Rogue One's Riz Ahmed: 'The only person I told about Star Wars role was my mum'

The Londoner had to stay tight-lipped about his part in the latest film in the franchise 
Keeping mum: Riz Ahmed only told his mother about his Star Wars role
Mike Windle/Getty Images
Alistair Foster14 December 2016
The Weekender

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Actor Riz Ahmed says he was sworn to secrecy after winning a role in the new Star Wars movie... but couldn’t resist telling his mother.

The Londoner, 34, plays rebel pilot Bodhi Rook in spin-off Rogue One, which had its London premiere at Tate Modern last night.

He revealed that he struggled to keep quiet after landing the part, saying: “I was going to tweet about it. Then I thought better of it — luckily my thumb wasn’t working at the time otherwise I would have.

“To be honest I felt like I had to tell someone, so I thought the safest option would be to tell someone very close to me, who wouldn’t say anything.

Launch: The Rogue One cast at the afterparty for the London premiere
Ian West/PA

"So that was my mum. When I was actually filming at Pinewood Studios, my mum’s house is close so I was staying there a lot. She would be saying, ‘What you filming, what you doing?’

“I’d be like, ‘I’m filming Star Wars,’ and she’d be like, ‘Oh that’s nice, have some more roti…’ That’s her focus.”

Ahmed, who won a scholarship to Merchant Taylors’ School before studying at Oxford University, grew up in Wembley with his Pakistani parents and says he wants to use his voice to support more ethnic actors.

He added: “I feel very, very lucky there is so much out there these days, with film, music or TV. I’m a born and raised Londoner and my dream is to try to help stretch and progress British film and television and theatre industries and make them more inclusive.

“I’ve made no secret about that. I think it’s really great that so many ethnic British actors get so many chances in the US.

Rogue One: Stars take to red carpet

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"I’d love to see that happening more in the UK. But I’m never turning my back on this country — I’m British, born and bred.”

Ahmed was joined at the premiere by co-stars Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Ben Mendelsohn, Diego Luna and Donnie Yen and director Gareth Edwards.

The afterparty featured rows of Stormtroopers, cocktails with dry ice and special burgers served in Star Wars boxes.

“Star Wars is life-changing and I think I’m only just beginning to recognise that now,” said Ahmed. “The fans are so dedicated and loyal, they show up everywhere.

"Which is lovely, but I might have to start making some weird disguises and wearing them!”

This week he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in HBO murder drama The Night Of, and he recently released his debut album as half of hip-hop duo Swet Shop Boys.

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