---
name: "Kayvan Novak"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kayvan-novak"
fi1m_id: "kayvan-novak"
imdb_id: "nm1315378"
tmdb_id: 2959
wikidata_id: "Q6380733"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "23 November 1978"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-22T03:22:35.152212+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Kayvan Novak

## Identity

Kayvan Novak

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kayvan-novak
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** kayvan-novak
- **IMDb ID:** nm1315378
- **TMDB ID:** 2959
- **Wikidata ID:** Q6380733
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayvan_Novak, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6380733, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1315378/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2959

Actor. Born 23 November 1978 in Cricklewood, North London, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 23 November 1978, Cricklewood, North London, England, UK
- **Active:** 2005–present
- **Also known as:** کیوان نواک
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 72 (1), 2010s 82 (4), 2020s 66 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 73 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Crime 3, Drama 3, Adventure 2, Family 2, Animation 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $721m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayvan_Novak, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6380733, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1315378/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2959

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Four Lions*](https://film.one/film/four-lions.md) (94), [*Early Man*](https://film.one/film/early-man.md) (68)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Syriana*](https://film.one/film/syriana.md) (72)
- **Disney+:** [*Cruella*](https://film.one/film/cruella.md) (66)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Kayvan Novak

> Kayvan Novak can make a fool sound convincing without making him seem harmless. His voices are finely worked, but it is the sweetness he brings to Waj in *Four Lions* that makes us rate him so highly.

In *Four Lions* (2010), Kayvan Novak makes Waj’s confusion seem entirely sincere. There is sweetness in the performance, even when the character is being hopelessly foolish. We laughed at Waj and felt uneasy about how fond of him we were becoming, because his incompetence makes him no less dangerous. That is the work we value most in Novak: he can play someone hopelessly mistaken without treating them as beneath our attention.

His reputation for voices was established by *Fonejacker* (2007–2008), the prank-call series he co-created with Ed Tracy, and its spin-off *Facejacker* (2010–2012). Early supporting roles had often confined him to ethnic stereotypes. Creating his own characters gave those vocal skills more purpose, with physical comedy another part of the work.

Chris Morris gives that character work room in *Four Lions*, where Novak works alongside Riz Ahmed and Nigel Lindsay without making Waj a separate comic attraction. Morris keeps the men’s incompetence and their capacity for harm in the same comedy, and Novak’s warmth makes that harder to dismiss. The middle does repeat jokes that have already landed. That is a weakness in the writing, though, not a reason to wish Waj were played with less affection.

*What We Do in the Shadows* (2019–2024) gives him longer to develop Nandor the Relentless, an ancient warrior brought down to size by pedantry and domestic squabbles. Novak makes him self-important and vulnerable, among an ensemble including Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou. As the programme settles into hang-out comedy, the concern is how often another squabble can give him something fresh to do.

*Cruella* (2021), with Novak in the supporting role of Roger, is a less useful place to start. Our qualified recommendation rests on Emma Stone, Emma Thompson and the inventive clothes; the crowded origin story keeps explaining away the nastiness. For a proper introduction to Novak, start with *Four Lions*, provided laughter that leaves us uneasy is what the evening calls for.

## Biography

Kayvan Novak is a British actor and comedian of Iranian descent. He was born on 23 November 1978 in Cricklewood, North London, and trained at Highgate School, the Fine Arts College in Hampstead, and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

He began appearing in British television series such as *Family Affairs*, *Holby City* and *Spooks* before co-creating and starring in the prank-call comedy series *Fonejacker* (2006–2008) and its follow-up *Facejacker* (2010–2012). For the former he shared the 2008 BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series). He played Waj in the 2010 film *Four Lions*, for which he won Best Comedy Performance in a British Film at the British Comedy Awards.

