The actor, 43, talks about irreverence, trying to look more awake, his love of music, and the pursuit of art
I have mixed feelings about being the first non-white actor to win a Bafta. I was very grateful, but it also raised questions. I remember watching The Buddha of Suburbia and Bhaji on the Beach as a kid. British-Asian culture didn’t start in 2017, when I won. It’s weird to think it wasn’t recognised until that point.
Working on Four Lions with Chris Morris was a great lesson in irreverence. Even if people insist you take things seriously, you don’t have to. Actually, it’s probably more important not to. Comedy can take the teeth out of even the most serious issues.
I only started acting because my mum wanted me to pronounce my “T”s properly. When I was seven, she took me to speech and drama lessons. She thought it would be elocution. Instead, I learned how to perform Jabberwocky on-stage.
I’ve got a lovely level of fame. People vaguely recognise me, but don’t know my name or where they know me from. We’ll get into a nice chat before they realise they saw me in something. It happened this morning in the Post Office queue.
Music is like a public service. It has the ability to make sense of the world. It’s the engine that keeps me running.
An immigrant’s journey and the pursuit of art are the same endeavour. You’re walking into an open space where you can take a level of authorship over your life. What pushes you forward is your faith in the world being better. My parents came to the UK from Pakistan and Kenya. They taught me to keep going and never give up.
I’d like to look more awake. My wife has this running joke: she asks me to look sleepy, then to open my eyes really wide. I look exactly the same. She finds it hilarious.
Hollywood stars have the ability to make or break somebody’s day. I worked with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler on the Murder Mystery films. They’re both lovely, kind people and aware that they have this strange effect on people. There’s an intake of breath, but somehow they ensure the conversation ends with you feeling a little bit better.
Parenthood makes things feel more vital. Since having our two sons, I’m much more appreciative of life. You feel grateful for even the smallest things. It’s a gift.
I would have been an idealistic lawyer. I took a law degree – my dad pushed me into it – and I like to think I’d have picked unpopular cases; tried to redress inequalities and tackle injustices.
Airports are fascinating. My parents met at one. My dad was one of Britain’s first black immigration officers and my mum was working for Pakistan International Airlines. Airports are your first clue to understanding a country. You might get a smile from an immigration officer saying, “Hello and welcome” – or the opposite of that.
Adeel Akhtar stars in The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov at London’s Donmar Warehouse from 26 April to 22 June
