Atta Yaqub
| Atta Yaqub | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1979 (age 36–37) |
| Education | IT management |
| Alma mater | University of Strathclyde |
| Occupation | Actor, model |
| Years active | 2004– present |
| Known for | Ae Fond Kiss... |
| Religion | Islam |
Atta Yaqub (born 1979) is a Scottish model and actor of Pakistani/Punjabi descent. He is most notable for playing the lead role in the 2004 film Ae Fond Kiss....
Career
Yaqub began modelling as a teenager. He appeared in ads for The Royal Bank of Scotland and Cruise.[1] He made his acting debut in Ken Loach's film Ae Fond Kiss where he played a Muslim man who falls in love with an Irish Catholic woman. For his role he was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Best Newcomer. He went on to play roles in Running in Traffic and Nina's Heavenly Delights. In 2011 he entered international cinema with the German film Fernes Land (Junction Point) and Sabiha Sumar's Rafina.[2] In 2012 he joined the cast of the BBC Three drama Lip Service.[3] Yaqub has also co-presented a weekly SPFL roundup show on YouTube called SPFL Extra, alongside Nicky Reid.
Personal life
Yaqub has a degree in IT management and also works as a counselor, advising drug addicts. He is a representative for the Goethe-Institut.[4] He goes to schools around Scotland to promote the Show Racism The Red Card programme.[5] He was also involved in the "One Scotland, Many Cultures" anti-racism campaign.[6] Yaqub speaks English and Punjabi fluently as well as some Urdu and German.[4]
In 2009, Yaqub criticised Prince Harry for making what he saw as prejudiced comments about South Asians and asked for a personal apology.[7]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Ae Fond Kiss... | Casim Khan | |
| Doctors | Madhav Verma | "Party Games" | |
| 2005 | The Camping Trip | Sunny | |
| Meet the Magoons | Suky Riprah | "Stairway to Havan" | |
| Perfect Day | Ash | ||
| Pakistani Actually | Himself | Documentary | |
| 2006 | New Street Law | Nadeem Rashid | Season 1, Episode 5 |
| Explosions | Hassans | ||
| Nina's Heavenly Delights | Kary Shah | ||
| 2007 | Karachi Uncovered | Himself | BBC documentary |
| 2009 | Running in Traffic | Amman | |
| 2011 | Fernes Land[8] | Haroon | German-language film |
| 2012 | Lip Service | Season 2[3] | |
| 2015 | Good Morning Karachi | Jamal |
References
- ↑ "25 Atta Yaqub". The Scotsman. 9 November 2003. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ↑ Mahmood, Rafay (24 February 2011). "Sabiha's cinderella". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- 1 2 Wilson, Caroline (25 May 2011). "Kiss star Atta joins gay drama". Evening Times. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- 1 2 "Screen star visits St Andrews school". Fife Today. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ↑ Sandhu, Sukhdev (17 September 2004). "When sex meets sectarianism". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
- ↑ "Adverts used in anti-racism fight". BBC News. 10 February 2005.
- ↑ Larkin, Mike (11 January 2009). "Leading Asian Condemn Prince". Sunday Times.
- ↑ "Scots star heads to Germany". Evening Times. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2011.