Latest news with #AlexejManvelov
Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Alexej Manvelov becomes star in Netflix thriller Dept Q
'I am Akram.' Fans of Dept Q, the 'tartan noir' detective thriller that has been one of Netflix's most watched shows since its release last month, will recognise the understated way in which the former Syrian policeman Akram Salim frequently introduces himself. While the lead of the show is Matthew Goode, the Downton Abbey and The Crown actor who plays chaotic detective Carl Morck, the breakout star is Alexej Manvelov, who portrays Salim. Fans have gravitated to the character of relatively few words, propelling Manvelov, 43, to newfound fame in his home city of Stockholm. 'People are calling out 'Akram, Akram!' on the street and stopping me for selfies and to tell me how much they love the character and the show. Previously there has been a fleeting recognition or they think they have have met me before but now people are very excited,' he said. In the show, Salim is a civilian foisted on to Detective Inspector Morck, who initially treats him with disdain before coming to rely increasingly on his partner's support as they seek to solve a cold case missing person mystery in Scotland. Salim's enigmatic nature is accentuated by hints about his mysterious past, in which he was forced to escape Syria after working for its police force. Manvelov, who was born in Moscow to a Russian mother and a Syrian father of Kurdish descent, drew on his own family's experience to inform the role. 'My father had to flee [Syria] because he got shot when he was young. His mother told him that he had to leave but I don't know the whole story because he has never really talked about it,' he said. His father went on to study to become a translator in the Soviet Union and was gratified that Manvelov learnt Arabic as part of his preparation for the show. The Arabic phrases in the script did not make the final cut but Manvelov said that learning the language helped to make his accent more authentic. He also drew on his father's older brother for further inspiration. 'My uncle was a paediatric doctor and was very calm, very soothing and never rushed his speech,' he said. 'And he dressed exactly like Akram.' Manvelov said that the character has been so well received because his 'cool, mysteriousness' has resonated with viewers. 'We all want an Akram in our lives. He's a stable pillar in a chaotic context,' said Manvelov. 'He's quiet but he's really capable and is reassuring to the others because they know that they can count on him. Plus he has a lot of cool lines.' Along with some deadpan quips, Salim's reliability is underscored by the way in which he disables several villains throughout the nine-part series. • Dept. Q review — Matthew Goode's detective might be your next TV obsession Rather than always relying on a double, Manvelov did his own stunts for a couple of the sequences. Rob Bullock, the executive producer of Dept Q, said that there was 'no doubt' that Manvelov was one of the show's successes and that he had proved particularly popular with viewers of Middle Eastern descent. 'I hadn't fully appreciated that would be the case when we were making the show,' Bullock said. 'But that community have really loved seeing such a positive representation on screen. The fact that Akram was allowed to be a hero has been really important and significant.' The show, described as 'your next TV obsession' by The Times, was created by The Queen's Gambit's Scott Frank and based on a book series by the Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen. Producers are still waiting to hear whether Netflix will commission a second series.
The National
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Who is Alexej Manvelov, Netflix hit Dept Q's Kurdish actor who plays a former Syrian policeman?
