William El-Gardi

Who is William El-Gardi?

William El-Gardi is an English actor of Egyptian, Turkish and Sudanese descent. He lived in Egypt, the Sudan and Switzerland before moving to the United Kingdom. He trained as an actor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. In 2007 he took part in The Container by Claire Bailey, which won a Fringe First and the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression award. Recent theater credits include Failed States and Time of the Tortoise.

El Gardi has appeared in films and TV as well as theater productions. In 2004 he played the lead villain, bombing mastermind Abu Abassi, in the BBC/HBO film Dirty War. More TV roles followed, including in Judge John Deed, The Bill and Whistleblower. In 2005 he played the part of Djamel in Djamel's Eyes, and in 2009 played Khalid in Four Lions, a satire based on a group of four terrorists from the north of England.