22 January 2019
Where to find Golden Globe winner Rami Malek
In Bohemian Rhapsody, the 2018 hit film about one of the most influential rock ‘n roll bands of all time, Rami Malek plays Queen’s legendary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Critics may have given mixed reviews of the film itself, but the praise for Malek was pretty much unanimous.
“Rami Malek offers an intensely thoughtful, insight-rich performance as Freddie Mercury, channelling the Queen front man’s hurt, alienation, and isolation, even at the height of his fame,” writes Richard Brody for the New Yorker.
Of course, the critical praise went hand in hand with some hefty silverware. So far, he’s taken the Golden Globe for Best Actor, the Satellite Award for the same, and he’s been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA and a Critics’ Choice Award. And it comes to no surprise to anybody at all that his role earned him a nod for the Oscars as well.
But let’s talk about Malek’s other critically acclaimed role – as Elliot Alderson in Mr Robot.
The cyber-thriller written by Sam Esmail is about an IT genius with mental health issues who is recruited by the mysterious Mr Robot (Christian Slater) and his shadowy gang of anarchist hackers known as fsociety.
Esmail reportedly auditioned over 100 actors for the role and was about to rewrite the character before seeing Malek’s audition. His performance drew instant acclaim, with Salon writing “Elliot’s day job is security, but his real occupation is brilliantly and systematically invading privacy—and then deciding what to do with all the information he has. It’s a testament to Malek’s skill that a man with such a vast reach comes across as so sensitive, brokenhearted, and damaged.”
For his role as Elliot, Malek won the 2016 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (making him the first non-white person to win the award in almost 20 years) plus the Critics’ Choice Award Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. He was nominated for scores more awards for the role in the same year.
If you fell in love with Malek as Mercury, you owe it to yourself to see him in Mr Robot. The characters may be vastly different, but the sensitivity and skill Malek brings to his portrayal of Elliot will have you instantly hooked. All three seasons of Mr Robot are available only on Showmax – start binge-watching now.
Original African stories by local talent
Empini S1
Stream the Showmax Original drama series Empini from 23 May 2024.
Made in South Africa
Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.
Made in South Africa
Tracking Thabo Bester
From the makers of Devilsdorp and the director of Convict Conman comes the true-crime documentary South Africa has been waiting for. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
The Illuminated
The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. Stream now, with new episodes every Wednesday.
Made in South Africa
Koek S1
The crime comedy Koek, starring Cindy Swanepoel, now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Thursday.
Made in South Africa
Ekhaya Backpackers S1
Stream the Showmax Original comedy series Ekhaya Backpackers. All the episodes are now streaming.
Made in South Africa
Cheta M
Cheta M explores the love story between Adanna and Nnanna, young lovers who battle the spiritual and political forces in their way. Stream now, with new episodes Wednesday to Friday.
Made in Nigeria
Youngins S1
Stream Tshedza Pictures’s first teen drama, Showmax Original Youngins, with three new episodes every week.
Made in South AfricaThe Roast of Minnie Dlamini: The roast everyone's been waiting on
Empini, coming soon
More Mzansi gold
The Mommy Club Season 2 Episode 10 recap: Getting to the bottom of it
In episode 10 of The Mommy Club S2, Hermajesty and Mrs Sande go head-to-head and Nozipho confides in Mrs Mops. New episodes land every Monday on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
The Real Housewives of Durban S4: Nonku and Slee’s friendship is dead and buried
In the finale episode of The Real Housewives of Durban S4, all is laid on the table at the ladies’ dinner. All episodes are now streaming on Showmax.
MaBlerh to host The Real Housewives of Durban reunion for the second year in a row
MaBlerh to host The Real Housewives of Durban reunion for the second year in a row. The two-part reunion will stream on 15 May and 22 May 2024.
Made in South Africa
Your initiation into the cool, chaotic world of Wyfie
Feel like we’re almost at midterms but you stopped going to class after you skipped a couple of lectures? Let’s swot up on Episodes 1-24 of Showmax Original Wyfie.
Made in South Africa