British crime thriller Dept Q is Netflix's latest hit, centred on a brash detective who leads a team of misfits in a new cold-case unit in the Scottish police force. The show, which had its premiere on May 29, has spent two weeks on Netflix's Top 10 English shows list, garnering more than 8.9 million viewers. It's currently the second most-watched English series worldwide. One of the show's breakout characters is Akram Salim, played by Swedish-Kurdish actor Alexej Manvelov. Akram is a former Syrian policeman forced to flee his home country and work in IT, but he ingratiates himself with the new department becoming one of its lead investigators. What is Dept Q about? Set in Edinburgh, Dept Q follows the cantankerous and sarcastic Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), a top-notch English detective who returns to work following a shooting incident that led to the death of a police officer, with his investigative partner being permanently paralysed. Racked with guilt, Carl is chosen to head the Scottish police force's cold-case unit, Department Q, which is formed more as a PR exercise than anything else. But as Carl and his team sink their teeth into one case, about the disappearance of a lawyer who handled high-profile cases, dark secrets emerge involving some very powerful people. Dept Q is written by Chandni Lakhani and Scott Frank; the latter is best known for writing and directing another Netflix hit Queen's Gambit. It's based on the book series Department Q, by Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen. Who is Alexej Manvelov who plays Akram Salim? A soft-spoken cop with deadly combative skills, Akram is introduced as the Scottish police force's IT guy, who's itching to prove himself. As the nine-part series progresses, it is revealed he's a former Syrian police officer who fled his country and is now living in Scotland as a refugee. Akram quickly proves himself as an able partner to detective Carl, not least due to their tragic backgrounds – Akram escaping the horrors of working under a ruthless dictator, and Carl living with the consequences of the shooting incident that haunts him every day. Manvelov, 43, was born to a Kurdish father from Syria and a Russian mother. He grew up in Sweden where he pursued his dream of becoming an actor. He has appeared in a number of Swedish shows with his breakout role being the Swedish thriller A Day and a Half, about a man who, desperate to reunite with his daughter, takes his ex-wife and a policeman hostage. The film was written and directed by Swedish-Lebanese actor Fares Fares, who played Manvelov's role in a Danish film adaptation of Department Q called The Keeper of Lost Causes. Manvelov has also appeared in the HBO miniseries Chernobyl and season three of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan on Prime Video. Who else is on the show? Besides Goode and Manvelov, Department Q is made up of James Hardy (Jamie Sives), detective Carl's former colleague who is now a paraplegic, and who finds new purpose by helping out the department with their cases. Leah Byrne plays detective constable Rose Dickson, a young woman with a troubled past now looking for a chance to prove herself, while Kate Dickie plays detective chief superintendent Moira Jacobson, detective Carl's commanding officer. Chloe Pirrie is Merritt Lingard an ambitious prosecutor whose unsolved disappearance is being investigated. 'Scott assembled one of the finest casts I've ever gotten to work with,' Goode said. 'It's just an incredible playpen for an actor. Leah Byrne is a stone-cold star. I felt like I've known Jamie Sives for a long time, we just get on so well. Alexej is joy, pure joy, capital J.'
The Herald Scotland
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The warehouse powering Edinburgh's new era of screen success
But a new era of screen success for the city is now being propelled behind closed doors on the edge of the city's docklands – in a former wave power plant, which was originally built 25 years ago by an engineering company. Matthew Goode and Alexej Manvelov star in the new Edinburgh-set thriller Dept Q. (Image: Netflix) Launched by former record company film producer Bob Last and actor director Jason Connery, son of the Edinburgh-born screen legend Sean Connery, FirstStage is now said to be generating tens of millions of pounds for the economy every year and allowing the city to capitalise on the streaming platform boom. New Netflix series Dept. Q, which stars Leah Byrne, Matthew Goode and Alexej Manvelov, was shot at FirstStage Studios in Leith. (Image: Netflix - Department Q) The conversion of the vast blue warehouse complex into a long-awaited permanent film studio for the city got underway just as the global screen industry was being put into lockdown by the pandemic - and hosted its first major production as soon as Covid restrictions were lifted