Overview

• Ahmed says his body “gave up” during the filming of Rogue One, leading to extreme exhaustion and a brief hospital stay.
• He describes rebuilding his strength from scratch, with recovery taking longer than expected.
• The cause remained unclear, which he characterized as “something very silent and very intense” that did not improve quickly.
• He recalls the period bringing grief and fear as well as a heightened sense of gratitude and acceptance.
• He says the experience helped steer him toward taking the lead in Sound of Metal, a performance that earned him an Oscar nomination.