New York, NY, November 19, 2021 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is delighted to welcome Rami Malek as our newest Ambassador. Malek, the son of Egyptian immigrants, is best known for his role as Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), for which he won the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and British Academy Film Award for Best Actor. Malek is the first actor of Egyptian heritage to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. He also portrayed Elliot Alderson in the USA Network television series Mr. Robot (2015-2019), for which he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Time magazine named Malek one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019. This year, he starred as a lead in The Little Things and the antagonist of the James Bond film No Time to Die.
Malek is particularly passionate about immigrant and refugee work not only from his background but also from his deep-seated belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to seek a better future for themselves.
Upon joining the International Rescue Committee family as an Ambassador, Rami Malek said, “I am honored and humbled to join the IRC’s efforts in helping people survive, recover and take control of their lives in 40 countries and 26 US cities. This is my first partnership with a humanitarian aid organization, and I’m honored to be able to use my profile to elevate such an important organization who are truly at the forefront -- on the very front lines -- delivering aid to the most difficult places. Whether it’s war-torn Syria, the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan, famine in Yemen, or dangers in Ethiopia, the IRC is right there providing support to millions of people. But that’s not all. The IRC is also actively involved all across the United States. As the son of an immigrant, I know how difficult it is to assimilate to American life. The IRC fills a critical gap helping refugees and immigrants find safe haven in the US, jobs, language classes and housing, choices and logistics that can feel impossible when faced with them alone.”
As we near Giving Tuesday and the holiday season, Malek has a special video message to encourage urgent support for the International Rescue Committee. Watch it here and join Rami in supporting the IRC here.