across the UK. Five years later, FirstStage Studios has played host to some of the biggest players in the lucrative world of 'streamers,' including Amazon, Netflix and Sony, and transformed Edinburgh's ability to play host to productions. Two seasons of the supernatural thriller series The Rig were shot at FirstStage Studios in Leith. (Image: FirstStage Studios) These include two seasons of the supernatural thriller The Rig, which were set in the North Sea and the Arctic Circle, the feature film The Outrun, for scenes set in London's nightclub scene and the time travel fantasy saga Outlander, for a final series expected to be set during the American Revolution. But its most recent production is being seen as another game-changer for the city's screen industry – with FirstStage used for the first time for a new nine-part thriller set in modern-day Edinburgh which is hoped to become a long-running series. The feature film The Outrun was partly shot at FirstStage Studios in Leith. (Image: Bob Last/FirstStage Studios) Locations across the Scottish capital were deployed for the latest Netflix thriller Dept. Q, which focuses on a new cold case unit set up in the heart of a police headquarters in the city. Although detective Carl Morck and his team appear to be based in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, the inside of the atmospheric HQ and its grimy basement were created from scratch at FirstStage, along with other elaborate sets that feature in the show. A pit that can be used for underwater filming sequences is one of the key assets at FirstStage Studios in Leith. (Image: FirstStage Studios) The Downton Abbey and Crown actor Matthew Goode and a host of Scottish screen stars, including Shirley Henderson, Kate Dickie, Mark Bonnar, Jamie Sives and Leah Byrne, spent around six months making Dept. Q in Edinburgh – with around half of the film done inside the Leith studio. Eagle-eyed viewers may also be able to spot locations as varied as the City Chambers, the Signet Library, Greyfriars Bobby's Bar, Mortonhall Crematorium, Wester Hailes, the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena near Ratho and the Codebase building, on Castle Terrace, which stands in for the exterior of the police HQ. Launching the show in Edinburgh, writer-director Scott Frank, creator of the hit Netflix series the Queen's Gambit, described the extensive shoot on Dept. Q - which is based on Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen's novels - as 'the happiest experience' of his career. He said: 'You have great crews, you have great people and everything about shooting here is easy. 'The weather is interesting. It's the only place I've ever been where you can all four seasons in one day. 'The studio was wonderful. We had some pretty big sets and, partially because of the weather, we shot around half the show there. It was terrific. I loved working there.' Successive generations of Scottish screen industry leaders had lobbied for years for the country to create its own studio facilities. But the long-held dream did not become a reality until the Scottish Government and its screen agency agreed to help support Sony and Starz to find a home for its new show Outlander, which began filming in 2013 in a warehouse complex beside the M80 motorway in Cumbernauld. Four years later, the Leith Docks site, which was lying empty after a wave power company had gone into administration, was used for the first time by Marvel Studios while they spent around seven weeks shooting scenes for the blockbuster Avengers: Infinity War in the city's Old Town. Within months of the superhero being released, the Scottish Government and its Screen Scotland agency had launched a bid to create a permanent studio facility there, with Bob Last and Jason Connery announced as the successful team to take the project forward in March 2020. Bob Last said: 'When I was an independent film producer there was a lot of talk about studios, but I wouldn't have been able to afford to use one if it had been there on the budget of an independent film. 'There wasn't really enough demand for a studio until the streamers started making the level of content that they did. I saw that they were completely changing the way that people consumed content. 'When I was introduced to this building it was the first time that I felt there was a viable way of providing the scale that these huge shows needed. If we were going to attract shows to Scotland it was all going to be about competitive cost. "There used to be a lot of talk about building new studios from scratch in Scotland. But the cost of that would have meant that any such studio would have priced itself out of the market. 'We've been extremely busy since we opened pretty much on the first day of lockdown. We've had Amazon, Sony and Netlix shows in now, and have also been doing a rolling programme of work on the building, which has all sorts of unique and extraordinary elements. 