Mena Massoud

Mena Massoud is an Egyptian-Canadian actor recognized for his lead role in Disney’s live-action ‘Aladdin’ and for his advocacy for diversity in entertainment, alongside his ventures in plant-based living and premium spirits. After gaining international recognition for his portrayal of the titular character in Disney’s live-action Aladdin (2019), Mena Massoud went on to further establish himself across film and television. Aladdin was a significant commercial success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide, and earned Massoud nominations for a Teen Choice Award and two National Film & TV Awards. Massoud began his acting career in 2011 with guest appearances in television series such as Nikita and Combat Hospital, deliberately seeking roles that avoided ethnic stereotypes.

Key early roles included Jared Malik in the Canadian-drama series Open Heart (2015) and Ollie Santos in the film Ordinary Days (2017). Following his breakthrough, Massoud continued to expand his filmography with prominent roles in the Amazon Prime series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018), the Hulu original series Reprisal (2019), and the thriller film Strange but True (2019). He later starred in the Netflix film The Royal Treatment (2022) and the horror film The Sacrifice Game (2023), for which he also served as an executive producer, demonstrating his growing influence behind the camera. In 2023, Massoud debuted as the host for Evolving Vegan, a Canadian television series inspired by his own cookbook.

That same year, he founded the Ethnically Diverse Artists Foundation to support Canadian artists from underrepresented ethnic groups. His commitment to plant-based living led him to create the Evolving Vegan cookbook, the aforementioned television series, and an expansive community. In 2022, he co-founded Dharma Indian Dry Gin with Emily Shah and Prashant Shah, launching a premium spirit inspired by Ayurvedic practices.