Naveen Andrews

Early Life and Background

Naveen Andrews’ parents and Indian roots

Born into an immigrant family, Naveen William Sidney Andrews came into this world on January 17, 1969, in Lambeth, London. His parents, Nirmala, a psychologist, and Stanley Andrews, a businessman, moved from Kerala, India, to the United Kingdom in 1965. They arrived at a tough time, just three years before Enoch Powell’s infamous “rivers of blood” speech. Naveen, the older of two brothers, had a complex relationship with his identity and cultural heritage. His Methodist upbringing left him feeling disconnected from his family’s roots. He once said, “I’m a complete fraud. I go to India and I can’t even speak my own language. They laugh at me”.

Growing up in London and early education

Life in Wandsworth during the 1970s wasn’t easy for one of the first non-white families in what later became a vibrant multicultural area. Young Naveen faced racism daily. He remembers clearly: “My mum pushing me in a pushchair along our road and the next-door neighbor’s girl – who was maybe 10 or 11, running alongside going: ‘Golliwog! Wog!'”. His parents worked hard to give him a better life and scraped enough money to send him to private school. This chance shaped his path toward acting, but it also pulled him away from his family’s traditional values. Looking back, Andrews says, “As I get older I appreciate what my parents had to go through… They had to endure a lot of what I would’ve found unendurable”.

Naveen Andrews young: discovering acting at school

The first signs of theatrical talent showed up early. A teacher told his parents that five-year-old Naveen wanted to become an actor. His real journey into acting started in his teens at private school. At 16, Andrews made two big choices that changed his life: he moved out to start a relationship with his 30-year-old married math teacher, Geraldine Feakins, and got into the prominent Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. The school put him in the same company as future stars Ewan McGregor and David Thewlis. During his Guildhall days, Andrews and Feakins had a son.

The early 1990s launched Andrews’ professional career as British-Asian storytelling gained momentum in UK entertainment. He acted in “London Kills Me,” written and directed by Hanif Kureishi, and “Wild West,” a show about a British-Pakistani country and western band. At 23, he landed the lead role in BBC’s adaptation of “The Buddha of Suburbia,” based on Kureishi’s semi-autobiographical novel with David Bowie’s soundtrack. These early roles showed off his talent and paved his way to worldwide fame.

Training and Breakthrough Roles

Guildhall School of Music and Drama

At sixteen years old, Naveen Andrews took a decisive step toward his acting career by winning admission to London’s prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. This 143-year-old institution offers detailed training in everything from classical music, jazz, drama, to production arts. Guildhall’s reputation speaks through its rankings – first place in both the Guardian’s 2022 League Table for Music and the Complete University Guide’s 2023 Arts, Drama and Music league table.

The institution ranks fifth worldwide for performing arts according to the 2024 QS World University Rankings. Andrews studied with future stars Ewan McGregor and David Thewlis, building connections that proved valuable in the competitive entertainment industry. Guildhall’s training laid the groundwork for his remarkable acting career.

First roles: London Kills Me and Wild West

Fresh from drama school, Andrews stepped into the spotlight with his 1991 screen debut in Hanif Kureishi’s “London Kills Me,” playing a character named Bike. Kureishi wrote and directed this independent production that starred Justin Chadwick and Steven Mackintosh. The story follows a young man trying to escape London’s drug world by getting a job as a waiter – a dream that depends on finding a “sensible pair of shoes”. BBC’s sitcom “Wild West” (1992) came next, where Andrews played Zaf, a Pakistani country singer.

His performance caught the Evening Standard Drama Awards’ attention, earning him a Most Promising Newcomer nomination. Time Out’s critics noticed his talent, saying Andrews “gets a chance to show what he can do” in “Wild West,” though they felt he was “wasted” in “London Kills Me”. He kept building his portfolio with roles like Jimmy in “Double Vision” (1992).

Recognition in The English Patient

International acclaim found Andrews in 1996 when he landed Kip Singh’s role in Anthony Minghella’s “The English Patient”. This epic romantic war drama, adapted from Michael Ondaatje’s 1992 novel, became a critical and commercial powerhouse. The film dominated the 69th Academy Awards with twelve nominations and won nine, including Best Picture and Best Director. Andrews’ portrayal of the Sikh bomb disposal expert earned him a Chlotrudis Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The cast’s collective talent shone through a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance. The film’s success brought five BAFTA Awards and two Golden Globes, launching Andrews into Hollywood’s spotlight.

The British Film Institute ranks “The English Patient” as the 55th-greatest British film of the 20th century, and the American Film Institute places it 56th among greatest love stories. His performance alongside Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, and Colin Firth secured his place among Hollywood’s rising stars.

Rise to Fame with Lost and Beyond

Sayid Jarrah and the global success of Lost

In 2004, Naveen Andrews landed his breakthrough role as Sayid Jarrah in ABC’s television series Lost. He thought the show’s concept was “limited at best and dreadful at worst”. Little did he know he would become part of a cultural phenomenon. His portrayal of the former Iraqi Republican Guard soldier struck a chord with viewers, especially since the show aired just three years after 9/11 during the Iraq War. Sayid became “one of the most immediately compelling and consistently endearing characters on a show with a massive ensemble cast”.

The critical acclaim poured in quickly. Andrews earned a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2005 and a Golden Globe nomination in 2006. The cast’s collective talent led them to win the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Entertainment media couldn’t get enough of his character. IGN declared that “Sayid Jarrah is a badass who could give Jack Bauer, James Bond, and Jason Bourne all a run for their money”.

Beyond entertainment value, Andrews’ portrayal made waves culturally. Faisal Abbas, Media Editor of Asharq Al-Awsat, saw Sayid as one of the ‘heroic’ Muslim characters who emerged in American media after 9/11. This marked progress in Arab and Muslim representation. The character faced prejudice throughout the series. His fellow character Sawyer used derogatory nicknames like “Terrorist,” “Mohammed,” and “Captain Arab”. Yet Andrews’ nuanced performance helped viewers connect with Sayid personally.

Other major roles in TV and film

After Lost ended in 2010, Andrews built an impressive body of work. He brought the character of Jafar to life in ABC’s fantasy drama Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013-14). His talent shone through again when he played Jonas in the Wachowskis’ and J. Michael Straczynski’s series Sense8.

His career gained momentum with the role of ex-MI6 and CIA officer Julian Cousins in CBS’s Instinct (2018-2019). He worked alongside Alan Cumming and Bojana Novakovic. Andrews delivered another powerful performance in 2022 as Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani opposite Amanda Seyfried’s Elizabeth Holmes in Hulu’s limited series The Dropout. This role put him back in Emmy conversations.

The big screen saw Andrews in several notable films after Lost. He starred with Jodie Foster in The Brave One and portrayed Dr. Hasnat Khan in the 2013 biographical drama Diana. The film chronicled Princess Diana’s final two years. His career choices showcase his range as an actor across different genres.

Voice acting and video game appearances

Andrews expanded his artistic reach into voice acting for video games. He brought the character Sabal to life in Ubisoft’s Far Cry 4 in 2014. This role connected him with gaming audiences while highlighting his distinctive voice.

February 2025 brought exciting news. Andrews would voice the legendary Khan Noonien Singh in the scripted audio drama series Star Trek: Khan. This role links him to one of science fiction’s greatest franchises. His Lost co-star Wrenn Schmidt joins the cast as Khan’s wife, Marla McGivers.

Andrews’ work continues to evolve. He has upcoming roles in Justin Lin’s film Last Days and Season 2 of the Paramount+ series Last King of the Cross. His path from Lost to current projects shows how he keeps engaging audiences with the same intensity and depth that first made him famous.

Personal Life and Family

Relationships and children: Jaisal and Naveen Joshua Andrews

Fatherhood changed everything for Naveen Andrews. He describes it as “wonderful, a privilege” that “turned out to be good for me in a way I could never have predicted”. The actor has two sons from different relationships. His eldest son Jaisal Andrews came into the world in 1992 during his relationship with Geraldine Feakins. Jaisal has grown up and completed his university education in Manchester.

Andrews’ younger son, Naveen Joshua, was born in 2006 while he took a break from his long-term partner Barbara Hershey. A custody battle with Joshua’s mother, Elena Eustache, ended with Andrews getting sole legal and physical custody of his son in January 2009. He takes pride in raising his children and says, “I may be a total failure at most things, but I’m a good parent”.

Naveen Andrews wife and partners over the last several years

Three relationships have shaped Andrews’ personal life deeply. His first notable relationship started with controversy. He was 16 when he began dating his 30-year-old married mathematics teacher, Geraldine Feakins. Their relationship lasted from 1985 to 1991. This choice created a rift with his parents that never healed – they passed away without reconciliation.

Andrews met actress Barbara Hershey on the set of “Drowning on Dry Land” in 1998, and they started dating. They stayed together for about 11 years despite their 21-year age gap, finally parting ways in 2010.

During a short break in 2005, Andrews dated Czech-French actress Elena Eustache, and they had his second son. Today, Andrews and Jaisal’s mother share a strong friendship. “She’s my mate. We have this wonderful son who’s 6ft 3, gorgeous, and I’m his dad”.

Struggles with addiction and recovery

Addiction almost destroyed Andrews’ promising career in the mid-1990s. He speaks openly about fighting heroin addiction and alcoholism for two years during this time. Everything changed in 1997 when he collapsed on set and needed emergency medical care. Andrews checked into rehab after that incident and managed to keep his sobriety. Sex Pistols rocker Steve Jones helped inspire his recovery. Andrews sees sobriety as “a daily struggle… But one that I want to keep struggling along”. Looking back at his addiction, he says, “A life without drink and drugs is a relief… That compulsion to keep doing it – even when you don’t want to – is the worst thing about alcoholism or addiction, and to be free of that, it’s a miracle”.

Naveen Andrews religion and citizenship trip

Cultural identity has always been complex for Andrews. His parents came from India, but he grew up Methodist. Andrews moved to the United States after filming “Drowning on Dry Land” in 1999. His middle-class London accent remains unchanged even after 22 years in America. He became a U.S. citizen on May 27, 2010. America gave him “a sense of possibility” that England’s rigid class system couldn’t offer. His Indian heritage still runs deep, though he felt it left him “largely disenfranchised” in England. Los Angeles became his fresh start along with his sobriety – he needed to be “somewhere else, a street that didn’t have a bloody pub on it”.

Filmography and Awards

Notable Naveen Andrews movies and shows

Naveen Andrews’ movie career started with “London Kills Me” (1991), which launched his impressive career. His portrayal of Kip Singh in the Academy Award-winning “The English Patient” (1996) helped him make his mark in Hollywood. Andrews appeared in several notable films like “Mighty Joe Young” (1998), “Rollerball” (2002), and “Bride and Prejudice” (2004). He showed his range with different roles in “Planet Terror” (2007) and “The Brave One” (2007) with Jodie Foster. He played Dr. Hasnat Khan in the biographical drama “Diana” (2013).

Television highlights and recurring roles

Andrews’ TV success peaked when he played Sayid Jarrah in ABC’s hit show “Lost” (2004-2010), appearing in 98 episodes. Before his global success, he starred in BBC’s acclaimed miniseries “The Buddha of Suburbia” (1993). After “Lost,” he built an impressive TV portfolio with roles as Lord Akbari in “Sinbad” (2012) and as the villain Jafar in “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland” (2013-2014). He joined the Wachowskis’ ambitious project “Sense8” (2015-2018) as Jonas Maliki and starred as Julian Cousins in CBS’s “Instinct” (2018-2019). His portrayal of Ramesh ‘Sunny’ Balwani in Hulu’s “The Dropout” (2022) showed his talent to play complex characters based on real people.

Awards and nominations over the years

Andrews’ recognition spans several prestigious accolades throughout his career. His performance in “Lost” got him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2005 and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor – Television in 2006. He won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series with the “Lost” cast in 2006.

He got multiple Golden Nymph nominations at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival for Outstanding Actor – Drama Series between 2007 and 2010. His work in “The English Patient” earned him a Chlotrudis Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His performance in “The Dropout” got him nominations from the Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards and Online Film & Television Association.

Time Line

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