Adam Ali (born 1999) is a British actor and filmmaker. Ali began their career in the Apple TV+ anthology Little America (2020) and the feature film Europa (2021). Their short film Baba (2021) won two Iris Prizes. On television, Ali has since appeared in the BBC series Waterloo Road (2023–2024) and What It Feels Like for a Girl (2025).
Early life Ali was born in Libya and fled the civil war as a young child. After stints in Canada, Italy and Bristol, the family settled in Manchester. Ali took classes at the Television Workshop in Salford.
Career Ali made their television debut in an installment of the Apple TV+ drama anthology Little America. For their performance, Ali was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. This was followed by Ali's debut feature film role starring as Kamal in the 2021 thriller Europa directed by Haider Rashid. Ali also made their directorial debut with the short film Baba. Baba won the top Iris Prize as well as the prize in the British category.
In 2023, Ali joined the cast of the BBC One school drama Waterloo Road for its eleventh series revival as Kai Sharif. Ali also appeared in an episode of the Amazon Prime series The Power and the Switchboard short film The Call. In 2025, Ali played Dirty Damian in the BBC Three adaptation of What It Feels Like for a Girl by Paris Lees.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2019 Blind Daniel Short film 2021 Expiation Junayd Short film 2021 Europa Kamal 2021 Baba Britannia Short film; directed, wrote 2023 The Call Amir Short film 2025 Truckload George Short film
Television Year Title Role Notes 2020 Little America Zain Anthology: "The Son" 2023–2024 Waterloo Road Kai Sharif 21 episodes (Series 11–14) 2023 The Power Mahmud Episode: "The Day of the Girls" 2024 Ludwig Tour Guide 1 episode 2025 What It Feels Like for a Girl Dirty Damian 7 episodes
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2021 Independent Spirit Awards Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series Little America Iris Prize Baba Best British Short Red Sea International Film Festival Best Actor Europa 2022 Flickerfest Best Rainbow Short Baba Critics Awards for Arab Films Best Actor Europa
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