Biography
Who is Zain Al Rafeea?
Early life and background
Zain Al Rafeea was born in Daraa, Syria, on October 10, 2004. In 2012, his family relocated to Lebanon to escape conflict. He spent his youth living within the slums of Beirut.
During his time in Lebanon, he did not attend school. He had no prior acting training or professional experience before his film debut. He was illiterate at the time of filming his first major project.
Breakthrough in Capernaum
Zain Al Rafeea was cast in the 2018 Lebanese film Capernaum, directed by Nadine Labaki. The main character in the movie was also named Zain, mirroring the actor's own name. The film captured significant attention at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize.
His performance received widespread praise from critics. The New York Times listed his work in the film as one of the best performances of 2018. The Boston Herald compared his acting style to both Oliver Twist and James Dean. He earned a nomination for the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor and won the Best Actor trophy at the 2018 International Antalya Film Festival.
Life in Norway
By November 2018, director Nadine Labaki confirmed that Zain had moved to Norway. He was granted a Norwegian passport and settled in the country with his family. This relocation allowed him to begin attending school for the first time in his life, where he started learning how to read and write.
Living in Hammerfest, he adjusted to a new environment away from his previous life in Beirut. He transitioned from his childhood experiences in Lebanon to a stable educational setting in his new home country.
Recent film work
In 2021, Zain Al Rafeea expanded his filmography by joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He appeared as a villager in the superhero film Eternals. This role marked his first major appearance in a large-scale international production following his initial success with Capernaum.
Birthday and age
Zain Al Rafeea was born on October 10, 2004, which makes Zain 22 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Zain shares the date with 38 other famous people.
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