Rami Malek is a man proud of his heritage. However, his cultural heritage makes it difficult for him to assimilate into American culture.
The Oscar winner has established himself as the leading man in Hollywood. He has received critical acclaim for his roles in films such as Bohemian Rhapsody and Mr. Robots.
Malek was born and raised in the United States and is a first generation American. On the other hand, his parents regularly remind him of his heritage and roots.
What nationality is Rami Malek?
Rami Malek is an Egyptian citizen, but an American citizen because he was born in California. The actor is also Greek, reportedly, as he is the “eighth Greek”.
He said his father and Nelly, his mother, are both Egyptian immigrants. In the late 1970s, they immigrated to the United States with their sister Yasmine. Said works as a travel agent in Cairo, helping tourists from the West. Interacting with them sparked his interest in the other side of the planet and he expressed a desire to see it.
At first, Nelly was afraid to move to the United States and live in another country. It was difficult for her to be away from family and friends in Cairo. However, she changed her mind and eventually agreed to move out. So in 1978 Said, Nelly and Yasmine moved to Sherman Oaks and stayed for a long time.
Malek and his twin brother Sami were born there on May 12, 1981. The Malek siblings grew up in the San Fernando Valley in a very remote environment.
On the other hand, their parents instilled in them the importance of remembering their roots. On the contrary, they work hard to ensure the preservation of their family’s Egyptian heritage.
Malek’s first language was Egyptian Arabic, which he spoke at the age of 4. Furthermore, his father used to wake him up at night to talk to his distant relatives in Egypt.
Rami Malek on accepting his ethnicity
Rami Malek is devoted to his family and to his Egyptian roots, as his parents taught him. In his late teens, he visited Egypt to see where his parents lived. He is reunited with his extended family and relatives, who further increase his enthusiasm for Egypt.
On May 12, 2020, he told GQ that his culture is the “base” that makes him who he is. He argues that there is no such thing as “a scrapped first or second generation”.
Because of who he is and how he grew up, he identifies himself as Egyptian. His parents raised him by listening to the music of his culture, and he loved every bit of it. He admits that he feels “very attached to the culture and people that live there” when it comes to Egypt.
He admits that his experience is different from that of other Egyptians, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of his culture. Overall, Malek is open and proud of his race and culture.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education