Netflix's Dept Q star had an ordinary job before landing life-changing role

Netflix star Alexej Manvelov who plays Akram in the streaming platforms latest thrilled Dept Q had a very normal job before coming into the spotlight.
Netflix's Dept Q has quickly become a fan favourite, captivating viewers with its thrilling storyline and standout performances. While lead star Matthew Goode has earned widespread praise for his portrayal of troubled detective Carl Mørck, viewers have also been quick to praise his co-star, Alexej Manvelov, who plays Akram, hailing him as a scene stealer.
The 43-year-old Swedish actor plays Akram, Detective Mørck's mysterious 'assistant'. A former member of the Syrian police, Akram is relentless in his pursuit of justice to uncover the truth.
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Alexej's portrayal of Akram has taken viewers by storm and they can't seem to get enough of him.
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Despite his growing fame and impressive appearances in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and the hit HBO show Chernobyl, his path to stardom was far from traditional.
Before becoming a professional actor the star spent nearly a decade working in the construction industry - although he always wanted to be an actor.
According to the Swedish publication Aftonbladet, Alexej worked as a sheet metal technician for eight years after relocating to Stockholm to chase his acting dreams. While holding down the physically demanding job, he got involved with several independent theatre groups and attended auditions whenever possible.
His determination paid off, as he eventually went on to star in various Swedish productions including the thriller Before We Die and Stockholm Requiem.
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His breakthrough came with his portrayal of Garo in Chernobyl, which opened doors to international projects. In 2023 he went on to star as Alexei Petrov in Jack Ryan, before landing the role in Dept Q.
Speaking to Netflix's Tudum, Matthew Goode praised the cast that writer and director Scott Frank assembled. He said: "Scott Frank assembled one of the finest casts I've ever gotten to work with. It's just an incredible playpen for an actor."
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"Leah Byrne is a stone-cold star. I felt like I've known Jamie [Sives] for a long time, we just get on so well… Alexej [Manvelov] is joy, pure joy, capital J," he continued.
Dept Q is a gripping crime series revolving around the brilliant, but flawed, detective Carl Mørck, who is given a cold case assignment after being badly injured following a mysterious attack that left his partner paralysed and a young police officer dead.
The show is based on the hit novels by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen and has nine episodes, which dive into the cold case and explores the truth behind Mørck's attack.
Speaking about the plot, Matthew said: "When we join the story, a 16-year-old case up in Aberdeen has been solved. The optics of that look really good, because right now they're lacking finance and crime figures are going up.
"So Kate Dickie's character - the boss of the police force - her higher-ups say, 'Let's form a cold case unit.' She puts Carl in charge because she can keep an eye on him in the basement."
All episodes of Dept Q are available to watch on Netflix now.

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