Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has put several actors in the spotlight and one name generating plenty of curiosity is Himesh Patel. The British-Indian actor, best known for Yesterday, Tenet and Station Eleven, reunites with Nolan for the epic mythological film. In The Odyssey, Patel takes on the role of Eurylochus, one of the most important members of Odysseus’ crew.
Here’s everything to know about the actor.
Who Is Himesh Patel?
Himesh Patel was born on October 13, 1990, in Sawtry, Cambridgeshire, England. His parents are Gujarati Hindus whose families had emigrated from East Africa. His mother was born in Zambia, while his father was born in Kenya. The family later settled in the UK where they ran a local newsagent.
Patel grew up speaking Gujarati and discovered his love for acting at a young age. A school play sparked his interest, and one of his teachers encouraged his parents to enrol him in a local theatre group. He later joined The Young Actors’ Company in Cambridge, where he trained in acting while also learning piano and teaching himself to play the guitar.
Himesh Patel’s Journey
Patel’s acting career took off in 2007 when, at just 16, he landed the role of Tamwar Masood in the BBC soap EastEnders on the very day of his GCSE exams. He stayed on the hugely popular show for nine years, appearing in 566 episodes. During his time there, he also co-wrote an episode of the spin-off EastEnders: E20 and won an Inside Soap Award.
After leaving the soap, Patel gradually expanded into television, theatre and independent films, building a reputation as a versatile performer.
Himesh Patel’s Breakthrough Film
Patel’s international breakthrough came in 2019 with Danny Boyle’s Yesterday. He played Jack Malik, a struggling musician who wakes up in a world where nobody remembers The Beatles except him. His performance and his live renditions of the band’s songs won praise from audiences around the world.
Himesh Patel’s Notable Collaborations
Following Yesterday, Patel landed roles in several high-profile productions. He appeared as Mahir in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, starred in HBO’s critically acclaimed Station Eleven, and joined the ensemble cast of Netflix’s Don’t Look Up alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep.
His growing filmography also includes The Aeronauts, The Luminaries, Enola Holmes 2, Good Grief, The Assessment and HBO’s The Franchise. He is also set to reprise his role as Dr John Watson in Enola Holmes 3.
What Is Himesh Patel’s Role in The Odyssey?
In Nolan’s ambitious adaptation of Homer’s epic, Patel plays Eurylochus, the second-in-command aboard Odysseus’ ship. In Greek mythology, Eurylochus is both a trusted lieutenant and one of Odysseus’ strongest critics. Throughout the voyage home from the Trojan War, he frequently questions his leader’s decisions while playing a key role in the crew’s survival.
Apart from The Odyssey, Patel is also attached to Ryan Coogler’s upcoming reboot of The X-Files, where he will star alongside Danielle Deadwyler.
