Amir El-Masry injures finger playing boxer Prince Naseem in 'Giant', Pierce Brosnan advises him to prioritize health over the film.

British-Egyptian actor Amir El-Masry stars as legendary British-Yemeni featherweight boxer Prince Naseem Hamed in the biopic Giant, which is premiering at Saudi Arabias Red Sea Film Festival. El-Masry is currently riding a wave of success with several films releasing in quick succession, reflecting his multicultural background in unique ways.

Following his role in Julia Jackmans ensemble fantasy 100 Nights of Hero, inspired by The Thousand and One Nights and shown at the Venice Film Festival, El-Masry leads in Giant, directed by Rowan Athale, as well as in Egyptian director Abu Bakr Shawkys The Stories. In the latter, he portrays a pianist from Cairo who forms a pen-pal relationship with an Austrian woman and eventually marries her.

Born in Cairo and raised in London, El-Masry first gained international attention in 2016 as a hotel chef opposite Tom Hiddleston in Susanne Biers miniseries The Night Manager. He received critical acclaim for his role as a Syrian asylum seeker in Ben Sharrocks 2020 drama Limbo, earning a BAFTA Scotland acting award. His credits also include a military role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, portraying Mohamed al-Fayed in Netflixs The Crown, starring in Egypts musical series Crazy About You, and appearing in BBCs submarine-set thriller Vigil. He will next feature in Fateme Ahmadis psychological thriller Daughter of Eden.

Portraying Prince Naseem Hamed

El-Masry shared that Prince Naseem was a symbol of perseverance, especially growing up in Sheffield, a place that lacked cultural diversity. Despite his small stature, Naseem rose to become a world champion through dedication at the local boxing gym run by Brendan Ingle. He blocked out the noise and put one foot forward at a time, El-Masry said, noting that Naseems story was personally inspiring.

Training and On-Set Injury

Preparing for the role involved intense physical training, including 12-hour days over four and a half weeks. During a practice session, El-Masry dislocated his finger after an unexpected collision with a stuntman. I didnt feel the pain immediately, but it was shocking to see my finger out of its socket, he recalled. Pierce Brosnan, who was on set, advised him, Forget the film. Focus on your health and your family.

Working with Pierce Brosnan

El-Masry described Brosnan as a consummate professional and fatherly figure on set. The actor also revealed they will appear together again in a cameo for Guy Ritchies TV series Mobland.

Transitioning Between Roles

Moving from a flamboyant boxer to a reserved pianist in The Stories was a significant shift. El-Masry explained that he drew on video references for Naseem and personal notes from director Abu Bakr Shawky for the pianist role. As a pianist, expression comes from the hands rather than the face, he noted, highlighting the subtlety required for the part.

Upcoming Projects

Next year, El-Masry will reunite with Ben Sharrock for the film Alone Together, set in Oman. The story follows a man seeking solitude and self-discovery while navigating personal challenges, promising Sharrocks signature imaginative storytelling.

Author: Lucas Grant