Entertainment has historically transcended borders, bringing together people of different ethnicities united by their love of film and theatre. Arab actors and entertainers are part of this, with many making their mark in their home countries and internationally too. 

According to Mohammed Hussain Alqahtani, a renowned Saudi cosmetic surgeon and a movie buff, actors with Arabic roots have found success outside the Middle East, with some winning awards for their performances. Below is his list of prominent actors of Arabic origin who are globally known for their work in film, television, and theatre.

Salma Hayek – Salma, who is an actress, director, and producer, is of Lebanese and Spanish origins, born to a Spanish-Mexican mother and a Lebanese father. She is not shy to express her love for her father’s homeland, openly talking about the blast in Beirut’s port in August. She even visited Baabdat village in Lebanon, her paternal grandfather’s home, with her father to promote her 2015 movie “The Prophet,” based on Kahlil Gibran’s 1923 book.

Rami Malek – Rami, an actor and producer, is best known for portraying hacker Elliot Alderson in USA Network’s Mr. Robot and as Freddie Mercury, Queen’s lead singer, in the 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. He is an American of Egyptian descent, born to Egyptian parents who immigrated to the United States from Cairo in 1978. As someone who grew up speaking Arabic at home, Rami still throws in the occasional Arabic phrase in his press interviews, an ode to his Middle Eastern roots.

Ghassan Massoud – the Syrian actor and filmmaker is best known for his role as Saladin in Ridley Scott’s film, Kingdom of Heaven. In his native Syria, he has been part of the film and theatre industry for years, appearing in many films in addition to writing and directing theatre plays. His career that spans over four decades encompasses lots of Arabic stages, film, and television roles in addition to the occasional forays in Hollywood.

Tony Shalhoub – the award-winning actor, was born to a Lebanese father and a Lebanese-American mother in Wisconsin. He is a strong advocate for Arabs in television, and in 2005 he was involved in the launch of the Arab-American Filmmaker Award Competition, together with the Network of Arab-American Professionals. The awards help give a voice to unknown Arab-American filmmakers as they submit their screenplays, and the winner’s film is produced. 

Ashraf Barhom – Ashraf, known for his character Jamal in the FX series Tyrant, is an Arab-Israeli actor born in the Galilee region of Israel. While he has been on several television shows, the theater is where he feels most at home, having started his career working in an Arab theater. 

Actors with Arabic origins have shined on the global stage and, according to Mohammed Hussain Alqahtani, will continue to get recognized for their work.