Who is Evin Ahmad, The Kurdish Actress Leading Netflix’s Buzzy New Show?

Get to know Netflix’s latest breakthrough star

With every new production comes a fresh face that eventually becomes the most-talked-about actor online, a trending topic on social media, and the name that dominates discussions following the release of the venture they are a part of, all in a matter of weeks. 

This is not uncommon in the television industry, as many have met success almost overnight all thanks to their part in an exciting cast. And if there’s one platform known almost unanimously for giving up-and-coming actors the global visibility they never even dreamed of reaching is American streaming giant Netflix, which has over the years built a solid reputation for scouting and showcasing exceptional talent through its online portal, propelling numerous previously unknown budding stars into the spotlight and changing the entire trajectory of their careers for the better. 

In recent years, cast members from record-breaking South Korean production Squid Games met international fame and acclaim following the show’s unprecedented popularity on a global scale, catapulting its actors into the limelight and turning them into household names worldwide, including HoYeon Jung, who made her acting debut starring in the dystopian hit series and subsequently became a global ambassador for both Louis Vuitton and Lancôme, one of the faces of Chanel, as well as Vogue’s first solo Korean cover star. 

Last week, Netflix released its latest audiovisual work, dubbed Who Is Erin Carter?, a mini-series, released on Aug. 24, that trails the life of a British expat in Barcelona who finds herself brought back to her unpleasantly dark past following a failed heist she witness by a local supermarket. Spearheaded by Evin Ahmad, who portrays the lead protagonist in the series, the Sweden-born-and-raised actress, who happens to have roots in our dear region, is on her way to possibly following the same path as many of her peers in becoming one of the breakout actresses of the year.

To celebrate her first few steps on the global stage, below, seven facts about the Swedish-Kurdish actress leading Netflix’s latest show. 

She’s 33

Ahmad was born on June, 8, 1990, which makes her a Gemini, a sign she highly resonates with. During an interview with Numero Netherlands, the actress said: “I’m a Gemini, so I like a lot of things and find enjoyment in everything from a musical to a dark thriller, to a comedy… I also need to feel that what I do pushes boundaries. It doesn’t have to be in a big way.” 

She was born and raised in Sweden

 

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She grew up in the Akalla district of Stockholm where she lived for 22-years.

Evin Ahmad has Kurdish roots

 

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Her father is a former actor from Sulaymaniah, a city in the east of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Her mother is also Kurdish, from Afrin, a city part of the Aleppo governorate in northern Syria. “I was born and raised by Kurdish working-class immigrants. We didn’t come from money and education,” she said about her upbringing. 

She made her debut in the industry in 2007

In 2007, Ahmad took on the role of Yasmine in Swedish comedy-drama titled Ett oga rott. Thefilm was based on Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s novel of the same name. Her cast in the movie was a real catalyzing moment in her career, as it opened the door to new opportunities and showcased Ahmad’s acting talents on a broader stage.

Erin Carter is her first English language role

 

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Ahmad’s name might ring a bell from her foreign language appearances in films such as Beck (2015) or Ring Mamma (2019), yet, her true breakthrough came with her starring in two different Netflix programs, namely Snabba Cash and The Rain, which both catapulted her into international stardom. Her latest role in Who is Erin Carter? marks her debut appearance in an English-language production, showcasing her expanding horizons and ambitions to go global as an actress. “Being from Sweden, I always wanted to work abroad and knew I wanted to step into the international arena,” the actress told Numero Netherlands of her new role.

She is also an author

In addition to being a renowned actress, Ahmad is also an author and published her debut novel One Day I Will Build a Castle of Money in 2017. The book, which talks about navigating between guilt and inheritance, was inspired by her upbringing. 

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