Tomb Raider actor from Wolverhampton heads back to Black Country
A Black Country actor who stars in new Hollywood blockbuster Tomb Raider headed back to the region for a screening of the film.
Antonio Aakeel, from Wolverhampton, visited the Light Cinema in Walsall to mark the release of Tomb Raider.
Mr Aakeel stars alongside Oscar winner Alicia Vikander as heroine Lara Croft in the film based on the popular video game.
The movie follows Lara as she embarks on a journey to uncover the mystery behind her father’s disappearance.
Mr Aakeel, 22, has landed the coveted role of Nitin, a friend to Lara Croft.
He said: “I couldn’t quite believe it when I got the call I had landed Tomb Raider.
“It was at the end of shooting [for another film] and I’d been asked to put myself on tape with two hours’ notice. I filmed it outside my trailer on my lunch break and luckily it got me the part.”
Mr Aakeel has previously starred in BBC Films’ City of Tiny Lights opposite Billie Piper and Riz Ahmed and last year featured in the harrowing BBC One drama Three Girls.
After his visit to the Light Cinema, marketing executive Andy Smallman said: “Antonio is a very humble person and it’s so great to see local talent back.
“We wholeheartedly believe that people like Antonio deserve to be recognised and supported by the community.
“He is a benchmark for the next generation of talent, showing them that hard work and dedication can lead to huge opportunities like starring in Hollywood films.”
Mr Aakeel, who went to Holyhead Primary School in Wednesbury, followed by Wodensborough Ormiston Academy, described Miss Vikander as ‘a phenomenal talent’, adding: “We got on instantly and it’s clear just how incredibly hard she has worked to bring Lara to life. From the day we met, we had a natural spark which I feel really aided the performance.”
The film, which was released in the UK last week, has received mixed reviews from critics.
Norwegian filmmaker Roar Uthaug directed the film, which also stars Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Hannah John-Kamen and Kristin Scott Thomas.
A synopsis for the movie says: “Seven years after the disappearance of her father, 21-year-old Lara has refused to take the reins of his global business empire, instead working as a bike courier in London while taking college classes.
“Eventually she becomes inspired to investigate her father’s disappearance and travels to his last-known location: a tomb on an island somewhere off the coast of Japan.”
Mr Aakeel said he caught the acting bug after being given a one-line role in the Christmas play at Holyhead Primary. He was born in Whitmore Reans and took acting lessons in Birmingham.
He went on to land a small role in popular E4 show Skins, bagging the part after auditioning against 500 other hopefuls.
After a couple of lead roles in BBC drama Doctors and a prominent character role in international film The Line of Freedom his career has continued on an upwards trajectory.
