as “profoundly alienated”. a private message Outstanding Writing for a Drama “The unfortunate thing is I’m not on Twitter. “This is Series, Outstanding Casting for a sure how many of us would want to something that Drama Series and Outstanding hang out with a guy like Elliot,” he will con- Drama Series categories. It won said. tin- a Golden Globe for Best TV But Malek also said: “I want to Drama Series earlier in honour the Elliots because there’s a the year. little bit of Elliot in all of us.” Malek, 35, who “I am honoured to be recognised was born in the with such a distinguished and ac- United States to complished group of actors,” Malek an Egyptian fa- added. “I’m honoured to stand here ther, started and represent my family and every his profes- single person who has helped me Rami Malek appears in a scene from Mr. Robot. The creative team sional acting get this far. I’m honoured to work behind the award-winning Mr. Robot knows that if it does not get career in 2004 with a pure visionary in Sam Esmail details right, they are going to hear about it. Unlike other shows with a guest- — I wouldn’t be here without you — about hackers, Mr. Robot, which wrapped up its second season on starring role to go to work with an absurdly gift- September 21st, has been praised by the hacker community for on the TV se- ed cast and crew and writers.” realistically portraying what they do. ries Gilmore Malek told The Arab Weekly on Girls. A short Twitter that the award puts more time later, he responsibility on his shoulders who says he is a close friend of “Malek’s achievement gives hon- voiced char- from his audience and family. Malek’s, said his winning the award our to hundreds of actors and ac- acters for the “I will focus on choosing my com- gave hope to scores of young Egyp- tresses in the Arab world,” Karim video game ing pieces for getting more prizes,” tian actors and actresses who dream said. “I hope his successes will open Halo 2. he said. “I am fond of complex of carving a niche for themselves on Hollywood’s doors wide for other Malek made roles.” the international stage. Arab actors.” his feature film Malek is not the first American Karim, who is a year older than Cinema critic Tarek al-Shenawi debut as Phar- actor of Arab descent to win an Malek, said the inspiration for Arab said he hopes Malek’s win will help aoh Ahkmenrah in Emmy. Danny Thomas, whose par- actors to try to make it big goes back end Western fears of an Arab pres- the comedy Night at ents were immigrants from Leba- to such stars as Omar Sharif, the ence. the Museum in 2006 non, took that title when he won Egyptian actor who played Sherif “Culture and art can do a lot to and reprised the role Best Actor in a Regular Series for Ali in Lawrence of Arabia in 1962 break the ice between civilisations,” his role in Make Room for Daddy in and the title role in Doctor Zhivago Shenawi said. “They are the soft Actor Rami Malek poses backstage with his award for 1953. in 1965. Sharif, who was nominated power that knows no boundaries.” Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the USA In Egypt, aspiring actors viewed for an Academy Award for his per- network’s Mr. Robot at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in Malek’s win as an inspiration. formance in Lawrence of Arabia, Amr Emam is a Cairo-based Los Angeles, California, September 18th, 2016. Budding actor Mohamed Karim, died last year at the age of 83. contributor to The Arab Weekly..