'The pit that we use as a tank is one of the most interesting assets we have. If you were building a studio from scratch it would be insanely expensive to build, but it has turned out to be extremely useful. 'We also have 60 tonne and 20 tonne cranes, which have also been used by productions. You would never install them in a studio.' Chloe Pirrie is one of the stars of the new Netflix series Dept. Q, which is set in Edinburgh. (Image: free)The Scottish Government's film and TV agency Screen Scotland describes FirstStage Studios as a 'unique proposition' due to its size and facilities. The complex, which covers 8.9 acres, boasts 115,000 sq ft of shooting space up to 82 ft high, as well as offices, workshops and on-site parking for more than 200 vehicles. A spokesperson said: 'FirstStage has a number of key advantages. "It is one of very few UK-based studios to host a tank for underwater shooting, which has been used in productions including The Rig and The Outrun. 'Because of its height, FirstStage also has the capacity for very large set builds, and the large backlot as well as production offices and ancillary buildings on site. 'On its opening in 2020, once Covid restrictions were lifted it immediately became home to The Rig, Amazon's first UK drama commission. Created by Portobello-based writer David Macpherson, it perfectly highlighted the versatility and quality of the studio. An incredibly ambitious project, it was shot entirely in Scotland, and largely inside the FirstStage studio and surrounding lot. "Dept. Q from Netflix has built further on the potential first realised by The Rig and has again shown that FirstStage can deliver against the expectations and requirements of large-scale international productions.' Bob Last said: "If we knew the budgets of our customers we wouldn't be able to talk about them. "When a big show comes in here they will spend a lot of money in the city. We can have 200 people working here at the same time. "We are certainly anchoring tens of millions of pounds in direct spending ever year." Rosie Ellison, film commissioner at Film Edinburgh, the city's long-running film office, highlighted the transformation of the screen industry since the advent of the Leith studio. 'Edinburgh used to pick up a couple of days of or maybe a week or two of filming on productions. 'A production based at FirstStage might be here for a full six months of filming, plus another two or three months of preparation, plus another month or so winding down the production. 'The economic impact of a production and the opportunities it creates are very different to what they were before we had the studio. Productions are spending a lot when they are here, they are hiring local services and creating jobs for our young people to get involved in the industry. 'Dept Q was based at FirstStage, but they were also out and about every month, making use of our urban, rural and coastal locations, different kinds of architecture and office spaces. All sorts of landscapes will appear in that show, including places that people have never been seen on screen before." FirstStage Studios in Leith has been up and running for more than five years. (Image: FirstStage Studios)Hugh Gourlay, supervising location manager on Dept. Q said: "We filmed in something like 13 of the city's 17 council wards. 'There's such a variance in the architecture in Edinburgh: you've got the New Town, the medieval parts, the narrow closes, the wide streets, and the high-rise flats of parts of the city." For Bob Last, the city itself is a major selling point to help attract big-budget productions to FirstStage. 'Ware now on that global map because of the shows that have been here. When people are sitting in LA going down a list of studios we are on that list. That's where we need to be. "For us, Edinburgh as a city for someone to come and live and work in for six months is a massively important asset. There are five stars hotels near the studio and Michelin-starred restaurants literally walking distance away. 'These kind of shows are bringing people in from a global talent pool. If you're going to live and work somewhere for six months Edinburgh is a pretty cool place to do that.' Speaking at the Dept Q premiere in Edinburgh, showrunner Scott Frank said: 'When I came to Edinburgh I immediately knew we had to shoot here. I felt instantly inspired. 'It made me want to work even more in terms of the story to make it work more for Edinburgh. It was a really easy decision to film here. 'I loved living here and it was very easy to work here. I found Edinburgh very inspiring. 'I would love to come back. We'd all love to come back. We really enjoyed ourselves and I think we all got very close. I think we have a really good way of doing the second season. I hope people watch the show and we get to do it again.'
