Shazad Latif

Biography

Shazad Latif, born Iqbal Amin on July 8, 1988, in London, England, is a British actor of mixed Pakistani, English, and Scottish heritage. He grew up in Tufnell Park, North London, where his father, Javed Iqbal, worked as a black cab driver, and his mother was a cleaner. Latif honed his acting skills at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, participating in productions like "King Lear" and "School for Scandal." He departed the school a year early after securing his first television role.

Latif's television career commenced with his portrayal of Tariq Masood, a skilled technician and data analyst, in the BBC series "Spooks" (2009–2011). He gained further recognition as Clem Fandango in the comedy series "Toast of London" (2013–2015) and as Dr. Henry Jekyll in "Penny Dreadful" (2016). In 2017, he joined the cast of "Star Trek: Discovery," playing Lieutenant Ash Tyler and, under the pseudonym Javid Iqbal, the Klingon Voq.

In the film, Latif appeared in "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (2015) as Kushal and portrayed ISIS fighter Bilel in the thriller "Profile" (2018), a film presented entirely through computer screens. He also starred as Kazim in the romantic comedy "What's Love Got to Do with It?" (2022).

In 2024, Latif took on the role of Captain Nemo in the live-action series "Nautilus," a reimagining of Jules Verne's classic character. Although Disney+ canceled the series in 2023, it found a new platform with AMC.

Throughout his career, Shazad Latif has demonstrated versatility across genres, from drama to comedy to science fiction, establishing himself as a prominent figure in contemporary British television and film.