Biography
BIOGRAPHY
British-Yemeni actor and voice-over artist Sami Karim was born in Aden, Yemen, to Nigma and Mohamed Ismail Abdul Karim Al-Gailani.
Sami’s introduction to film and television came through his father, a background artist in the 1980s. At age 11, his father took him to the set of '1984' filming at Battersea Power Station. Watching his father appear in scenes from '1984', James Bond’s 'The Spy Who Loved Me', and the British cult TV show Minder inspired Sami to pursue acting.
His first exposure to drama occurred at Lampton Secondary School in Hounslow. Although a Mathematics graduate from the University of East Anglia, Sami bypassed traditional drama school, opting instead for years of acting classes, casting sessions, and workshops. He honed his craft on set, learning alongside seasoned actors. Each day on set served as a masterclass in acting. Sami trained at The Actors Studio in Pinewood Studios and credits Tim Kent with recognizing his natural talent and encouraging him to train seriously. On Eva Pope’s recommendation, he studied the Meisner Technique with her and Bryan Oliver at the Actors Gateway in London.
A highly versatile actor, Sami performs fluently in English, Arabic, Polish, and Hindi. He has collaborated with top Polish film productions, sharing screen time with some of Poland’s leading actors. His Polish television credits include roles in the Netflix/Sony series Ultraviolet, the HBO series Wataha, and the Netflix feature film Kobiety Mafii 2, directed by Patryk Vega.
Sami starred in the Emmy-nominated Hulu TV series The Looming Tower, which won the Satellite Award for Best Miniseries. He portrayed real-life Saudi secret agent Omar Bayoumi and worked with Primetime Emmy-nominated directors Craig Zisk, Michael Slovis, and Ali Selim.
He also appeared in the romantic spy thriller feature Blackbird, directed by Michael Flatley, known as Lord of the Dance. Filmed entirely in Barbados, the movie is described as Casino Royale meets Casablanca. Sami shared the screen with Hollywood legend Eric Roberts. Blackbird premiered at the Monaco Film Festival in July 2021, winning Best Film, with Flatley receiving Best Actor.
Sami features in the multi-award-winning spy thriller Legacy of Lies, acting opposite martial arts star Scott Adkins. The film was written and directed by Adrian Bol.
He appears in the highly anticipated epic blockbuster The Lady of Heaven, which received the Best Visual Effects Award at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival from the I Success International Awards, presented by Superfilm Studios in co-production with Forbes France. Sami portrays the historic figure Khalid ibn al-Walid, Military Commander of the Pagan Army. He also performed as a stuntman with the Cohort Stunt team, playing both Pagan and Muslim fighters during battle scenes, collaborating with the Georgian Stunt Team and Kazakhstan Nomad Stunts, winners of the 2021 Taurus World Stunt Awards for Best Action in a Foreign Film.
In addition to acting, Sami is an emcee, ring announcer, and cage fight announcer. A gifted linguist and accomplished physical actor, he performs his own stunts and serves as a stunt coordinator on various projects.
Sami trains regularly in Mixed Martial Arts and maintains peak physical condition. He is a highly qualified personal trainer and MMA strength and conditioning coach.
His commanding presence and physicality are complemented by a rare emotional intelligence, allowing him to bring depth and sensitivity to his roles, captivating audiences.
