The multi-talented Riz Ahmed continues to advocate for a variety of issues ranging from fundraising for Syrian and Rohingya refugees to highlighting the lack of positive representation of Muslims in the media at the British House of Commons. Riz became a household name through his acting work in films such as Star Wars, Rogue One, Nightcrawler and 2018âs Venom along with his Emmy-winning turn in HBOâs The Night Of. His performance in The Sound of Metal was met with critical acclaim and earned him his first Academy Award nomination for best actor which he followed up with his feature writing debut, Mogul Mowgli, which touched on a number of the themes of his 2020 album, âThe Long Goodbyeâ. All these achievements, alongside his continuous and outspoken activism, led to Riz being listed in Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2017.
Source of Influence: Arts & Culture
Status: Featured in current year