If you’re a fan of a modern drama series, and happen to have been lucky enough to catch an episode of Baghdad Central in recent weeks, you’re in good company. Receiving rave reviews following its launch on both StarzPlay in the Middle East and Channel 4 in the UK, and gaining impressive viewing figures in both countries, the stars of the compelling new series are set to become household names – with July Namir top of the list of ones to watch.
Talking to MOJEH the night before our exclusive shoot following an action-packed visit to Dubai for the show’s premiere, we catch the young actress preparing for the first episode of Baghdad Central to be shown in the UK.
“I didn’t get much of a chance to explore Dubai when I was there because we were so busy promoting the show, but it’s such an amazing city, I can’t wait to go back,” says July, who plays Mrouj, the youngest daughter of Baghdad Central’s lead character, Muhsin Kadr-al-Khafaji, played by Palestinian-American actor, Waleed Zuaiter.
A six-part thriller loosely based upon Elliott Colla’s 2014 novel of the same name, and created by the award-winning writer of House of Saddam, Stephen Butchard, Baghdad Central is set in 2003, following the US-led coalition’s invasion of Iraq. It tells the story of former Iraqi police officer Muhsin al- Khafaji after the death of his wife, who is left as the sole carer of his ailing young daughter, Mrouj, and his estranged eldest daughter, Sawsan, played by Leem Lubany. When Sawsan goes missing, Muhsin finds himself caught up in a tale of murder and betrayal with troubling links to the US-controlled Green Zone.
“As an actress, this was an incredible opportunity to get involved in telling a story that’s never really been told on TV before,” says July. “Usually, I’m just asked to play refugees who are then portrayed as this cancerous maw sucking on society. Being asked to play someone who has their own internal thoughts and all these opinions was a real change, and I feel so lucky to have been a part of this groundbreaking show.”
Born in the picturesque county of Devon in the UK, July moved to London when she was a child, then to Scotland, Egypt, and finally settled back in South London. Studying English Literature and Theatre Studies at Brunel University, July’s pathway into professional acting was not the most traditional of routes.
“I didn’t go to drama school; I just went to university. But I always loved acting and really wanted to have the chance to pursue my dream. So I did [Cambridge University’s drama club] Footlights, then in my final year there was an open audition for a short film, and that’s when I decided I was going to give it a real go,” recalls July.
“I went in thinking no-one was going to take me seriously because I hadn’t taken the usual theatre school pathway, which was always going to be something of an obstacle. But the casting director, Annie Rowe, really liked me, so I have her to thank for everything that’s happened, because if she hadn’t seen me and pitched me to the agent, maybe I wouldn’t be here.”
Challenging stereotypes in those fledgling months of her career is something that has grown to become a central focus for herself and for her Baghdad Central co-stars. But July believes that outdated perceptions in the industry are slowly changing, which in turn are making a greater impact upon society in general.
“Getting here as an actress has been a journey. It’s still a journey,” she says. “There is a perception that if you are not classically trained, then you don’t know what you’re doing. But there was a mixture of so many things that would have put a lot of people off even giving me the opportunity to be in this industry, and to get on TV in the first place. The fact that I didn’t go to drama school, my ethnicity, my gender. All these things make the journey... let’s say, a little more bumpy. But it proves the point that if you are passionate about something, and you really want to change the way that people think, you have to stay focused, and keep challenging those perceptions, no matter what.”
Following her break into acting through that first short film, July was cast in series five of Homeland in 2015, before landing in a role in British TV drama Collateral in 2018, working alongside Oscar-nominated actress, Carey Mulligan.
“Carey was amazing,” says July. “She was so warm and friendly, and full of brilliant advice. And I learned so much from Claire Danes on Homeland. Having the chance to work opposite amazing actors like that is part of a huge learning process for me. When I’m working with other actors who are as highly skilled and accomplished as they are, I try to absorb as much from that experience as I can. I’m literally like a sponge.”
With her portrayal of Mona Asif in Collateral a career turning point, July was then approached to read for a role in another drama – Baghdad Central. “What really stood out to me was that, for once, you got to see the story from an Iraqi perspective,” reveals July. “I realised early on when I was reading through the script how different this series was going to be, and couldn’t believe that this kind of show was actually being commissioned for TV – I’d honestly never seen anything like it.”
Hoping that the depth of characterisation on the show will help push the door open for further opportunities for Muslim and Arab actors on British television, as well as internationally, July is excited to be a part of something so new and socially transformative.
“It’s great to be part of a movement, to feel like you are part of an important change; to be someone who plays a part in making a small but significant step forwards,” she says. “To see these changes finally happening with regard to representation and inclusiveness in the media is wonderful, because as a girl growing up in London, that was something I never got to see on TV at all.”
And July is full of praise for the show’s writers and producers in bringing that conversation to front and centre of the public mindset. “The power of change really lies in the ink. If you write those global stories, you get to hear those voices that may never have had the chance to be heard, and so you make a difference. Whoever you are, and wherever you come from, there is a story to be told. We need those unheard stories to be written, so we can go out and create more of these incredible shows that invite people to think about things they have never thought about before, and see the world from a different perspective.”
Shot in the cities of Rabat and Ouarzazate in Morocco in 2018, Baghdad Central features a star- studded cast with extended roots in the Arab world. Executive producer of the show, Kate Harwood says they made a point of seeking out some of the best talent from around the region, with the cast comprising a number of Palestinian, Iraqi and British Arab actors, which included July. But so focused were the casting directors on getting the best in the business to tell the story on screen, even those with smaller roles are lead actors in their home countries.
“There was a really long auditioning process to cast the roles of Muhsin’s family, because the producers wanted that family unit to seem as realistic and connected as possible. There are so many incredibly talented artists working on this show, and at every level, regardless of whether or not the role is a supporting or leading one, the performances are exceptional.”
While Arabic is July’s second language, mastering a convincing Iraqi accent was something that she and her fellow cast members worked hard at. “I’m not Iraqi, so it was a huge responsibility to get the dialect right. We are a global cast, and had some great people on board to help us, with an amazing dialect coach who was really at the heart of it all, because getting the voice right is the foundation of creating a genuine and believable character.”
With so much positive feedback already generated about the show and the character portrayals on screen, July says she feels lucky to be a part of a project that has awakened such a meaningful conversation about the empowerment of a new generation of Arab women.
“But I’m passionate about making diversity on screen a reality. When I was growing up, there were no Arab women on British TV at all – no one with the same heritage as me that I could relate to. But thankfully, things are different now. For kids with a variety of backgrounds and ethnicities to have someone they can relate to on TV makes them feel included, and not left out. It’s a really important message.”
