You’ve probably already heard the name Barkhad Abdi more than a few times this year, and there’s a good reason for that: The Somalia-born actor has become Hollywood’s latest Cinderella story as countless people have already written about his ascension from Minneapolis limousine driver to the Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated actor who holds his own (and some might even say outshines) the legendary Tom Hanks in Paul Greengrass’ Captain Phillips (available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD today). Abdi’s performance in the film, as a Somali pirate, is nuanced, understated, and downright fantastic. Parade caught up with the Oscar-nominated actor to discuss Captain Phillips, his award nominations, and how he’s already doing all he can to give back to the people of Somalia.
In all your recent interviews, you have this really wide-eyed excitement that’s so endearing. Has any of this attention started to feel normal yet, or is it still just as exciting?
It’s still exciting. I’m just trying to get used to it. [Laughs]
What does it feel like to be nominated for all these awards and getting so much recognition for your performance right now?
It feels great, yeah. It’s not something that I was waiting for, so it’s amazing. I’m truly honored and humbled.
Do you remember growing up during the civil war in Somalia, and do you still think about it today here in America?
I have the memory of it. I think about it sometimes, but it’s not something that will stop me from doing anything here.
How difficult was it for you and your family to finally escape Somalia, make it to Yemen, and eventually to Minneapolis?
It was really difficult. We were stuck for a year and my dad wasn’t there. It was just my mom and my siblings, so it was really difficult. There was a time that we thought we were going to die there. Thanks to my mom, we made it.
Was there a big sense of relief when you arrived here? Were you finally able to take a deep breath?
It is a relief when you get here. At first, we went to Yemen for another seven years and after that we came to the United States. It is a big relief.
In one of your interviews, you said that your Somali actually improved here in America. Do you think that was the result of being able to be around your community without the tension of war?
Yeah, definitely. You don’t have to worry about all that other stuff over here.
Did having your group of friends with you on this journey in Captain Phillips make it easier for you to transition into your acting career?
Oh, yeah. That did help me a lot because it’s someone that you feel comfortable with and you can joke around with. Anytime we had five seconds, we would use it and after we were done shooting we would go out. It was fun. We’re almost like brothers now.
Are they planning to pursue acting careers now as well?
Most of them are thinking about pursuing it, yeah.
Did you ever worry at all about your roles in the film were bringing negative attention to Somali people?
If Somalia didn’t have any negative attention for the last twenty years, then I would be worried.
You’ve become an active member of some charities that are trying to improve life for the people in Somalia. Have you been back there since you arrived in the US?
No, I haven’t gone back, but I always try to keep up with the news.
Would you like to go back at some point?
Yeah, I do want to go back.
I have to assume you’ll get that chance through the Adeso organization you’re involved in.
Yeah, Adeso is an NGO organization that a good friend of mine works for. I had read about them and they’re trying to make things better. They’re trying to look for jobs for people and helping them. I totally respect them. My friend approached me and I chose to work with them.
It’s great to see that you’re getting so much attention right now for this performance, but you’re also working hard to give back to where you came from.
I want to be able to use what I’ve become here to give back and help with the problems in any way possible. I’m going to start with Adeso and see how far it gets.
Are you worried at all that Hollywood will pigeonhole you into these types of roles?
I think it’s fine. As long as I’m telling the story, I think it’s all right. I don’t think anybody would keep me in a certain type because it’s up to me to do what I want to play. To me, it’s all about the story. If it’s a good story that I can relate to and can bring it to life, then I’m all for it.
Do you have your Oscar acceptance speech written yet?
Not yet. I have to make that ready. It’s embarrassing if you don’t have it ready. [Laughs]
Having now worked with arguably the biggest actor in the world in Tom Hanks, is there another actor or actress that you’d love to work with in the future?
Oh, man. I just can’t wait. I look up to most of these people and it’s a dream come true to be able to work with them.
What’s your favorite memory, on or off screen, from your time working on Captain Phillips?
I have a lot of good memories working on this film. It was just an adventure and everyday was a new obstacle. Paul Greengrass is an amazing director and I give all the credit to him.
Captain Phillips is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD right now.
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