Former karate champion and rising French-Tunisian actor Monty Ben, who appears as 'Farouk' in Season 5 of the hit spy thriller Slow Horses, opens up about his shift from sport to screen, taking on darker roles, and what lies ahead in his career.
What was it like auditioning for the part?
I actually auditioned for three roles, not just Farouk. Even in the callback, they asked me to play all three. But something in me connected to Farouk on a personal level. There wasn't a written description; instead, I worked with Will Smith (the writer) to build his backstory. I'm really curious to see how audiences will connect with him.
How would you describe Farouk's character?
Farouk is ruthless, fearless, and completely determined. He will stop at nothing to reach his goal. His motivation comes from vengeance, born from everything he lived through during the war in Libya. He's a soldier who lost everything: the war, his country, his family, even his pregnant wife. He has nothing left to lose.
Were there any scenes that were particularly challenging, emotionally, physically, or technically?
Yes, there's one scene in Episode 6 when I have to make a very difficult decision. It was emotionally intense. It's always challenging when you have to show the humanity behind someone ruthless. That's where empathy comes in.
Did your background as an athlete help in shaping the character?
Definitely. Farouk is a soldier, so yes, my background as an athlete helped me physically. But it also helped mentally, the discipline, focus, and resilience.
In a way, Farouk is shaped by all sides of me: the athlete, the human being, and the scientist.
Tell us a bit about your sporting career.
I was a world championship medallist in karate, an eight-time continental champion, and a Mediterranean Games gold medallist. I later became a sports scientist with a PhD. I was part of the Rio 2016 Olympic delegation as a fitness coach and scientific expert for the fencing team that won the bronze medal. I was also honoured with the Golden Torch for Best Scientific Expert.
So, what first drew you to acting, and when did you realise it could become your career?
After retiring from professional karate, I went through a tough period. People advised me to try new things to find my path again. I tried other sports, dancing, but nothing touched me like theatre. The moment I stepped on stage, or got in front of the camera, something clicked. I didn't know why, but it felt like home. I began my acting career on stage with ACAD in Rouen, France. Later, I trained in screen acting with the Doha Film Institute, and then at the William Esper Studio in New York.
What was your break-through Internation role?
In 2024 I played 'The Taskmaster' in the Netflix docudrama series Testament: The Story of Moses. It was my first English-speaking role. The experience was both physically demanding and emotionally intense. I felt privileged to work on a production of that scale. The authenticity of the sets made it easy to step into that ancient world, and collaborating with such an international team was truly inspiring.
You've just finished filming a short film in the UK. What can you tell us about it?
Harir is set against the backdrop of the Southport riots. It follows a teenage Muslim girl trying to make sense of her identity. I play her father, a man fighting to hold his family together while facing his own struggles with belonging. It's a very human story about faith, identity, and resilience.
Are you planning to work more in the UK?
Yes. In fact, I'll be working with Kthiri Nejib again, on a UK-produced feature film called TKALLAM. The film is still in early production, so I can't say much yet. What I can share is that the role is very different from anything I've done before. That's been my focus lately, to challenge myself and never repeat the same kind of character.
So, what does the future hold?
I'll be starring in GROTTO, a Canadian–Tunisian feature directed by Kays Mejri, which will start shooting in early 2026, and I have a series in development with a Netflix producer called TERRIBLE LOVE, This project is still in development, so I'd rather keep the details private for now. What I can say is that I'm developing this film as it's a very personal to me.
You can watch SLOW HORSES, Season 5 on Apple TV+ https://apple.co/4913IUn
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