Lewis Alsamari (born 1976) is an Iraqi actor based in the United Kingdom.

Lewis Alsamari
Born1976 (age 47–48)
NationalityIraqi
British

Career

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Alsamari has appeared in episodes of television series such as Spooks and Crossroads. In 2006 he starred in the Universal Pictures film United 93 as the terrorist Saeed al-Ghamdi.

Alsamari was reported to have been denied a visa by American immigration authorities when he applied to visit New York City to attend the premiere of United 93. The reason reportedly given was that he had once been a conscripted member of the Iraqi Army – although this was also the grounds for his refugee status after his desertion in 1993.[1] Other sources say that he applied late for his visa and that it was not denied.[2]

Alsamari was featured in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe production of "What I Heard About Iraq", based on the Eliot Weinberger article of the same name that originally appeared in the London Review of Books in 2005.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 United 93 Saeed Al Ghamdi

Bibliography

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  • Alsamari, Lewis (July 2007). Out of Iraq. United Kingdom: Bantam Press. ISBN 978-0593058237. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

References

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  1. ^ 9/11 film actor refused visa for US premiere[dead link] 21 April 2006 The Times
  2. ^ America bars Iraqi immigrant who played hijacker in September 11 film Archived 9 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine. It was later claimed by Alsamari in his book, "Out Of Iraq" that he was denied entry as he had served a two year suspended sentence in the United Kingdom. 22 April 2006 The Independent On Sunday
  3. ^ Samarrai's Website Archived 13 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine
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