Actor Rami Malek has opened up about his personal struggles with racism, identity, and his sense of being an outsider while growing up in Los Angeles. In an interview with The Guardian, Malek shared an unsettling experience with law enforcement that highlighted the racial tensions he faced.
“I got thrown on the bonnet of an LAPD cop car because someone had robbed a liquor store and stolen a woman’s bag,” Malek recalled. “They said the [thief] was of Latin descent and, ‘You fit the description.’ I remember how hot that engine was, they must have been racing over there and it was almost burning my hands.”
Despite his Egyptian heritage, Malek described himself as “white passing” and reflected on how his physical features and immigrant background shaped his experiences. “My friend, who was Caucasian, was clever enough to go, ‘Actually, sir, he’s Egyptian. Not Latin,’” Malek explained, recalling the tense moment. “I remember laughing in the cop car, thinking, ‘OK, this is a very precarious situation. I may well be going to jail for something I’ve not done.’”
The actor also expressed concern about the political climate during Donald Trump’s presidency, particularly the rise in anti-immigrant sentiment. Malek noted that the election of Barack Obama, whose father was from Kenya and mother from Kansas, represented a hopeful moment in the story of the American dream.
Additionally, Malek discussed his personal connection to Greek tragedy, particularly in relation to his role as Oedipus in a new adaptation at London’s Old Vic Theatre. He connected the timeless themes of identity and self-discovery in the ancient plays to his own journey as an actor and individual.
In his interview, Malek provided a candid look at the intersection of race, identity, and the broader societal issues that continue to influence both his life and career.
