Kurdish Actor Shvan Aladdin Proves his Success in Hollywood
Awarded with the “It Factor” title in Hollywood means having the ability to bring something remarkable to the table, something Kurdish actor Shvan Aladdin, who fuses his diverse talent with vast personal experience, is renowned for.
Gaining success as one of the only Kurdish actors in Hollywood, Aladdin began turning heads nearly a decade ago with his approach to accurately represent ethnic characters in a way that honours and supports diversity across film and television.
Proving that his talents extend far beyond the confines of standard typecast roles, his tactful approach catapulted Aladdin to stand out in the crowd and achieve international recognition early on in his career.
Working alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers, Aladdin landed supporting roles in 2017’s “The Yellow Birds” starring Jennifer Aniston and Toni Collette, the 2018 Hollywood blockbuster “12 Strong” alongside Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon, as well as the two-time Primetime Emmy nominated series “SEAL Team.”
The following year Aladdin gave several riveting performances in numerous films and television series, such as the expressive film “Noise,” co-starring T.V. Carpio (“Limitless,” “Across the Universe”), and Dan Bronfeld’s dramatic war film “Akeda,” which earned numerous awards and also stars Gustavo Escobar (“Shameless,” “The Politician,” “Martyrdom”).
Focusing his attention on telling stories of substance and depth, Aladdin is the perfect example of an actor who has managed to break the mold of stereotypical Middle Eastern roles. A voice of encouragement, his work has paved the way for many others to follow in his footsteps.
“I think that a lot of Kurdish people have dreams, just as people from every country. The difference is that they rarely see Kurdish actors so they don’t believe that they stand a chance in a place like Hollywood,” explains Aladdin. “I think by me being here, I’m showing them that they stand a chance. That their dreams are just as valid as anybody else.”
Over the years Aladdin’s magnetic and standout performances in numerous theatre, film and television roles have led him to earn consistent recognition.
From a misunderstood bad-boy faced by unrelenting racism in the hit Swedish series “Riverside” to the first ever gay character introduced to the Sci-Fi phenomenon “Stargate Origins,” Aladdin approaches every role with authenticity and commitment.
“It’s so adrenaline-filled. I think that when you are completely prepared, you get into your character and you do what is demanded.” He adds, “Acting for me is bigger than anything else. I love getting to be in front of a camera and play someone other than myself. And then to see the results of that human being. I lend my body to that character but the rest is him. And I enjoy watching whoever ‘him’ is at that moment.”
In 2018 Aladdin displayed his colossal talents as one of the lead roles in the hit web series “Stargate Origins: Catherine,” a digital reboot of the distinguished “Stargate Origins” from MGM, which was later re-cut into a full length feature film.
The original “Stargate” film which premiered in 1994 starred Kurt Russell and James Spader, and grossed nearly $200 million worldwide. The multi-award winning series has continued to impact audiences from around the globe with nearly 20 seasons and over 380 episodes.
A dream-come-true moment for Aladdin, he reflects, “It was hard to believe… When I was a kid I used to watch all these shows on TV, and “Stargate” was one of them. I remember it so well. And I got the chance to be a part of a show I had watched as a kid. It can’t get bigger than that. It was such an honor.”
“Stargate Origins” is an American Sci-Fi adventure web series consisting of 10 episodes that expands from the internationally acclaimed “Stargate” franchise.
The series is set in pre-war Egypt and follows the story of Catherine, a daughter on a mission to save her father who had been taken by Nazi scientists, and unlock the mystery of what lies beyond the Stargate realm and save Earth from the extraordinary darkness.
Aladdin played the role of Wasif, the humorous gay character who he describes as “authentic and true…cheeky but also very down to earth.”
Making “Stargate” history as the first ever gay character to be introduced to the saga, director Mercedez Bryce Morgan was quoted via syfy news declaring Wasif as one of her favourites.
Evidently impressed, later on in 2019 Morgan rehired Aladdin to appear in the music video “At This Table,” for the brilliant singer-songwriter Idina Menzel, the superstar voice behind Disney’s critically acclaimed “Frozen.”
Speaking of his “Stargate” character, Aladdin says, “He was very serious and since he was the comic relief, many times he felt unheard but he didn’t give up. He continued being the voice of reason.”
