Atta Yaqub
Scottish model and actor
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Atta Yaqub (born 1979) is a Scottish model and actor. He played the lead role in the 2004 film Ae Fond Kiss....
Atta Yaqub | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979 (age 46–47) |
| Education | IT management |
| Alma mater | University of Strathclyde |
| Occupations | Actor, model |
| Years active | 2004– present |
| Known for | Ae Fond Kiss... |
Career
Yaqub was born in Glasgow to Pakistani parents in 1979. Yaqub began modelling as a young adult. He appeared in ads for The Royal Bank of Scotland and Cruise.[1] He made his acting debut in Ken Loach's film Ae Fond Kiss where he played a Pakistani Muslim man who falls in love with an Irish Catholic woman.[2] For his role he was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Best Newcomer.[3]
He featured in Running in Traffic and Nina's Heavenly Delights. In 2011 he entered international cinema with the German film Fernes Land (Junction Point) and Sabiha Sumar's Rafina.[4] In 2012 he joined the cast of the BBC Three drama Lip Service.[5]
Personal life
Yaqub has a degree in IT management and also works as a counselor, advising drug addicts. He is a representative for the Goethe-Institut.[6] He goes to schools around Scotland to promote the Show Racism The Red Card programme.[7] He was also involved in the "One Scotland, Many Cultures" anti-racism campaign.[8] Yaqub speaks English and Punjabi fluently as well as some Urdu and German.[6] Yaqub was educated at Shawlands Academy, Glasgow.[9]
In 2009, Yaqub criticised Prince Harry for making what he saw as prejudiced comments about Pakistanis and asked for a personal apology.[10]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Ae Fond Kiss... | Casim Khan | |
| Doctors | Madhav Verma | "Party Games" | |
| 2005 | The Camping Trip | Sunny | |
| Meet the Magoons | Suky Riprah | "Stairway to Havan" | |
| Perfect Day | Ash | ||
| Pakistani Actually | Himself | Documentary | |
| 2006 | New Street Law | Nadeem Rashid | Season 1, Episode 5 |
| Explosions | Hassans | ||
| Nina's Heavenly Delights | Kary Shah | ||
| 2007 | Karachi Uncovered | Himself | BBC documentary |
| 2009 | Running in Traffic | Amman | |
| 2011 | Fernes Land[11] | Haroon | German-language film |
| 2012 | Lip Service | Season 2[5] | |
| 2015 | Good Morning Karachi | Jamal | |
| 2017 | T2 Trainspotting | Medical student |
