Local Actor Talks About Role In 'Capt. Phillips'
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A newly discovered actor from Minneapolis is already getting some Oscar buzz, even though his movie hasn't opened in local theaters yet.
Captain Phillips tells the true-life story about a band of Somali pirates who overtook an American cargo ship in 2009.
The movie stars Tom Hanks and also prominently features Barkhad Abdi, a Somali immigrant who worked as a limo driver in the Twin Cities.
Many critics have said he shines on the big screen, and he's been mentioned in a number of columns as a potential Oscar nominee for his performance.
As he explained in an interview for CBS Sunday Morning, Abdi was discovered during an open casting call in Minneapolis. He had never acted before.
"But I knew the story, and I loved acting. I watch movies a lot, but it's not something I even considered," he said.
Abdi is a big fan of Tom Hanks, and says it was an honor to work with him.
Captain Phillips premieres this Friday.
