By:CityFella
He was a nominee last night, considered to be one of the front runners. He sat next to Hollywood Royalty and surrounded by millionaires. Studio heads and actors who command 10 to 20 millions dollars per picture.
The Actor has won no fewer than nine awards for his performance including the British Academy Film Award. Two years ago the Minnesota State University alum has been widely praised for his role in “Captain Phillips” as the desperate pirate Muse, and even ad-libbed the film’s signature line: “I’m the captain now. He earned $65,000 for the role.
He was working for the limo company when he saw an announcement that a film was looking for actors to play Somali pirates. After filming “Captain Phillips,” he went to work at his brother’s mobile phone store in Minneapolis. But he decided to quit when the film premiered.
Everything he wore last night was rented.
At the time “Captain Phillips” was released, he didn’t have an agent and described his days as “waiting around” until more film work appeared.
He now has representation and reportedly is negotiating to star next as a legendary South African long distance runner. He’s vying to play Willie Mtolo, winner of the 1992 New York Marathon and many other races, in a historical drama currently titled “The Place That Hits the Sun.”
According to the New Yorker, he plans to move to Los Angeles, where he’ll share an apartment with his “Captain Phillips” co-star and Minneapolis friend Faysal Ahmed, also looking to make it in Hollywood.
Barkhad Abdi got his red carpet moment last night as millions watched around the world.
“In Somalia he’s a sommelier,” joked Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres as she opened the ceremonies. “Who’s the wine captain now?”
