British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed seized the title of the first Muslim and Pakistani actor to be a nominee for the Best Actor’s category for this year’s Academy Awards.
The Venom star became the first Muslim and the first actor of Pakistan based person to be nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Actor for his role in Sound of Metal. The film is included in a total of six categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor for Paul Raci, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Sound.
After receiving the nomination Riz Ahmed talk about this moment.
https://87c5091e224474e6d6e43a94d52e7dec.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html In an interview Ahmed stated: “If there’s a way in which people can find themselves in this moment, and can feel inspired and connected on a deeper level, I’m all for it.”
“Whether they see me as the first British Pakistani, or the first guy from Wembley, you know, there’s so many ways to view it,” he said.
“But as long as it feels like an opportunity for more people than ever before to really connect and feel included in this moment, that’s a blessing,” he continued.
“It’s why we do it, to stretch our hearts and stretch our minds, and in the process stretch culture.”
“We should stretch culture so that it’s big enough and wide enough and expansive enough so that there’s space for all of us to find ourselves in it, to feel that we belong and that we’re included, and that we matter,” he said.
“These changes aren’t just something that’s good politically or socially. It’s something which allows stories and storytelling to get back to its original intention, which is to embrace all of us.”
