Christopher NolanThe Odyssey has one of the biggest musicals of 2026, but the actor who brings the attention is the British-Indian star. Himesh Patel. After winning over audiences in Yesterday and delivering memorable performances in Tenet and Station Eleven, Patel is reteaming with Nolan for the epic fantasy film.In The Odyssey, he plays Eurylochus, Odysseus’ trusted second in command and one of the most important characters in Homer’s epic. So who is Himesh Patel? Here’s a look at his journey from British television to Hollywood.
A Gujarati family, small town and big dreams
Himesh Patel was born on October 13, 1990, in Sawtry, Cambridgeshire, England. His parents are Gujarati Hindus whose families immigrated to the UK from East Africa. His mother was born in Zambia, while his father was born in Kenya. The family had a newspaper ad man, and Patel grew up speaking Gujarati at home.His love for acting started early. After impressing the teachers in a school play, he joined the local theater group and later trained at The Young Actors’ Company in Cambridge. He also studied piano and taught himself to play the guitar as a teenager.
EastEnders made him a household name
Patel got his big break at the age of 16. On the same day as his GCSE exams, he found out he had landed the role of Tamwar Masood in the hit BBC soap EastEnders.He stayed on the show for nine years, appearing in 566 episodes. During that time, he also wrote an episode of spin off EastEnders E20, starred in the Tamwar Tales series and won an Inside Soap Award.When she left the soap in 2016, Patel chose to take on various roles in television, theater and independent films instead of pursuing another long-running series.
Yesterday he changed everything
Patel’s career took off in 2019 with Danny Boyle’s musical comedy Yesterday.He played Jack Malik, a troubled musician who wakes up in a world where no one remembers The Beatles except him. Patel sang the songs himself, and his warm, soulful performance was praised by audiences and critics alike.The film exposed him to people from all over the world and opened the doors of Hollywood.
Working with Christopher Nolan and the biggest stars of Hollywood
Soon after yesterday, Patel started making big projects. He worked with Christopher Nolan for the first time on Tenet before receiving an Emmy nomination for HBO’s Station Eleven.He also appeared in Netflix’s Don’t Look Up alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep and Timothee Chalamet.His recent credits include Enola Holmes 2, where he played Dr John Watson, Good Grief, The Assessment and the HBO comedy series The Franchise. He will also return as Watson in Enola Holmes 3.
What does Himesh Patel do in The Odyssey?
In Odyssey, Patel plays Eurylochus, second in command on Odysseus’ ship.In Greek mythology, Eurylochus is one of Odysseus’ best friends, but he is also known to question his leader’s decisions. He plays a major role in the long and dangerous journey home after the Trojan War, making him one of the most important characters in the story.Patel shares the screen with a star-studded cast led by Matt Damon, along with Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Lupita Nyongo, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo and Elliot Page.
What’s next for Himmesh Patel?
Besides The Odyssey, Patel is also set to star opposite Danielle Deadwyler in Ryan Coogler’s reboot of The X Files.From being a teenager on EastEnders to starring in major Hollywood films, Himesh Patel has built an impressive career. With The Odyssey set to release on July 17, the British-Indian actor is now embarking on the biggest phase of his career.