Amrou Al-Kadhi
Amrou Al-Kadhi (born 23 June 1990) is a British-Iraqi writer, actor, drag performer, and filmmaker whose work primarily focuses on queer identity, cultural representation and racial politics.[4] In 2006, Al-Kadhi was awarded a two-year scholarship to Eton College, where they did their A-levels,[1][5] then graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA and MPhil in the History of Art.Al-Kadhi's autobiography, Life as a Unicorn: A Journey From Shame to Pride and Everything In Between, was published in 2019 and tells the story of their estrangement from and final reconciliation with their mother and Islam.In their memoir, Al-Kadhi describes how, at the age of thirteen, they developed a close identification with fish, which they call "warrior shape-shifters" in colourful clothing.[18] After a particularly vivid dream, Al-Kadhi tried to capture the attention of a pair of clownfish, "but they were swimming along happily together – just another couple who had found love – and suddenly the tank made me feel lonelier than ever".[24] In June 2020, in honour of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade, Queerty named Al-Kadhi among the fifty heroes "leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people".
2024 Sundance Film FestivalLondonUnited KingdomBritish-Iraqidrag performerfilmmakerracial politicsMuslimBahrainmarine biologyquantum physicsEton CollegeUniversity of CambridgeSteven SpielbergMunichFilm 4BBC FilmsSony's Spider-Man UniverseEddie BrockBig Talk ProductionsPlayground EntertainmentSociety of AuthorsSomerset Maugham AwardThe IndependentGay TimesThe GuardianAttitudeLittle White LiesIslamophobianon-binaryVenom (Host Two)Cameo appearanceBBC AmericaBBC StudiosUniversal TelevisionHollyoaksChannel 4American Horror StoriesFX on HuluUnderbellyEdinburgh FringeSoho TheatrePride paradeQueertyPolari First Book PrizeThe Bookseller