A new and radical take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet is out in US cinemas. The force behind it is actor, writer, producer and musician Riz Ahmed. He says the 400-year-old story has never felt more current.

Ahmed, Oscar-nominated for Sound of Metal and star of the Oscar-winning live-action short The Long Goodbye, has a new series on Prime Video called Bait. It’s a black comedy about an actor on the cusp of a life-changing role as James Bond. 

In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Ahmed talks about creativity and politics, discusses his upcoming movie with Tom Cruise and how becoming a father affected his acting. 

Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

02:32 - Hamlet “never goes out of fashion"
03:39 - “The old order is falling apart”
05:00 - “Is it the world that’s gone crazy or is it me?”
07:50 - The dream of playing Hamlet
09:51 - To be, or not to be is “misunderstood”
13:40 - “It's authentic. I'm not acting”
17:00 - Bait “it’s a very personal show”
17:24 - Why Barbara Broccoli said yes to using Bond
21:43 - Looking for acceptance
22:34 - “Culture works in cycles”
25:04 - Acting was an extension of real life
28:20 - “I don’t like being pinned down”
28:42 - SNL UK
30:01 - Working with Tom Cruise
32:21 - “My weekends are really simple”

Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net

Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

A new and radical take on Shakespeare&rsquo;s Hamlet is out in US cinemas. The force behind it is actor, writer, producer and musician Riz Ahmed. He says the 400-year-old story has never felt more current. Ahmed, Oscar-nominated for Sound of Metal and star of the Oscar-winning live-action short The Long Goodbye, has a new series on Prime Video called Bait. It&rsquo;s a black comedy about an actor on the cusp of a life-changing role as James Bond.&nbsp;
In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Ahmed talks about creativity and politics, discusses his upcoming movie with Tom Cruise and how becoming a father affected his acting. Read this interview with Mishal&rsquo;s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview">www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview </a>02:32 - Hamlet &ldquo;never goes out of fashion" 03:39 - &ldquo;The old order is falling apart&rdquo; 05:00 - &ldquo;Is it the world that&rsquo;s gone crazy or is it me?&rdquo; 07:50 - The dream of playing Hamlet 09:51 - To be, or not to be is &ldquo;misunderstood&rdquo; 13:40 - &ldquo;It's authentic. I'm not acting&rdquo; 17:00 - Bait &ldquo;it&rsquo;s a very personal show&rdquo; 17:24 - Why Barbara Broccoli said yes to using Bond 21:43 - Looking for acceptance 22:34 - &ldquo;Culture works in cycles&rdquo; 25:04 - Acting was an extension of real life 28:20 - &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like being pinned down&rdquo; 28:42 - SNL UK 30:01 - Working with Tom Cruise 32:21 - &ldquo;My weekends are really simple&rdquo;
Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net
Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them.

Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them.
Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

The Mishal Husain Show

Hamlet, James Bond and SNL UK: Riz Ahmed on Reinventing Cultural Icons

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