Sayed Badreya

Sayed Badreya (also known as سيد بدرية) is an Egyptian-born screen artist and actor, born May 1, 1957, in Port Said. Raised in poverty during years marked by regional conflict, he found refuge in cinema and set his sights on becoming part of the world that once felt out of reach.

After studying film at New York University, Badreya moved to Hollywood and learned the craft behind the camera as well as in front of it, including work alongside Anthony Perkins and on James Cameron’s True Lies. Determined to help bring Arab-American stories into mainstream entertainment, he launched his own banner, Zoom In Focus, and directed and produced projects including a documentary on preserving Egyptian film classics and award-winning shorts.

On screen, he became widely recognizable through major studio films, notably Independence Day (as an Arab Pilot) and his breakout turn in Iron Man as Abu Bakaar. He also showed comedic range in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan as Hamdi, while continuing to appear in international and independent titles such as Backyard, This Narrow Place, and Dandelion Season.

Beyond acting, Badreya has contributed as an Arabic dialect coach and Islamic technical advisor, and his advocacy for better representation has drawn attention across major media outlets worldwide.