As they say, all good things must come to an end, including Netflix’s original series The Crown. The six-season-long show, which made its streaming debut on the platform in 2016, documents the trials and tribulations of the British monarchy from 1947 to 2005, depicting, almost intrusively, historical events from Windsor’s viewpoint. Considered a fan-favorite, the series compiled and scripted the royal family’s many endeavors and affairs for audiences to better understand the layers of power, tradition, and personal struggle taking place at Buckingham Palace.
Having earned itself a position amongst some of Netflix’s best-produced programs in recent years, the show, created by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Daldry, has been nothing short of clear-cut success. Scooping two Golden Globes and 21 Primetime Emmy awards since its inception, The Crown’s excellence in storytelling has managed to leave its mark in the small-screen industry with a stellar and talented cast that includes Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Dominic West, and more. Having released its much-anticipated series finale on Dec. 16, many of us were left saddened by the bittersweet farewell to the on-screen characters, with one in particular who reached paramount levels of stardom in our region. Yes, we’re referring to Dodi Fayed, the late Princess Diana’s love interest with whom she tragically passed away as a result of a car accident in Paris in 1997.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
The role, filled by Egyptian-English actor Khalid Abdulla, has blown new life into the age-old debates about the Fayed family, their intentions, as well as the many mysteries surrounding the tragic events of Aug. 31, 1997. Fortunately for Abdulla, the resuscitated interest in his character also cast a light on his own career and personal life as his performance rightfully brought him widespread recognition and acclaim.
As The Crown’s cast makes its exit— leaving us wondering where and when we’ll see them next— we decided to compile five must-know facts about Abdulla, the actor who brought Dodi Fayed to life in this iconic series.
He was born in Scotland
Abdalla was born in Glasgow, Scotland on Oct. 26, 1980 to Egyptian parents who were both physicians. His family is known for having a long track record advocating against the Egyptian government, which is something that Abdalla himself continued by becoming actively involved in anti-regime protests in Cairo during the Arab Spring.
He’s a Cambridge graduate
Although born in Scotland, the actor grew up in London. After attending King’s College School— a prestigious private establishment founded in 1829 by King George IV— the actor went on to study English at the University of Cambridge. When enrolled, it was reported that the Egyptian-English student was quite active in the drama scene alongside Iron Man actress Rebecca Hall and Downton Abbey actor Dan Stevens, who also happened to be Cambridge alumni.
He’s a polyglot
It has been reported that Abdalla speaks three languages fluently, namely French, English, and Arabic. A seasoned traveler, the actor lived in several cities around the world including Paris, Cairo, and Kabul, which likely contributed to his language skills.
He’s a proud activist
It has been reported that Abdalla participated in demonstrations held at Tahrir Square in Cairo as part of the region-spread protests against the regime of Hosni Mubarak during the Arab Spring in 2011. An extensively mentioned topic in his interviews and work, he has also played roles in titles that center themselves around Egypt’s civil party and relationship with governing powers as he did in The Square, an Egyptian-American documentary film by Jehane Noujaim, which depicts the country’s issues from 2011 to 2013. During the shoot, Abdalla was detained and the crew’s equipment was confiscated before being released.
Recently, he was seen speaking in favor of the Palestinian cause at The Crown’s finale gala red carpet event at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
@ms.marble2 Khalad Abdalla #palestine #phalastine #fromtherivertotheseapalastinewillbe #istandwithpalestine🇵🇸❤️ #istandwithpalestine #phalastine🇵🇸 #netinyaho_is_a_war_criminal #freepalestine🇵🇸 ♬ original sound – ms Marble2
We think that this one speaks for itself.
He co-founded the most-watched non-profit YouTube channel in Egypt
Abdalla co-founded the Mosireen (We Insist) Collective in Cairo— “a volunteer media activist collective that came together to document and transmit images of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011,” as per the website. Throughout its three-year-long existence, the group produced and posted over 250 videos which all focused on “street politics, state violence, and labor rights.” Within the first three months of its launch, it became Egypt’s most-watched non-profit YouTube channel and in January 2012, it went on to become the world’s.
