Shazad Latif is a British actor who was born in London on July 2, 1988. He rose to prominence when he landed the lead role of data analyst Tariq Masood in the hit BBC series ‘Spooks’ and it is for this role for which he is still best-known. He also played Clem Fandango in ‘Toast of London’ and had roles in ‘Penny Dreadful’ and ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’. He has recently been cast in ‘Star Trek: Discovery’, which is a CBS All Access television series. He will play the roles of both Chief of Security Ash Tyler and the Klingon Voq. Here are five more things you probably don’t know about Shazad Latif.
1. He Studied at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Shazad Latif knew when he left school that he wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. For this reason, he chose to study at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. While he was a student at this performing arts college, he took part in many of their stage productions, including a performance of ‘King Lear’. He also played the role of Joseph Surface in a production of ‘School for Scandal’ which is a Richard Sheridan comedy. Latif did not complete his time at this establishment as he chose to leave a year early. This was because he had landed the role in ‘Spooks’.
2. He is a Technophobe
In the television series ‘Spooks’, Shazad Latif plays Tariq Masood who is a technical analyst. His character’s job is very complex as he is a technological expert. Therefore, it may surprise fans to learn that in real life, Latif is a self-confessed technophobe.
3. He Has Had Roles in Four Films
Although he is predominantly known for his work in television series, Shazad Latif has also had roles in four films. The first was in 2014 when he played the role of Jez Nichols in ‘Salting the Battlefield’. The following year, he played Chandra Mahalanobis in ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’. Also in 2015, Latif took on the role of Kushal in ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Most recently, he landed a role in ‘Profile’, which is set for release in 2018. This film is directed and produced by Timur Bekmambetov.
4. He Was in ‘My Mad Fat Diary’
One of the television series in which Shazad Latif has appeared is ‘My Mad Fat Diary’. He played the role of Dr. Nick Kassar for five episodes in 2012. ‘My Mad Fat Diary’ is a comedy-drama series that was created for E4. It is written by Tom Birdwell and George kay and is based on the novel ‘My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary’ by Rae Earl. The series was nominated for a BAFTA in 2013 and starred Sharon Rooney, Claire Rushbrook, Ian Hart, Nico Mirallegro, Jodie Comer, Jordan Murphy, and Clara Baxendale.
5. He Has Mixed Heritage
Although he was born and raised in London, England, Shazad Latif has an interesting mixed heritage. His father, Javid Iqbal, was Pakistani. Shazad Latif also comes from a combination of English and Scottish heritage.
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