Moments In Time

Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek is known for his critical selection of roles, and as the new face of the Pasha de Cartier re-edition, there’s no exception.

- Mitchell Oakley Smith

Early one Sunday evening I’m on the phone from Singapore to London, and from the other end, the multiple-award-winning actor Rami Malek is talking about watches in what can only be described as a mesmeric drawl. “I’ve always appreciated them,” he says, pausing several times to choose the best words to convey his response. “They’re beautifully historic and… they can just be… a really personal expression of something that’s time-honoured.” At times through the interview, I fear the line has dropped out, such is the vocal intonation of Malek. I knew from seeing him interviewed on television that he was the cerebral sort; I just hadn’t expected one of the biggest film stars of our time to be so considerate.

The past few years have been meteoric for Malek. The son of Egyptian immigrant parents, Malek was born and raised in California, and after studying theatre in college, moved to New York City, where he found his way into a theatrical circle. In his early years after graduation, having returned home to his parents, he struggled to break through, though small roles, such as those in TV sitcom Gilmore Girls and comedy series The War at Home, provided a foundation for larger supporting roles, including an Egyptian vampire in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. It was Mr. Robot, however, that put Malek on the map, with Entertainment Weekly calling his performance the best reason to watch the show.