Captain Phillips actor went back to working in brother’s phone shop as he struggled to land roles after the film

After his breakout role alongside Tom Hanks in “Captain Phillips,” actor Barkhad Abdi faced an unexpected return to normalcy, working in his brother’s phone shop as he struggled to find his next acting opportunity.

It’s hard to imagine that an actor, fresh from sharing the screen with a Hollywood legend like Hanks, would have to consider a day job. But for Barkhad Abdi, this was precisely the case.

Despite his captivating performance in the high-seas drama, he briefly found himself back in a more mundane setting – his brother’s phone store.

Abdi’s role in “Captain Phillips” was unforgettable, particularly for his delivery of the chilling line, “Look at me, I’m the captain now.”

His portrayal earned him a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor and an Oscar nomination. Reflecting on these accolades in a 2014 interview with the BBC, Abdi described the experience as surreal and humbling. Watching the Oscar nominations live, he shared the moment with his family, marking a significant milestone in his journey.

Despite the acclaim, the path forward wasn’t straightforward.

“I wanted to be an actor,” Abdi stated, “but there were no jobs for me at the time.”

Lacking further experience and with “Captain Phillips” being his only film credit, he chose to support his brother’s business rather than waiting idly for his next role.

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However, Abdi’s return to the phone shop was short-lived. He soon embarked on a successful acting career, taking on various roles in films such as “Eye in the Sky” (2015), “Agent Game” (2022), and “Blade Runner 2049” (2017).

In discussing his burgeoning fame, Abdi expressed his passion for filmmaking and acting, viewing each role as an exciting, albeit exhausting, adventure and an opportunity to find compelling stories. Despite his rapid rise, he maintains a refreshing perspective, seeing himself as a beginner eager to learn and grow in the industry.