While Rami Malek’s biggest moment of glory came with his Best Actor win at the Academy Awards for Bohemian Rhapsody, his claim to fame was the popular television drama, Mr Robot. Malek, who played the role of a genius computer hacker Elliot Anderson in the show, became an overnight sensation for his performance that also won him an Emmy award.
Mr Robot was a stepping stone for the Egyptian-American star to take on more challenging and complex roles that cemented his place as one of Hollywood’s most talented next generation actors. Looking back at where it all started, Malek recalled the first time he saw tangible proof of his superstardom and how his reaction ended up causing a rather serious road accident.
How Rami Malek Caused A Car Crash On The Highway
There is a mesmerizing quality to fame that makes it one of the most sought-after commodities, especially for creative artists. Hollywood star Rami Malek was fortunate to find it pretty early on in his career with the blockbuster television series, Mr Robot. The Oppenheimer actor became a household name playing a proficient computer hacker which also won him numerous awards for his performance.
The surreal feeling of finding fame did not hit Malek until he chanced upon a huge billboard of him and his show on a highway, the week it was launched in Los Angeles. His complete surprise on seeing his face dominating the city, made the actor cause an accident on the road. Speaking to The Graham Norton Show (via YouTube), Malek recalled the incident and said,
“I was so surprised I slammed on the brake and someone rear-ended me. The other guy got out of the car unhurt but looked at me and followed my gaze and suddenly he developed severe back pain. I thought, ‘I have made it and now he’s going to take it all!’
Mr Robot Changed Rami Malek’s Life
From 2015 to 2019, Hollywood star Rami Malek earned a lot of critical acclaim for his lead role in the television series Mr Robot, which followed the life of a cyber engineer crippled by anxiety who becomes a felon-catching computer hacker by night. While this was a challenging part for Malek, it was also an enriching experience for the actor. Speaking to E!, the Oscar winner said,
“Playing Elliot has taught me so much, just about the world and myself. It’s made me a better person, I can say that. It’s one of those rare roles where not only do you feel fulfilled as an actor, but you feel fulfilled as a person”.
