Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Most people agree that 2016 has been a pretty terrible year. However, for a certain group of people, this year has been undeniably great. Recently discovered acting treasure Riz Ahmed is one of those fortunate few.
Ahmed has always been a dynamic performer, both in his acting and his music careers. But it’s only this year that mainstream audiences have been able to see the greatness of this force to be reckoned with. Early in July we gave you a cheat sheet on Ahmed’s rise to pop culture royalty. However, in honor of Ahmed’s compelling performance in Rogue One and his overall kickass year, we’re going to revisit the actor and do something a little different. Here is your guide to why 2016 is the year of Riz Ahmed.
Cashmere (2016)
Long before he was taking on the dark side in the Star Wars universe, Ahmed was freestyling rap battles, and not just with Jimmy Fallon. In October, Ahmed released his first full length album as one half of the hip-hop duo Swet Shop Boys, Cashmere. The album was met with generally favorable reviews and described as a mash-up that was both complicated and fun.
Jason Bourne (2016)
Falling in line with the never-ending list of reboots and rehashes, 2016 gave birth to a new Bourne movie, the aptly titled Jason Bourne. Though it was met with mixed reviews, but Ahmed’s performance was certainly one of the stronger elements of the movie. Ahmed plays Aaron, the CEO and founder of a social media enterprise called Deep Dream.
Stream Jason Bourne on Amazon Video
The Night Of (2016)
For many, this was the crime event that brought Ahmed into the spotlight. The series starred Ahmed as Naz Khan, a Pakistani-American college student who is accused of murdering a woman in New York. The wide-eyed Naz’s journey from innocence to jail time-induced guilt was haunting to watch, and it was a performance that earned Ahmed a lot of critical acclaim. Ahmed has been nominated for both a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for his role in the series.
The OA (2016)
Though it’s certainly not the most impressive role Ahmed has tackled in 2016, it’s worth noting that the talented actor has a guest role in Netflix’s latest surprise series. In the divisive show, Ahmed plays Elias Rahim, an FBI agent who interviews Prairie / The OA (Brit Marling) after her return. Saying much else runs the risk of spoiling this complicated show, so we’ll leave it at that.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
If HBO’s The Night Of is responsible for bringing Ahmed critical praise, this Star Wars spin-off movie will likely launch him into becoming a household name. In Rogue One, Ahmed plays Bodhi Rook, a former Imperial pilot who defects to the Rebels. Ahmed brings a much-needed level of sympathy to the movie, transforming his character into Rogue One’s everyman with a heart of gold.
More articles on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, now in theaters
