Lost
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 recently completed production on the independent film "Animals," directed by Douglas Aarniokoski. He most recently starred in director Neil Jordan's "The Brave One," where he portrayed co-star Jodi Foster's love interest. He also starred in director Robert Rodriguez's zombie movie, "Planet Terror," which was accompanied by a slasher film directed by Quentin Tarantino and released in 2007 under the title "Grind House." In addition he starred opposite Aishwarya Rai in the British film "Provoked," co-starring Miranda Richardson and Robbie Coltrane. The film received accolades at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.
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 recently 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," the true story of Steve Banerjee, whose founding of a male strip club for women led to betrayal and murder. 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, who was torn between loyalty to his own civilization and his deep love for his step-brother Moses, in the ABC miniseries "The Ten Commandments," filmed on location in Morocco.
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
