Mohamed Hakeemshady

Hakeemshady Mohamed was born to almost unspeakable circumstances in the war-torn Somali capital of Mogadishu. After three years of living in relative obscurity among thousands of conflict survivors from Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan, Hakeemshady emerged from the shadows to pursue a career as a filmmaker in the U.S. A young talent on the rise, Hakeemshady has been described as a passionate, humble, and hard-working performer. In his latest film role, Default, he delivers a powerful performance in the role of "Blue Eyes," a treacherous member of a small band of Somali pirates who hold a news crew for ransom. Default, a film by Colombian director Simon Brand, features Katherine Moennig and David Oyelowo, who is best known for his turn as Louis Gaines in Lee Daniels' The Butler. Hakeemshady has also appeared in other feature films, including WebGirl,in which he worked behind the camera as a first assistant director and in the role of Prince Hakeem. His passion for filmmaking is perhaps only matched by his devotion to family. When he first arrived in the United States, he worked two jobs in order to send money to his family. It is this connection to his humble beginnings that keeps him grounded.