Mithra Malek

Mithra Malek
Malek at the British Independent Film Awards 2021
Born
Mithra Marie-Anne Malek

Westminster, London, England
Other nameMissy Malek
EducationOxford University
OccupationsActress, filmmaker

Mithra Marie-Anne Malek, also known as Missy Malek, is a British actress, screenwriter, and director.

Early life and education

Malek was raised in London and is of Middle Eastern descent. As a teenager, she joined the National Youth Theatre. Malek attended Queen's Gate School and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Philosophy from Oxford University. She also studied clowning under Philippe Gaulier.[citation needed]

Career

Theatre

At the Theatre Royal Windsor in 2021, Malek appeared in Hamlet, with Sir Ian Mckellen in the title role, as Osric and understudied Ophelia, stepping into the role on multiple occasions. Malek then starred in Michael Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard in the lead role of Anya, opposite Sir Ian McKellen in the role of Firs. Rosemary Waugh of The i Paper highlighted Malek's performance, singling her and Mckellen out as "redeeming features" of the production, while The Stage praised her "subtlety". and Judi Herman of WhatsOnStage wrote "Malek, who made so much of the small role of Osric in Hamlet, shows an affecting depth as Ranevskaya's conflicted daughter". Writing for The Guardian, Michael Billington noted that Malek's Anya and Kezrena James's Varya "affectingly portray older and younger versions of Chekhov's female paradox."

In 2024, Malek served as the alternate for Rachel Zegler in the role of Juliet in Sam Gold's Broadway production of Romeo and Juliet (billed as R + J) at the Circle in the Square Theatre, performing opposite Kit Connor.

Malek played the lead role of T in the world premiere of The Meat Kings Inc. of Brooklyn Heights at London's Park Theatre in late 2025. Malek was described as a "revelation" by Theatre Weekly and "a standout" for her "slowly unbending hardness" by Nick Curtis of the Evening Standard. Patrick Marmion of the Daily Mail described Malek as "an exciting prospect", writing that as T, "she can turn on a dime — childlike and panicky one minute, dishing out verbal roastings the next."

In 2026, Malek played the title role in a contemporary staging of the Greek tragedy Iphigenia at the Arcola Theatre, opposite Simon Kunz and Indra Ove. Nick Curtis of the Evening Standard described her performance: "Malek emerges from the audience, a potent, dark eyed presence... Speaking with measured emphasis, she passes from joy to despair to acceptance, weeping hot tears on the way". He noted "her performance is as arresting as the one she gave in the wildly different role as an ex-con butcher in The Meat Kings Inc. Of Brooklyn Heights".

Television and film

In 2022, Malek appeared in the Netflix legal drama Anatomy of a Scandal. She starred in the 2024 film Party People opposite Matthew Daddario.

As a filmmaker, Malek wrote, directed, and acted in the short film Laughing Branches starring herself, Tom Hanson, and Leo Suter. Laughing Branches screened at international film festivals in 2017 and 2018 and picked up a number of accolades. Her second short film Tala premiered at the 2019 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Malek directed and wrote her third short We're Too Good For This based on a true story. The short film opened at the 2021 BFI London Film Festival. Malek was selected as a 2024 fellow for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Anti-Social Fashion PR Girl
2016 Now You See Me 2 Case Assistant
2017 Laughing Branches Alex Page Short film; director, writer, producer
2019 Tala, Tala Short film; director, writer, executive producer
2021 We're Too Good for This N/a Short film; director, writer
2022 Anatomy of a Scandal Nikita Miniseries; 5 episodes
2024 Party People Dana Also known as Party O'Clock

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2020 Love from a Stranger Mavis Wilson Theatre Royal Windsor
2021 Hamlet Osric
The Cherry Orchard Anya
2024 Romeo + Juliet Juliet Alternate Circle in the Square Theatre, New York
2025 The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights T Park Theatre, London
2026 Iphigenia Iphigenia Arcola Theatre, London

References

  1. 1 2 3 Billington, Michael (14 October 2021). "The Cherry Orchard review – Ian McKellen is brilliantly poignant in resonant adaptation". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Sundance Institute Announces 2024 Episodic Lab Fellows". Sundance Institute. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Missy Malek". You Wanted A List. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "We're Too Good for This". Brooklyn Film Festival. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  5. ↑ Wilder, Lorraine (11 October 2018). "Actor Missy Malek is equally at ease on screen and stage". Tinsel Town News Now. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Matriculation at Undergraduate Level" (PDF). The Record 2012/13. Keble College. p. 16. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  7. ↑ Wild, Stephi (23 May 2021). "New Tickets Released For First Week of HAMLET, Opening Next Month Starring Ian McKellen at Theatre Royal Windsor". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  8. ↑ Wood, Alex Wood (2021-07-15). "Hamlet with Ian McKellen extends Theatre Royal Windsor run". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  9. ↑ Waugh, Rosemary (14 October 2021). "The Cherry Orchard, Theatre Royal Windsor, review: Ian McKellen's slapstick mess has saving graces in Malek". The i Paper. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Vale, Paul (14 October 2021). "The Cherry Orchard review at Theatre Royal Windsor starring Ian McKellen". The Stage. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Herman, Judi (2021-10-14). "The Cherry Orchard review – Ian McKellen performs with poignant care in this deft revival". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  12. ↑ Gillespie, Anna (4 November 2024). "Love is in the air with Romeo + Juliet on Broadway". Her Campus. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  13. ↑ Wild, Stephi (26 September 2024). "Meet the Cast of ROMEO + JULIET, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Review: The Meat Kings Inc. of Brooklyn Heights at Park Theatre". Theatre Weekly. November 12, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  15. ↑ Curtis, Nick (13 November 2025). "The Meat Kings of Brooklyn Heights at Park Theatre review: A powerful debut". Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "These Brooklyn rough diamonds really sparkle". pressreader.com. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Review: Iphigenia at Arcola Theatre". Theatre Weekly. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  18. ↑ Curtis, Nick (April 24, 2026). "Iphigenia review — Arcola Theatre: Malek delivers an arresting performance". Evening Standard. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  19. ↑ Llewellyn Smith, Julia (27 February 2022). "The new screen stars of 2022". YOU. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  20. ↑ Staff (31 March 2026). "In Conversation With: Mithra Malek". A Young(ish) Perspective. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  21. ↑ Machen, Rod (8 November 2024). "Austin Film Festival 2024: Party People". Cinapse. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  22. ↑ "Award-winning actor Missy Malek's Midas Touch". International Film Review. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  23. ↑ "Actor Missy Malek Dazzles in 'Laughing Branches'". Frontline Views. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  24. ↑ Nordine, Michael (12 January 2019). "Santa Barbara International Film Festival Lineup: 63 World Premieres". IndieWire. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  25. ↑ Yossman, KJ (16 October 2021). "'We're Too Good For This' Director, Cast on Playing Deaf, Disabled Drug Dealers – London Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  26. ↑ "Inside We're Too Good for This starring British deaf and disabled actors". BritFlix. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  27. ↑ "We're Too Good For This - BFI London Film Festival Selection". British Council Film. September 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2026.