Tarik Makarem (born 18 January 1982), is an English actor most famous for playing

Nikhil Sharma Nikhil Sharma is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, ''Emmerdale'', played by Rik Makarem. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 11 September 2009. Makarem's departure from the soap was announced ...

in ''

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, '' ...

''. Classically trained he is a graduate of the

Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland ( gd, Conservatoire Rìoghail na h-Alba), formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama ( gd, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Ciùil is Dràma na h-Alba) is a conservatoire of dance, drama, music, production, and ...

. He won a Laurence Olivier Bursary in 2004 in association with the

Society of London Theatre The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) is an umbrella organisation for West End theatre in London. Founded in 1908, as Society of West End Theatre Managers, then Society of West End Theatre in 1975, changing to its current name in 1994, the (SOLT) ...

Television

Makarem is best known for head lead series regular role, Nikhil Sharma in ''

'' for ITV, playing across both dramatic and comedic storylines. His first appearance was on 11 September 2009. In May 2013, Makarem announced he was leaving the programme, his final episode was on 20 August 2013 when his character left the village for a new life in Toronto shortly after his wife, Genesis Walker was murdered. In September 2015, after devoting his energy to theatre roles, Makarem confirmed that he was reprising his role as Nikhil in a "powerful" storyline. His character Nikhil returned on 29 October 2015 and departed on 19 February 2016. On 1 September 2016, Makarem confirmed that he was joining BBC1's ''Casualty'' in a lead role, Dr Sebastian Grayling playing into 2017

Makarem had a starring role, as guest lead in BBC's global smash hit '' Torchwood: Children of Earth'' alongside

John Barrowman John Scot Barrowman (born 11 March 1967) is a Scottish-American actor, author, presenter, singer and comic book writer. He is known for his role as Captain Jack Harkness in '' Doctor Who'' and ''Torchwood'', and as Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrow ...

. He has also featured in an episode of ITV's period drama ''

Foyle's War ''Foyle's War'' is a British detective fiction, detective drama television series set during and shortly after the Second World War, created by ''Midsomer Murders'' screenwriter and author Anthony Horowitz and commissioned by ITV (TV network), ...

''. Other notable television credits include ''

Consent Consent occurs when one person voluntarily agrees to the proposal or desires of another. It is a term of common speech, with specific definitions as used in such fields as the law, medicine, research, and sexual relationships. Consent as und ...

'' for Channel 4 starring with Michelle Dockery and Daniel Mays, and ITV comedy '' FM.'' He has also appeared with his family in an episode of ''

All Star Family Fortunes ''Family Fortunes'' is a British television game show based on the American game show ''Family Feud''. The programme ran on ITV (TV network), ITV from 6 January 1980 to 30 December 2002. A celebrity version, ''#All Star Family Fortunes, All St ...

'' which was first aired in March 2012.

Film

Makarem starred alongside Andrew Scott,

Tobias Menzies Tobias Simpson Menzies (born 7 March 1974) is an English stage, television and film actor. He is known for playing Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the third and fourth seasons of Netflix's series ''The Crown'', for which he won the Primetime ...

and

Fiona Glascott Fiona Glascott (born 22 November 1982) is an Irish actress. She is best known for portraying a young Minerva McGonagall in the ''Fantastic Beasts'' franchise, a spin-off of the ''Harry Potter'' film series. Early life Glascott was born in Wat ...

in the period feature film '' The Duel.''

Theatre

In November 2013, he starred in the lead role of Toby, opposite James Cartwright in

Martin Sherman Martin Gerald Sherman (born December 22, 1938) is an American dramatist and screenwriter best known for his 20 stage plays which have been produced in over 60 countries. He rose to fame in 1979 with the production of his play '' Bent'', which e ...

's ''Passing By.'' The production received much critical acclaim for Makarem's and his co-stars performance. From January to April 2014 Makarem co-starred with

David Essex David Essex (born David Albert Cook; 23 July 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, and actor. Since the 1970s, he has attained 19 Top 40 singles in the UK (including two number ones) and 16 Top 40 albums. Internationally, Essex had the most ...

, Andrew Jarvis and Jared Garfield in a touring production of Morris Panych's ''The Dishwashers''. Makarem again, received great reviews alongside his esteemed colleague. What's On Stage went on to say ''"Makarem beautifully complements his cast mates as he provides a new and different approach to the existential crisis that appears throughout the play."'' From January to July 2015 Makarem co-starred with

Tina Hobley Tina Ellen Hobley (born 20 May 1971) is an English actress and radio presenter, best known for her long-running role as Chrissie Williams in the BBC One medical drama series ''Holby City''. Hobley left Holby City in November 2013 after 12 years. ...

and

Michael McKell Michael McKell (born 10 February 1959, in Bethnal Green, London) is an English actor. He is best known for playing Inspector Trevor Hands in ''Murder Investigation Team'' (2003-2005), Dr. Nick West in ''Doctors'' (2006-2008) and DS Nicholas "N ...

, in a nationwide theatre tour and international premiere of Peter James's ''Dead Simple. Makarem was noted by critics for being "particularly strong"'' and describing him to "Stun the audience with his role"

Music

Alongside his acting career, Makarem is an established songwriter.

Other

He was part of Team Emmerdale who in August 2011 completed an Extreme Cycle Challenge, cycling 224 miles in less than 24 hours, from the set of ''Emmerdale'' to the set of ''EastEnders'', in aid of

Macmillan Cancer Support Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, a ...

. He has also taken part in the

Great Manchester Cycle The Great Manchester Cycle is a closed-road cyclosportive held in Manchester, Trafford and Salford, England, during summer. Participants are invited to ride one, two or four laps of a course which starts at the City of Manchester Stadium in eas ...

and

Ride London RideLondon is an annual festival of cycling held in London. Intended as an annual legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was first held in 2013. The format consists of a series of cycling events on closed roads around Lond ...

as part of the LLRunstoppable team which supports Bloodwise.

Filmography

Films

TV

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Official Website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Makarem, Rik 1982 births People from Chesterfield, Derbyshire English people of Lebanese descent Alumni of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland English male soap opera actors English male stage actors English male film actors Living people