Alexander Abdallah

Alexander Abdallah
Photograph of Alexander Abdallah from 2018
Abdallah in 2018
Born
Jihad Abdallah

(1993-04-30) 30 April 1993 (age 33)
Uppsala, Sweden
EducationMalmö Theater Academy
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • screenwriter
Years active2017–present
Known forSnabba Cash
AwardsKristallen for Best Actor (2021)

Alexander Abdallah (born Jihad Abdallah; 30 April 1993) is a Swedish actor and filmmaker. His breakout role was in Snabba Cash (2021–2022), for which he won a Kristallen for Best Actor and the Såstaholm Film & Performing Arts Award [sv]. In addition to lead roles in Thunder in My Heart [sv] (2021–2023) and Paradis City [sv] (2025), he has also worked as a director and screenwriter.

Early life and education

Jihad Abdallah was born on 30 April 1993 at Uppsala University Hospital. He was the third of four siblings born to Lebanese parents who had immigrated to Sweden during the 1980s. He lived initially in Östhammar. When he was four years old, his family's home was broken into by racist skinheads, who assaulted his father. After the attack, his family moved to Gränby [sv], also near Uppsala. He attended Wik Folk High School [sv] and Fridhem Folk High School [sv]. Abdallah changed his first name to Alexander when he turned 18. He graduated from the Malmö Theater Academy in 2018.

Career

In 2017, he had supporting roles in two stage productions at Helsingborg City Theater. First, he played Tyball in Romeo and Juliet and then the king's son in Marina Steinmo [sv]'s adaptation of Rapunzel. He also appeared in Snubben lättar på sitt hjärta at the Kulturhuset Stadsteatern in Skärholmen and Oscar Liljas försvinnande at the Malmö City Theater, in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Abdallah made his directorial debut with the short film Jag skiner inte utan er mina bröder, which focused on the aftermath of a shooting in Malmö from a child's perspective. It premiered at the Gothenburg Film Festival in 2019.

In 2020, he starred in Bye bye bror with Robin Stegmar, in a joint production by Riksteatern and Teater Fryshuset. Although the play's writing was criticized by Jacob Lündstrom in Dagens Nyheter, both Abdallah and Stegmar's performances were praised. In June of the same year, it was announced that he would be a cast member of the upcoming Netflix series Snabba Cash, an adaptation of Jens Lapidus' novel of the same name. The series premiered in April 2021. In a review for Aftonbladet, Karolina Fjellborg [sv] called Abdallah's performance as Salim "dangerously good." For Snabba Cash, Abdallah was awarded Best Male Actor at Kristallen. He also won the Såstaholm Film & Performing Arts Award [sv].

He was featured in Spotify's 2022 audio drama, De Fria. He played Sam in Thunder in My Heart [sv] (2021–2023), for which he was nominated for another Kristallen for Best Male Actor. He also played Emir in Paradis City [sv].

He co-created the comedy-drama TV series Halva halva with Mustafa al-Mashhadani [sv]. Abdallah also served as a director and writer. The series, known as Home In You for its English-language release, received a positive review from Tim Forster in Special Broadcasting Service.

Abdallah was cast to play King Gustav III in The Von Fersens. In 2026, Abdallah joined TV4 Rising Star Award jury at the 2026 Stockholm International Film Festival held in November.

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2026 Doctor Glas [sv] Klas Recke
TBA The Von Fersens† Gustav III

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020 Love Me [sv] Rick
2021–2022 Snabba Cash Salim
2021–2023 Thunder in My Heart [sv] Sam
2022 De Fria Rami (voice) Audio drama
2025 Paradis City [sv] Emir
2026 Blood Sacrifice [sv] John-Jo Persson

Theater

Year Title Role Theater Notes Ref.
2017 Romeo and Juliet Tyball Helsingborg City Theater
2017 Rapunzel King's son Helsingborg City Theater
2018 Snubben lättar på sitt hjärta Kulturhuset Stadsteatern Skärholmen
2019 Oscar Liljas försvinnande Rémy Malmö City Theater
2020 Bye bye bror Ava Riksteatern–Teater Fryshuset

