Sayed Badreya

Sayed Badreya, an accomplished Egyptian filmmaker and actor, has turned his childhood aspirations into reality by securing roles in prominent Hollywood features like *The Insider*, *Three Kings*, and *Independence Day*. Born in Port Said, Egypt, and raised in challenging circumstances, Sayed found solace in cinema during tumultuous times, including the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War. His passion for film ignited a lifelong ambition to become part of the industry that so captivated him.

After honing his craft at New York University’s film school, Sayed ventured to Hollywood, where he initially assisted notable figures like actor-director Anthony Perkins and collaborated with James Cameron on *True Lies*. Driven by a desire to share the Arab-American narrative, he founded his production company, Zoom In Focus, which produced the documentary *Saving Egyptian Film Classics* and the award-winning short film *The Interrogation*.

In 2007, he starred in *American East*—a film he co-wrote—and in 2008, he gained widespread recognition for portraying Abu Bakaar, the menacing arms dealer in *Iron Man*, alongside Robert Downey Jr. That same year, he also showcased his comedic talent as a Palestinian cab driver in *You Don't Mess with the Zohan*.

Sayed’s diverse career includes recent appearances in *El Traspatio* and *Movie 43*, along with projects like *The Three Stooges* and *The Dictator*. He has also made significant contributions as an Arabic dialect coach and Islamic technical advisor on the mini-series *Path to 9/11*. Sayed Badreya’s work has garnered international media attention, highlighting his commitment to promoting Arab-American representation in the film industry.