Edinburgh Live
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh woman's 'incredible' time on Netflix set to offer her unique expertise
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh womans unique experience led her to the set of the newly-released Netflix series Department Q. Heather Muir, a contact lens technician at independent practice in the capital, played a behind-the-scenes role in the show - which was filmed in and around Edinburgh. A 'seasoned expert' in handling contact lenses, Heather was brought on for specalist support. She worked closely with actors and makeup artists for the series, with hit Netflix on Thursday, April 29. The thriller show follows a former top detective who takes on a cold- case, transforming an Edinburgh basement into a 'well-oiled machine' filled with misfit officers. Heather commented on her experience while on set, saying: "It was an incredible experience to collaborate with such a talented production team. "Blending medical expertise with the creative world of television was a unique opportunity, and it was a memorable experience to be on location with the production team." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Heather works with Cameron Optometry, and also worked on Guillermo Del Toro's latest blockbuster which was filmed in Edinburgh. Department Q features plenty of familiar faces from shows such as Downton Abbey, Shetland and Call the Midwife. You'll spot the likes of Matthew Goode, Kelly MacDonald, Alexej Manvelov, Leah Byrne and Jamie Sives. Filming for the series took place in early 2024, with cast and crew descending on spots around the city including housing estates in Wester Hailes, City Chambers, and The Signet Library. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Leah Byrne, who plays Rose, spoke exclusively to Reach about her experience on set with fellow actor Alexej Manvelov, who plays Akram. Speaking about the abundance of Scottish talent on the show, she said: "It was so cool, such a joy for me. I'm from Glasgow so I just had to nip down the road and we were filming this amazing show. "But it's so authentically Scottish as well. It doesn't feel like it's trying to be something it's not. It doesn't have to try hard and it's just in its blood."
North Wales Chronicle
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Matthew Goode told ‘not to read the Department Q novels' for Netflix show
The British actor, 47, known for fantasy show A Discovery Of Witches, and thriller Stoker, is playing a new version of Carl Morck, who was created by the Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. In the adaptation of the Nordic noir novels, the action moves from Copenhagen to the Scottish capital Edinburgh, and is directed and written by multiaward-winning Scott Frank, known for Netflix series The Queen's Gambit and superhero film Logan. Leah Byrne, Matthew Goode and Alexej Manvelov star in the Netflix show (Ian West/PA) Carl is a former top-rated detective, who is full of 'guilt' after his partner is paralysed and another policeman dies in an attack, before being given a cold case. At a special screening of Netflix's Dept. Q at the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, central London on Tuesday, Goode told the PA news agency that Frank 'really freed me up' having it based in Scotland, rather than Denmark. He added: 'I don't think (making it in Denmark) would have fit this particularly well, it worked for (Swedish noir) Wallander (with Sir Kenneth Branagh). 'He (Scott) said to me, 'don't read the novels', because he also made me English, which made him (Carl) an outsider, and so I was able to develop with Scott a really brilliant sort of socio-political, economic, sort of history of what we thought this English version of Morck would be.' Goode, who previously worked with Frank on crime show The Lookout, said the creator and executive producer of the new show 'treats the audience like they are as intelligent as he is, which is staggeringly intelligent'. He added: 'It's a very taut, very dark, brilliant crime thriller with also a lot of levity. It's also very amusing, and one of Scott's pet hates is any kind of sentimentality. So it's a slow burn, but it unfurls itself beautifully.' Adler-Olsen's books about a cold case unit have been previously adapted into films including the 2010 Danish movies The Keeper Of Lost Causes, A Conspiracy Of Faith and The Absent One. Leah Byrne, Matthew Goode, Scott Frank and Alexej Manvelov (Ian West/PA) When asked about the Netflix experience compared with the ones that have come before, the author said the previous movies were 'terrible, terrible in so many ways'. He said: 'It's all about screenwriting. It's all about manuscripts, and the manuscripts of the former films were like amateurs. 'So now we have the best writer in the world, that makes a difference so that's why I wasn't that happy about (it before).' Adler-Olsen also said he was 'looking forward' to seeing how the show changes, after moving to Edinburgh. Speaking about what he had seen so far, the author said: 'I'm astonished how in the world is the story turning this way, I can't believe it.' The cast also includes Scottish stars Shirley Henderson, known for playing Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films and being in Bridget Jones's Diary, Mark Bonnar, who has been in detective shows Guilt and Shetland, as well as Swedish actor Alexej Manvelov. Dept. Q comes to Netflix on Thursday.
