The Reason Riz Ahmed Won't Play a Terrorist Can Be Traced Back to This Speech

Back in March he gave a powerful speech at UK Parliament on representation. And in a new interview, Riz Ahmed, expands on his views about why diversity is important.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, The Night Of star, explained that he's had to turn down a number roles that he believes stereotypes him in order to provide a good role model figure for his peers.

"So a lot of my early work deals with the issues around the war on terror or Islamophobia, but I'm proud to say it deals with and engages those issues in creative ways and I hope in ways that move us forward rather than doubling down on lazy stereotypes," he told the magazine. "But yeah, there was a lot of, like, Terrorist No. 3 stuff — I just made a decision I wasn't going to do it. I thought, 'I'd rather be broke.'"

Watch his important speech below in which he warns about "losing people to extremism":