Oscar-winning actor Riz Ahmed has claimed that British intelligence services attempted to recruit him on three separate occasions, including one encounter involving an official he says was “high up at the BBC,” following his rise in politically charged film roles.
Ahmed, who has become one of Britain’s most acclaimed actors in recent years, says the approaches were linked to the nature of his early work, which often explored themes of surveillance, terrorism, identity and state power.
He first gained attention in films such as The Road to Guantanamo, where he played a man wrongly detained in the aftermath of the Iraq War, and Four Lions, a dark comedy about a group of would-be extremists.
Speaking in a recent interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, Ahmed described one alleged encounter shortly after returning to the UK following the release of his debut film.
He said he was stopped at Luton Airport and taken into a side room by individuals who identified themselves as intelligence officers.
Ahmed recalled the incident in striking detail, saying: “They took me into a side room, put me in an arm lock, threatened to break my arm, took my phone, were pretending to bash the buttons, accidentally changed the language to Danish.” He added that he was then questioned about his career choices, recalling: “Did you become an actor to further the Muslim struggle?”
He said he responded with disbelief, describing the situation as almost surreal, adding: “This is hilarious.”
According to Ahmed, after the questioning, the officials allegedly suggested he could assist them in the future by monitoring information for intelligence purposes. He said he declined the offer outright.
The actor went on to say he was approached on two further occasions in similar contexts, which he suggested were connected to the visibility of his work and its political themes.
Ahmed has since built an internationally recognised career, winning an Academy Award and starring in major productions including Nightcrawler, Sound of Metal and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, establishing himself as one of the most prominent British actors working in Hollywood.
The claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no public response from the agencies or organisations referenced in his account.
