Barkhad Abdi at the Oscars
Barkhad Abdi is struggling financially.
The 'Captain Philips' star narrowly missed out on the Best Supporting Actor Oscar at the Academy Awards on Sunday (02.03.14) but is said to have spent most of the $65,000 he was paid to film the movie - which was made two years ago - and is still looking for his next role.
The Somalia-born star - who plays the ringleader of a group of pirates who capture an American ship in 'Captain Philips', based on a true story - was working in his brother's mobile phone shop until recently and had previously been a limousine driver before attending an open casting call and winning the part of Muse in the film.
Speaking about why he quit working at the mobile shop, he told The New Yorker magazine: "How I thought about it was, like, when the movie came out, reviews either gonna be good or bad. Either way, I cannot be working here."
The article says Barkhad, 28, is looked after by the film's studio when he is in Los Angeles, as they give him expense money each day and put him up at the Beverly Hilton hotel, although he has recently requested to stay in a much less grand hotel near to LAX airport so he can be near a Somali friend.
It also points out his clothes for the Oscars were loaned, as they are with almost every star.
Barkhad recently won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor and said his co-star, Tom Hanks, had given him valuable advice for the future.
He said: "He tells me, career-wise, just use it wisely and work your hardest."
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