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2021 Kristallen Best Male Actor Snabba Cash Won
Såstaholm Film & Performing Arts Award [sv] Won
2023 Kristallen Best Male Actor Thunder in My Heart [sv] Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Yussuf, Mohamed (1 May 2021). "Alexander Abdallah slog igenom över en natt – som sorgsen torped" [Alexander Abdallah became famous overnight – as a sad hitman]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  2. ↑ Kledzik, Alva (5 May 2025). "Alexander Abdallah blir bonde – köpt gård utanför Uppsala" [Alexander Abdallah becomes a farmer – buys farm outside Uppsala]. Upsala Nya Tidning (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  3. 1 2 Tisell, Sophie (18 May 2021). "Alexander Abdallah: "Ångesten är en del av mig"" [Alexander Abdallah: “Anxiety is part of who I am”]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  4. ↑ Dahlström, Fredrik (6 March 2025). ""När dagen är slut går jag ändå hem och gråter"" [“When the day is over, I still go home and cry.”]. Upsala Nya Tidning (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  5. ↑ Cehlin Magnusson, Tom (19 May 2022). "Alexander Abdallah är Sveriges bäst klädda man 2022: "Jag inspireras av pappor från Mellanöstern"" [Alexander Abdallah is Sweden's best-dressed man of 2022: “I am inspired by fathers from the Middle East.”]. Café (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "Alexander Abdallah: "Blev sönderstressad"" [Alexander Abdallah: "I was stressed out"]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  7. ↑ Pettersson, Saga (17 September 2021). "Alexander Abdallah berättar om sitt namnbyte" [Alexander Abdallah talks about his name change for the first time]. Elle (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  8. ↑ Frid, Karin (17 September 2021). "Stjärnans avslöjande: Döptes till Jihad" [The star's revelation: Named Jihad]. Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  9. 1 2 Waaranperä, Ingegärd (2 October 2017). "Full fart. Rytmisk rap i stället för blankvers" [Full speed ahead. Rhythmic rap instead of blank verse.]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Merco och Tyball (David Sigfridsson och Alexander Abdallah) skrapar med skorna och går på varandra i frustande unghingstkoreografier.
  10. 1 2 Loman, Rikard (13 December 2017). "Betagande. Enkelt om ung kärlek" [Captivating. A simple tale of young love.]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Det är sången som får henne att vilja expandera och pröva sina vingar redan innan Alexander Abdallahs kungason — på jakt efter ett lagom jobbigt äventyr — dimper ner i hennes isolation och får henne att vilja tvåsamhet.
  11. 1 2 Helander, Karin (28 September 2018). "Tuffa män lättar sitt hjärta – och får kärlek" [Tough men open their hearts – and receive love]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  12. 1 2 Lindquist, Kristina (10 March 2019). "Scenrecension: "Oscar Liljas försvinnande" skapar skräck med sensationella effekter" [Stage review: “Oscar Lilja's Disappearance” creates horror with sensational effects]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  13. ↑ Wahlstedt, Sally (16 June 2019). "Malmöskådisens prisade kortfilm om dödsskjutningar visas på SVT" [Malmö actor's acclaimed short film about fatal shootings to be shown on SVT]. Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  14. 1 2 Lündstrom, Jacob (16 January 2020). "I "Bye bye bror" faller mannen på eget grepp" [In “Bye bye brother,” man falls on his own terms.]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2447.
  15. ↑ "Evin Ahmad i huvudroll i "Snabba cash"" [Evin Ahmad stars in “Snabba cash”]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 12 June 2020. ISSN 1101-2447. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  16. 1 2 Lündstrom, Jacob (7 April 2021). ""Snabba cash" en osentimental dödsdans" [“Snabba cash” – an unsentimental dance of death]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  17. ↑ Fjellborg, Karolina (2 April 2021). "Snygg men lite tröttsam pengajakt" [Stylish but a bit tiresome money hunt]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  18. 1 2 ""Tunna blå linjen" årets program" ["Thin Blue Line” is program of the year]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 28 August 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  19. 1 2 Balke, Fred (16 September 2021). "Alexander Abdallah får Såstaholms scenkonstpris 2021" [Alexander Abdallah receives the 2021 Såstaholm Performing Arts Award]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  20. 1 2 Balke, Fred (29 September 2021). "Abdallah, Stiernstedt och Sandman i Spotifys nya ljuddrama" [Abdallah, Stiernstedt, and Sandman in Spotify's new audio drama]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  21. 1 2 Lündstrom, Jacob (20 May 2021). ""Thunder in my heart" ljuder av glädjetjut och klagosång" [“Thunder in my heart” resounds with cries of joy and lamentation]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  22. ↑ Clinton Lucas, Rakel (24 April 2023). "Amy Deasismont om nya säsongen av "Thunder in my heart": "De står inför stora utmaningar"" [Amy Deasismont on the new season of “Thunder in My Heart”: “They face major challenges.”]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  23. 1 2 Fjellborg, Karolina (7 March 2025). "Så bra är Jens Lapidus-serien "Paradis City"" [The Jens Lapidus series “Paradis City” is so good]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 4 April 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  24. ↑ Källén, Matilda (21 August 2023). ""Man kan vara hundra procent svensk och hundra procent blatte"" [“You can be 100% Swedish and 100% immigrant.”]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  25. ↑ "An eviction threat tests family ties in 'Home in You'". Special Broadcasting Service. 20 June 2024. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  26. 1 2 "Netflix Announces Swedish Period Drama About The Von Fersens - Starring Alva Bratt and Christian Fandango" (Press release). Netflix Newsroom. 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  27. ↑ "This year, actors Lena Endre and Alexander Abdallah join the expert jury". Stockholm International Film Festival. 8 October 2026. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  28. ↑ Kardelo, Alexander (26 February 2026). "Vem spelar vem i "Doktor Glas"? Ta en titt på vårens heta svenska thriller" [Who plays who in "Doktor Glas"? Take a look at this spring's hot Swedish thriller]. MovieZine (in Swedish). Retrieved 19 October 2026.
  29. ↑ Shea, Erin Latham (29 August 2026). "Netflix's 5-Episode Crime Thriller Deserves Even More Than Its 86% on Rotten Tomatoes". Collider. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
  30. ↑ Stjernström, Jenny (28 August 2023). "Vinnarna av Kristallen 2023" [The winners of Kristallen 2023]. SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 3 October 2025.