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NAVEEN ANDREWS
Sayid on the ABC Television Network's "Lost"
In the classic tradition of leading men who have emerged from the London drama world comes Naveen Andrews, who is quickly developing into one of today's most diversely talented actors in both film and television. People magazine named Naveen one of the "World's Most Beautiful People."
Andrews was recently seen in the independent film "Animals," directed by Douglas Aarniokoski. He also starred in director Neil Jordan's "The Brave One," co-starring Jodi Foster, director Robert Rodriguez's zombie movie "Planet Terror," and the British film "Provoked," opposite Aishwarya Rai, Miranda Richardson and Robbie Coltrane.
Though he was born and raised in London and is of Indian descent, Andrews says he has found his true home in Hollywood. He began his entertainment career as a teenage musician, guitarist and composer. He won entry to the prestigious Guildhall School of Drama during a time that also produced screen stars Ewan McGregor and David Thewlis. Fresh out of university, he was cast in Hanif Kureishi's look at the London rave scene, "London Kills Me." He went on to put his musical talents to work in his next film, "Wild West," starring as a Pakistani who dreams of finding country music success in Nashville. For this role, he was nominated for the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Newcomer.
Andrews then broke out into the international spotlight starring as Lt. Kip Singh, the Sikh with a talent for defusing bombs who finds a romantic connection with co-star Juliet Binoche -- the English patient's nurse -- in the Academy Award-winning romantic epic, "The English Patient." On the heels of that success, he went on to star in a wide variety of films, including Mira Nair's "Kama Sutra," "Mighty Joe Young," "True Love and Chaos," "Rollerball" and "Drowning on Dry Land," opposite Barbara Hershey (with whom he is now partnered).
Adding to his growing reputation as an actor of broad range and appeal, Andrews took on leading roles in two diverse film projects -- portraying a poet caught in a love triangle in Jane Weinstock's modern romantic comedy, "Easy," and starring as the eminently eligible bachelor Mr. Balraj in Gurinder Chada's ("Bend It Like Beckham") riotously colorful Bollywood version of a classic literary tale, "Bride and Prejudice."
Andrews has also found success playing memorable characters on high-profile television, beginning with the starring role of a 1970s London high-schooler in the BBC miniseries, "The Buddha of Suburbia," based on Hanif Kureishi's comic novel. He was awarded the Best Actor Award at the San Remo Film Festival, among other accolades, for the role. He garnered further critical notice starring in "The Chippendale Murders." Working again with director Mira Nair, Andrews starred as Dr. Abraham Verghese in the telefilm "My Own Country," based on Varghese's autobiography, and in the telefilm "The Peacock Spring," based on Rumor Godden's novel. He also starred as Menerith in the ABC miniseries "The Ten Commandments."
Andrews' ability to portray such a variety of roles and nationalities, combined with his depth, sensuality and musical talent, makes him a true rarity.
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
HOMETOWN London, England
BIRTHDATE January 17