Novak is known for his role as Nandor the Relentless in the series *What We Do in the Shadows* (2019–2024) and voices Fabian Kingsworth in *Archer* (2020–2023). His film credits include *Syriana* (2005), *Paddington* (2014), *Men in Black: International* (2019) and *Cruella* (2021).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Cruella* (2021), Fi1m 66, as Roger — [page](https://film.one/film/cruella.md)
- *Early Man* (2018), Fi1m 68, as Dino / Jurgend (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/early-man.md)
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Paul — [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Paddington* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Grant — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington.md)
- *Four Lions* (2010), Fi1m 94, as Waj — [page](https://film.one/film/four-lions.md)
- *Syriana* (2005), Fi1m 72, as Arash — [page](https://film.one/film/syriana.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *StuGo* (2025), series, as Thurst (voice)
- *Krapopolis* (2023), series, as Man O'Horse (voice)
- *Digman!* (2023), series, as Sam (voice)
- *Incredible Ant* (2022), series, as Shellis (voice)
- *Human Resources* (2022), series, as Arsalan (voice)
- *Toast of Tinseltown* (2022), series, as Des Wigwam
- *Inside Job* (2021), series, as The Pope (voice)
- *Cruella* (2021), as Roger — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/cruella.md)
- *The Mighty Ones* (2020), series, as The Emperor (voice)
- *A Christmas Carol* (2019), series, as Ali Baba
- *FX's A Christmas Carol* (2019), as Ali Baba
- *The Day Shall Come* (2019), as Reza
- *Men in Black: International* (2019), as Vungus / Nasr / Bassam
- *What We Do in the Shadows* (2019), series, as Nandor the Relentless
- *Early Man* (2018), as Dino / Jurgend (voice) — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/early-man.md)
- *Sticky* (2018), series, as Jay
- *Doodlebugs* (2017), series, as Various (voice)
- *Britain Today Tonight* (2017), series, Creator
- *Prevenge* (2017), as Tom
- *Urban Myths* (2017), series, as Freddie Mercury
- *Counterfeit Cat* (2016), series, as Betty (voice)
- *Danger Mouse* (2015), series, as Dr. Loo-cifer / Isambard King Kong Brunel / Birch Badboy (voice)
- *SunTrap* (2015), series, as Woody
- *Thunderbirds Are Go!* (2015), series, as Brains / GDF Commander (voice), Brains / Dr. Meddings (voice)
- *Reggie & Thunderbirds: No Strings Attached* (2015), Actor
- *Asylum* (2015), series, as Rafael · Creator
- *Paddington* (2014), as Grant — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington.md)
- *The Last Sparks of Sundown* (2014), as Seven
- *Mohammed* (2014), as Mohammed
- *Scotland In A Day* (2014), Actor
- *Walter* (2014), as DS Mike Minorksy
- *Cuban Fury* (2014), as Bejan
- *A Quiet Night In* (2014), as Paul
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Paul — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Captcha* (2014), as Clarence
- *Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor* (2013), as Handles (voice)
- *Skins: Fire* (2013), as Jake Abbasai
- *Full English* (2012), series, Actor
- *Bad Sugar* (2012), as Simon
- *BBC Comedy Feeds* (2012), series, Writer
- *Them From That Thing* (2012), series, as Various
- *The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!* (2012), as Additional Voices (voice)
- *Sirens* (2011), series, as Rachid Mansaur
- *PhoneShop* (2010), series, as Razz Prince
- *The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret* (2010), series, as Bomb Disposal Officer
- *A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures* (2010), as Fluffy / Slim / Seagull / Robbie (voice)
- *Four Lions* (2010), as Waj — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/film/four-lions.md)
- *Facejacker* (2010), series, as Various Characters
- *Archer* (2009), series, as Fabian Kingsworth (voice), Rex (voice)
- *The Blue Tower* (2008), as Ashok
- *Headcases* (2008), series, as Various
- *Skins* (2007), series, as Jake Abbasi — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/skins.md)
- *Fonejacker* (2006), series, as The Fonejacker · Writer
- *Syriana* (2005), as Arash — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/syriana.md)
- *The Clap* (2005), as Marketing Man
- *The Government Inspector* (2005), as Qasim Hamdani
- *Robot Chicken* (2005), series, as King Arthur / Albus Dumbledore(voice)
- *A Line in the Sand* (2004), as Vahid
- *Disappeared* (2004), as Arto Fazouk
- *Spooks* (2002), series, as Sevilin Ozal — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md)
- *The American Embassy* (2002), series, as Ahmed Rallah
- *Judge John Deed* (2001), series, Actor
- *Murphy's Law* (2001), series, as Masud — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphys-law.md)
- *Comedy Lab* (1998), series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Kayvan Novak](https://film.one/media/person/119760/gallery-f172302a8205.jpg) Kayvan Novak — John Manard for Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Kayvan_Novak_%2854569132247%29.jpg/1280px-Kayvan_Novak_%2854569132247%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kayvan Novak at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2024](https://film.one/media/person/119760/gallery-5a0870501478.jpg) Kayvan Novak at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2024 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Kayvan_Novak_Photo_Op_GalaxyCon_Raleigh_2024.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Kayvan Novak at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2025](https://film.one/media/person/119760/gallery-5e58b087f5b9.jpg) Kayvan Novak at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2025 — Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Kayvan_Novak_Photo_Op_GalaxyCon_Richmond_2025.jpg/1280px-Kayvan_Novak_Photo_Op_GalaxyCon_Richmond_2025.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kayvan Novak at Nightmare Weekend Chicago in 2025](https://film.one/media/person/119760/gallery-26f89780eb50.jpg) Kayvan Novak at Nightmare Weekend Chicago in 2025 — Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Kayvan_Novak_Photo_Op_Nightmare_Weekend_Chicago_2025.jpg/1280px-Kayvan_Novak_Photo_Op_Nightmare_Weekend_Chicago_2025.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kayvan Novak](https://film.one/media/person/119760/gallery-684c01b22de1.jpg) Kayvan Novak — Image via TMDB
- ![Kayvan Novak](https://film.one/media/person/119760/gallery-c07d926bf6cb.jpg) Kayvan Novak — Image via TMDB
- ![SXSW 2019 - What We Do In The Shadows](https://film.one/media/person/119760/gallery-0ae712209841.jpg) SXSW 2019 - What We Do In The Shadows — Paul Hudson from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/SXSW_2019_-_What_We_Do_In_The_Shadows_%2833452406238%29.jpg/1280px-SXSW_2019_-_What_We_Do_In_The_Shadows_%2833452406238%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/kayvan-novak