There are certain details about Hollywood stars that are often buried when fame takes over. Egyptian-American Rami Malek is no different.
The 37-year-old actor quickly shot to fame after taking the lead character in the American TV series Mr. Robot in 2015, and then made international headlines after playing the role of Freddie Mercury in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody at the end of 2018.
We all know Malek as the Golden Globe winner, the Emmy winner, the Academy Award nominee, and the spectacular actor who turned heads in his grand performance in Bohemian Rhapsody.
But, did you know that Malek is actually pretty much like the rest of us? In his early 20s, the actor took on several part-time jobs, one of which was making falafel sandwiches. As an aspiring actor, Malek had to take on several employment opportunities to make ends meet. Aside from falafel, Malek also delivered pizzas to help sustain himself financially.
"Working in a falafel shop when I have a university degree was not easy"
"I dreamed to work in [Hollywood's] studios, not its restaurants," Malek told Al-Masry Al-Youm in a 2015 interview.
Born to Egyptian immigrant parents in Los Angeles, he earned a theater degree in 2003 from the University of Evansville in Indiana. Contrary to what you might think, it took Malek over a year to land a meeting with a casting director in Hollywood.
"There were times when I was depressed and started losing confidence, especially when I did not receive any responses for the many resumes I sent out," Malek said.
"Also, working in a falafel shop when I have a university degree was not easy."
At some point in his life, Malek put his dreams aside and worked to get a real estate license. Fortunately for him (and us, his fans), he ultimately got a call in 2004 to take part in a scene in Gilmore Girls. Malek played the role of Andy, Lane's classmate, in the fourth season of the popular series.
Putting falafel aside, did you know Malek has a twin brother?
Malek has a twin brother, Sami, who was born four minutes after him. While Rami is an actor, Sami is, well, a teacher.
Their family is not just comprised of the lookalikes; the Maleks brothers also have an older sister, Yasmine.