Hakeem Kae-kazim: Action Man

Dolce spoke to the actor extraordinaire about the projects that inspire him, what he’s learned about the business and the stories he’d love to tell someday.

- Angela Rotundo

His celebrity status may not be on par with fellow actors Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington, but his presence on screen is just as commanding, memorable, and worthy of the accolades Hollywood has to offer. Although his is not yet a household name, his body of work is proof that it will only be a matter of time.

Hakeem Kae-Kazim, the Nigerian-British actor, has conquered all acting media: stage, television and film. His acting career began when he attended the National Youth Theatre in London. During the theatre’s summer programs, students learn all about the theatre environment and at the end of the term, perform on stage. Kae-Kazim says that it was during those summers, aged 14 to 18, that his passion for acting really grew and he knew this was going to be his life-long career.

Early in his career, Kae-Kazim acted in a number of limited TV series, but it wasn’t until his breakthrough performance as George Rutaganda in the Oscar-nominated film Hotel Rwanda that his international reputation grew. Based on a true story, the film depicts the brave actions of hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina, played by Don Cheadle, as he strives to save Tutsi refugees from Hutu militia.

“Doing the research and looking at the film, understanding what happened gave me a deep resonance of my surroundings,” says Kae-Kazim. In fact, his greatest understanding of the tragedies that took place came from talking to refugees while on set for the film.

“It was very interesting being able to speak to them about it and gain a new understanding of the history of the making of this genocide,” he says.