Sarmed al-Samarrai
| Sarmed al-Samarrai | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1976 (age 39–40) Iraq |
| Nationality |
Iraqi British |
| Other names | Lewis Alsamari |
Sarmed al-Samarrai (born 1976) is an Iraqi actor based in the United Kingdom.
Career
Samarrai has appeared in episodes of television series such as Spooks and Crossroads. In 2006 he starred in the Universal Pictures film United 93 as the terrorist Saeed al-Ghamdi.
Samarrai was reported to have been denied a visa by American immigration authorities when he applied to visit New York City to attend the premiere of United 93. The reason reportedly given was that he had once been a conscripted member of the Iraqi Army - although this was also the grounds for his refugee status after his desertion in 1993.[1] Other sources say that he applied late for his visa and that it was not denied.[2]
Samarrai was featured in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe production of "What I Heard About Iraq", based on the Eliot Weinberger article of the same name that originally appeared in the London Review of Books in 2005.[3]
Bibliography
- Alsamari, Lewis (July 2007). Out of Iraq. United Kingdom: Bantam Press. ISBN 978-0593058237. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
References
- ↑ 9/11 film actor refused visa for US premiere 21 April 2006 The Times
- ↑ America bars Iraqi immigrant who played hijacker in September 11 film. It was later claimed by Samarrai in his book, "Out Of Iraq" that he was denied entry as he had served a two year suspended sentence in the United Kingdom. 22 April 2006 The Independent On Sunday
- ↑ Samarrai's Website Archived 13 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine.