Despite his Oscar-approved versatility in-front of the camera, Rami Malek has a strong sense of who he is as a person. We were captivated by his role as the socially awkward Elliot Alderson in Mr. Robot; astonished by his megawatt portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, and, frankly, kinda creeped out by his spin on a Bond villain in No Time To Die. However, it’s actually in person where Rami Malek is most impressive.
The sentiment is shared by Cartier, who has appointed American-Egyptian actor as the new face of its Tank Francaise collection. During a catch up in Paris, Rami Malek spoke to Esquire Middle East about his life-long connection with the French luxury brand and how their shared value set ignited a deeper sense of purpose in his life…
ESQ: Hey there, Rami. Good to see you again. How are things?
RM: I am doing very well. How are you?
ESQ: Good, thanks. Firstly, congratulations on being the new face of Cartier’s Tank Francaise collection. It’s not your first rodeo with Cartier, following the work you did with them on the previous Pasha de Cartier collection. Why do you feel the brand represents you best?
RM: The first watch I ever owned was a Cartier Tank. It was something I aspired to have when I was studying to become an actor and had mounting student debts.
ESQ: Well, how did that work out for you?
RM: [Laughs] I think I did okay in the end. But, you know, it was interesting. I learnt a lot from the time studying for my degree. In high school I was doing a lot of plays and I felt pretty strongly about my abilities, but when you start auditioning for colleges with excellent theatre schools it is a whole different level. Theatre and acting is part of the fabric of American culture, so there is a tremendous level of competition.
ESQ: Were your family supportive?
RM: It was difficult to convince my family that, firstly, I wanted to become an actor and, secondly, to help pay for the tuition fees which were going to be exorbitant. At times I wondered how I was ever going to pay off the debt, because for such a long time I wasn’t able to. From job to job I used to put some money towards it but, I always made sure that I wasn’t a slave to it.
ESQ: How do you mean?
RM: I wanted to remain true to myself. I didn’t want to lose the ability to do things that helped me build my self-confidence like dressing well and elegantly, just because I had to pay off my student debts. I set aside some money and bought something that would be a timeless staple that would always last with me, so I bought a Cartier Tank. It helped give me confidence in a career that can strip away your confidence quite easily.
ESQ: Do you still have the piece? I’m sure it’ll be worth a significant amount more now that you are who you have become.
RM: Yes, I still have it. But isn’t going anywhere. Although, I’ll tell you something cool that happened recently. Barbara Broccoli told me the other day that the Bond franchise had auctioned off some memorabilia and one of the things that the listed was my costume as Safin. Apparently the starting price was $7,000, but it ended up selling for more than $100,000! The proceeds was then paid to a charity of my choice.
ESQ: That’s incredible!
RM: It was. I received an email from the charity [Breaking Barriers] who were in shock by how much it had affected them. I thought, God bless Barbara for her selflessness, who could have just hoarded the stuff from the films, and it made me want to find a way to do more on my own.
ESQ: Have you ever kept anything from the film set?
RM: You know, I have a few things from Bohemian [Rhapsody], that I think that I might actually auction off for charity, because, well, why not?
ESQ: Why not, indeed! Speaking of keeping things from sets, what is the most random skill that you’ve had to learn for one of your roles?
RM: The beauty of this job is that we learn trade that you would never have thought about, like, for example, I can shoot a 60mm mortar from the 1940s to a pretty accurate level, if I need to. It’s that nuts?!
ESQ: That’s the best answer I’ve ever heard…
RM: It’s pretty crazy. We were doing a boot camp for this show called The Pacific, and you not only have to learn the mechanics of how things work but also have to hit a target, and if you don’t, some drill sergeant will come over and whack you on the top of the head and curse at you until you do. The point is, you have to learn how to do things under pressure that you never thought that you could. As an actor, I don’t need military training! I remember one day after the boot camp, I was in the shower feeling pretty good about myself, feeling like I could do just about anything. At one point I was like, wait, do I want to become a Marine? It imbues you with such confidence and strength, damn. I just don’t want to kill people.
ESQ: Central to building a character is what they wear. Considering the diversity of roles you’ve played, with regards to Cartier’s timepieces, which of your characters would best suit which designs?
RM: That’s a very interesting question… I love the blue cabochon on the Pasha. I think that would work well with my Bond costume I wore in No Time To Die. When I was working on that character, I thought, here is a guy who dealt with a toxin in his childhood that disfigured his face, so how would he compensate for that? I told my costume designer that he needed to be as elegant and unique as possible. I wanted there to be Japanese influences, and a mix of East and West. I wanted to have perfect tailoring. Not traditional, but elegant. If I wanted to add that element of traditional refinement, then I would have opted for the Tank. But sometimes, it’s not always about watches. Someone like Elliot Alderson [Malek’s character in Mr Robot], is probably not going to wear a Tank, but he might find a practical use for a gorgeous luxury cigarette lighter.
ESQ: How about you? How would you describe your style?
RM: My style evolves. I would like to have one specific style, but the truth is you have to let yourself evolve. As I get older, I discover that I am reverting back to certain looks that are classic. It works.
ESQ: So the new Tank Francaise, where would you wear it?
RM: Well, that’s the thing with this one, you can kind of wear it anywhere. There is nothing trendy about it, it works without being trendy – that’s what makes it timeless. I wore it on the red carpet for a premiere recently, as I felt it was elegant enough for that, but it’s also a t-shirt and jeans kind of watch as well. It just takes it up a notch.
ESQ: Is elegance in detail?
RM: Not necessarily. A number of things can be detailed, but not necessarily elegant. Things can be overly detailed. For me elegance is simplicity. Beautiful and simple, where unity and balance are considered.
ESQ: Your job is arguably one of the most versatile in the world. In broad strokes, what’s a day on set like for you?
RM: When I’m on set, it’s like a transcendent moment for me. I’m getting to do the thing that I’ve always wanted to do. I love the thrill and spontaneity of it all. When I’m there it lifts every sense to the surface. I feel so alive, and it brings out the best in me.
ESQ: Now, as an established leading man, do you feel more responsibility?
RM: I think I am a strong leader on set. I look out for everyone, and make sure people feel respected and appreciated – because, for anything to happen, it takes a whole team working together. For me, being on set has always come with the mindset of trying to see where I can give as much as possible to better the project. I think that alone sets an example to others around me, but that’s not why I do it.
ESQ: Why do you do it?
RM: I’ve always been a seeker of justice, and I don’t like when people are done wrong. It’s a quality in me that I’m very proud of, but I don’t know whether it is inherent or a learned behavior. I feel compelled to work hard, and treat people well because I don’t feel there is an alternative way. When people ask me how I use my ‘platform’ to help others, I try to live that every day and lead by example.
ESQ: How selective are you to the jobs you take?
RM: I am fortunate to now be in a position where I can be very selective and so I choose what message I am sending out carefully. There was a time in my life where I had to take jobs that was not very thrilled by as I didn’t feel it represented me or my culture, but after Bohemian Rhapsody, there were a lot more opportunities and it allowed me to take a moment and identify projects and partnerships that matched by values. I now consider film roles, and campaigns, and charities with a sense of not just something that represents who I am, but also who I still aspire to be.
ESQ: Like what, for example?
RM: One of the most poignant things for me was last year at the EXPO in Dubai, at the Women’s Pavilion. Cartier was celebrating extraordinary women, and the importance of feminism and women in general, and they asked me to be a part of it. At first I was unsure whether it was my place to speak in that space but, through the brand, I understood that not only was it the right place, but it was essential that I did. I found myself quite emotional that entire weekend – extraordinarily so. When women thrive, we all thrive – and that is something that resonates with me. And while it was fantastic, it also felt quite dire that we, as humans, still have so far to go. I felt very fortunate to be able to experience it, so that I can be more proactive and share it with others. Films speak volumes and affect us in a number of ways, but there is a time where I think you need to take that extra step, and I feel privileged to be in a position to do so, and to open doors for others too.