There are a huge number of different religions in the world - someone believes in Jesus, someone in Buddha, and someone in pagan gods. Freedom of religion reigns on our planet and everyone chooses for himself, as the classic said: "a woman, a religion, a road." We decided to talk about the stars who converted to Islam and make a photo-list of Muslim actors.
Mahershala Ali
- Green Book
- "The Mysterious Story of Benjamin Button"
- "The Place Beyond the Pines"
The famous Hollywood actor decided to convert to Islam in 2000. Mahershala's mother is a clergyman, and she raised her son in Christian traditions, but the future actor at a conscious age decided to become a Muslim. The guy changed his last name from Gilmore to Ali, but the relationship between mom and son has not changed - she made the decision of her son, and Mahershala admits that she really appreciates it.
Dave Chappelle
- "Letter for you"
- "Diamond Cop"
- "Air prison"
Some celebrities came to Allah at a conscious age, and the popular comedian Dave Schappell in the 90s is one of them. He decided to convert to Islam in 1998 and never once regretted his decision. According to Dave, this religion is so wise that sometimes a lifetime is not enough to study and fully understand it.
Omar Sharif
- Lawrence of Arabia
- "Funny girl"
- "McKenna's Gold"
At birth, actor Omar Sharif, popular in the middle of the last century, was given the name Michel Demitri Shalhub. He was born into a Lebanese Catholic family and could have remained a Catholic if not for love. The fact is that the actor fell in love with the Egyptian actress Faten Hamamu and became a Muslim in order to be able to marry her. Their marriage lasted nineteen years and ended in divorce, but the faith in Allah remained with Sharif until his death.
Ellen Burstyn
- Interstellar
- "Requiem for a Dream"
- "The Last Picture Show"
Ellen Burstyn continues our photo-list of Muslim actors. She can also be attributed to foreign actors who converted to Islam, already being accomplished personalities. The actress was over thirty when she decided to take this step. Over time, the six-time Oscar nominee plunged headlong into Sufism - one of the most ascetic movements in Islam.
Faran Tahir
- "Lost"
- "Supernatural"
- "How to Avoid Punishment for Murder"
This American actor with Pakistani roots became really popular after his participation in "Iron Man" and the series "The West Wing" and "24 Hours". Many viewers also remember the role of the Muslim laboratory assistant Isaac in "Grey's Anatomy". Paran himself not only plays memorable Muslim characters in movies, but also professes Islam in real life. Tahir says that he likes to play good and bright fellow believers, as opposed to what many believe that all Muslims are terrorists or villains.
Sean Stone
- "John F. Kennedy: Shots in Dallas"
- "Natural Born Killers"
- "Born on the fourth of July"
Sean Stone began his career with participation in the popular projects of his father, the outstanding director Oliver Stone. Despite the fact that his star dad is Jewish, and his mother is a Christian, Sean chose Islam for himself. As a documentary filmmaker, Stone Jr. visited countries where Islam is the main religion on several occasions. During his next trip to Iran, Sean became a Muslim.
Ramy Youssef
- "Don't worry, he won't go far"
- "Rami"
- "Mister Robot"
Some movie stars like to talk about their faith at length, while others make movies about it. Like, for example, Rami Youssef, who acted not only as an actor, but also as a screenwriter for the semi-biographical series "Rami" about the life of a Muslim in America. Both his play and the project as a whole were highly appreciated by both film critics and viewers.
Riz Ahmed
- "One night"
- "Unfavorable neighborhoods"
- "Ten Minute Stories"
Riza Ahmed can easily be attributed to famous personalities who profess Islam and boldly talk about the realities of this religion in the modern Western world. The actor was afraid that US President Donald Trump would start religious repression, which he talked about at the very beginning of his political career, and his fellow believers could find themselves in a disadvantaged position. Ahmed considers himself a very religious person, and says that he would not have achieved anything in this life without the help of Allah.
Shohreh Aghdashloo
- "Lake house"
- Emily Rose's Six Demons
- "Elementary"
Russian viewers know Shore primarily thanks to the projects "House of Sand and Fog" and "Stoning Soraya M." The actress is of American and Iranian descent, and she grew up in an Islamic family. Agdashlu does not imagine himself professing any other religion. She claims that the fact that she is a Muslim was the main factor in the fact that she was not given the role of God in the thriller "Bureau of Adjustment".
Aasif Mandvi
- The Sopranos
- "Analyze it"
- Lemony Snicket: 33 Misfortunes
Our story about the stars who converted to Islam and a photo-list of Muslim actors is completed by the Indian actor Aasif Mandvi. The actor professes Islam and is glad that he can talk about this in countries where more than half of the people profess Christianity. He believes that the times when it was scary to be a Muslim are gone forever, and he, together with his brothers in religion, will never be associated with terrorists and criminals.
