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Former EastEnders star Hamish Patel has embarked on a remarkable journey from the famous streets of Walford to sharing the screen with some of Hollywood‘s elite.
Originally from Cambridgeshire, Patel cut his acting teeth in school plays, leading his teachers to encourage him to join a local theater group. On a crucial day, when he was just 16 and receiving his GCSE results, Patel received a phone call that would change his life: he had auditioned for a new role on EastEnders.
He got the role and in October 2007 began playing Tamwar Masood, a character known for his scholarly pursuits but who struggled with academic disappointments, running the family business, managing a marriage to Afia and the interference of his domineering mother Zainab (played by Nina) endured. Wadia).
Tamwar’s wedding was so popular that they won the Best Wedding award at the 2011 Inside Soap Awards.
Himesh Patel’s most recent role is in the HBO series The Franchise (Image: HBO)
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In 2016, Patel decided to part ways with Albert Square as he felt the pull of more significant opportunities.
Looking back on his time on the BBC soap, he opened up about his struggles with self-image during his formative years, reports the Daystar.
In an interview with GQ magazine, he said: “If you’re a teenager and you have acne, it’s the worst thing in the world. But then you get acne every week in front of millions of people. EastEndersIt’s something completely different.”
“It was rough. You just feel a little flawed because you’re surrounded by actors. Everyone gets spots, but I just felt the pressure.”
But Patel’s career has enjoyed a stratospheric rise since those uncertain days. After departure EastEndersHis next step was to join the cast of the Jo Brand-created Channel 4 sitcom Damned in 2016.
Yet it was his starring role in the Danny Boyle-directed film Yesterday that made him a leading man.
In this controversial romantic comedy, Patel portrays a musician who, after a bicycle accident, discovers that he is the only person on earth who remembers The Beatles and becomes famous for performing their songs.
Patel was cast as Tamwar Masood when he was 16 (Image: BBC)
Now 34 years old and based in Los Angeles, the actor is enjoying rising stardom with one memorable role after another.
Despite building a name for himself, Patel’s humble beginnings are not forgotten by soap lovers.
His performance in the Netflix juggernaut Don’t look up alongside Hollywood A-lister Jennifer Lawrence sent shockwaves among fans.
A surprised viewer commented at the time: “Tamwar van EastEnders in Don’t Look Up. I really enjoy seeing Brits inside Hollywood.”
In addition to his impressive body of work, Patel graced the screen in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and earned a 2022 Emmy nomination for his performance in the HBO miniseries Station Eleven.
The series portrays a post-apocalyptic world and revolves around a group of survivors who travel as artists.
Himesh Patel is now at the helm of HBO’s newest comedy sensation, The Franchise, a satirical look at the chaotic world of blockbuster movies in Tinseltown.
The show, which features the creative genius of The Thick of It’s Armando Iannucci, also features the talents of Jessica Hynes and Richard E. Grant.
Yesterday was a turning point for Patel (Image: publicity photo)
Not content with just one hit, Patel also starred alongside Joseph Gordon Levitt and Lily James in the film Greedy People, further cementing his status as one to watch.
In an intimate conversation with Midday India, Patel took a journey down memory lane, from his humble beginnings EastEnders to mingle with the crème de la crème of the acting world.
Reflecting on his journey, he noted: “It’s been five years since Yesterday came out. That was a real turning point and I’m very proud of the kind of career I’ve built with that so far and I’m very proud of its journey. proud of where I started.”
He continued, highlighting the rarity of the transition from long-term soap opera roles to wider success, and calling for the recognition of British soaps as fertile ground for nurturing talent.
Patel said: “I think it’s still a rarity for someone to be in a soap in Britain for so long and then manage to break out there and I can only speak for the British industry but for us to do that part of the soap to really see.” our industry as a breeding ground for talent, because I think it is.”
Patel acknowledged the success stories of other soap alumni, including Nathalie Emmanuel, who moved from Hollyoaks to star in Francis Ford Coppola’s new film, and emphasized the legitimacy of soaps as a starting point for actors, especially those who don’t have access to traditional acting schools.
He concluded: “Then I’m talking about myself, Nathalie Emmanuel, a great actress and who just starred in Francis Ford Coppola’s new film and she started in Hollyoaks, so it’s an achievable journey for people to start there.
“We have a wonderful tradition of drama schools in Britain and that’s great, but I think sometimes we don’t think hard enough about other avenues and I’m proud to be an example of that.”
The franchise is streaming on Sky and Now TV.
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