When reflecting on the signifigence of the character, Aladdin shares, “The fact that after so many movies and series of the Stargate franchise that has existed since 1994, for me to be the first actor to play the first male gay character was epic.”
“As an actor, you want to leave a mark with every role you play.” He continues, “For me, with my background, portraying a gay character from Egypt was enormous. These are not the roles we see out there in tv and movies. So just for that reason alone, it was really awesome.”
Considering the tremendous reputation of the Sci-Fi franchise, Aladdin embraced the pressure and gave an outstanding performance throughout the entire series, earning rave reviews from producer Matt Miller.
“When Shvan came to the role, he seemed to infuse it with so much life, and a personal point of view that really grounded the character and made him tangible.” Miller continues, “Like a great actor, Shvan found all of the personal ways to relate the character in a way that made it feel like no one else could have played him. I can’t imagine anyone else in that role.”
When asked what it was like working with the Kurdish actor, Miller responded, “It was an absolute pleasure. Shvan is professional, smart, kind and funny… he was always prepared and was always up for whatever challenge the day demanded, Shvan felt like a family member immediately.”
Born in Slemani, Kurdistan, Aladdin understands the importance of family. After migrating to Sweden at the age of nine, his once sheltered world had become exposed to the countless opportunities which shaped him to become the intelligent man he is today.
He reflects, “I got plenty of opportunities because my mother made that decision to get on that boat to Europe and risk her life. I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for that.”
One of those opportunities which sparked his acting career was his breakout performance as a troubled high-school student in the 2009 Swedish teen drama series “Riverside.”
Aladdin portrayed the role of the anguished Ben-Ali Chehab, a pivotal character that played a huge part in the way the series unmasked societal issues in Europe at the time.
The drama, which followed a group of differing teenagers confronted by relationship and family issues, also tackled poignant social subjects such as racism and cultural diversity.
When describing his character, Aladdin shares, “He was a Middle Eastern guy who was fighting for diversity and wanted to be accepted just like anyone else in school. He was a very charming and funny guy behind all the bad boy-facade.”
The love story between Aladdin’s character, a Middle Eastern boy, and a Christian girl, proved to be a pivotal relationship in the series’ storyline — one that sparked a rarely talked about conversation about interracial couples among European viewers.
Speaking on the controversy, Aladdin states, “It was definitely a well needed subject to be talked about. Racism was getting bigger and bigger and the reality in Sweden was that there were a lot of interracial couples that were getting into trouble for reasons such as these characters.”
He continues, “This started a conversation in Sweden about the ‘quiet’ racism that nobody was talking about. And a lot of interracial couples started being out and open about their relationships.”
The storyline played a vital role in the series educating their viewers, an attribute to filmmaking that is incredibly important to Aladdin, which he feels is his responsibility as an actor.
“I think that the younger audience got to feel heard and seen, and that brings a togetherness. People start to be less afraid because they see themselves in the characters.” He continues, “For the older audience, I believe that they started realizing their own fault in these subjects. I think that people’s mindset changes a lot after seeing everyday stories in depth.”
Along with fueling discussions on societal issues, the groundbreaking series made history by being the first show in Europe to air on both the web and television, a movement that sparked the way many web and TV series continue to be viewed in Europe and abroad today.
Speaking on the movement, Aladdin says, “That is something I am immensely proud of. Having been part of something so groundbreaking in both the racism subject but also something like being the first show to air on the web in Europe.”
After the compelling success of “Riverside,” Aladdin made the move to the US where he studied at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting, which is renowned for its method acting and notable Hollywood alumni such as Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Benicio Del Toro, Martin Sheen and many more.
Moving forward into 2020, Aladdin has a recurring role in the hit CBS series “SEAL Team” starring David Boreanaz and directed by Benjamin Cavell of TV’s “Homeland” and “The Stand.”
With consistent praise from some of the industry’s finest, it’s clear that Shvan Aladdin has cemented himself as one of Hollywood’s most sought after actors today.
Holding the strong ability to stand out from the rest, his charismatic Kurdish appeal and unique upbringing both inspires and influences those around him and reaffirms his “It Factor” quality.
Reflecting on his monumental success, he says, “I can look back sometimes and be very proud of my young self. And I hope that my young self would be proud of myself today.”
