Capturing the essence of love and identity on-screen is no easy feat, but actor Bilal Hasna does so with remarkable poignancy in the new, celebrated film Layla. In the film, Hasna portrays the titular character, a British-Palestinian, non-binary drag performer navigating the complexities of first love in modern-day London – aptly described as a contemporary, queer take on Romeo and Juliet with a fresh, necessary twist that feels essential in today’s cinematic landscape. 

“Layla is about two very different sides of the queer scene in London,” Hasna explains. “The Capulets are Layla and their queer commune, all of whom are either trans or non-binary people of color, who are deeply connected to the underground scene in London. And [Layla’s love interest] Max is a Montague, a white, cis-gendered marketing executive, who enjoys the more mainstream aspects of queer culture and has never really met anyone like Layla before. “ The actor elaborates, “However, just like in Shakespeare’s original play, the film explores the universal themes of desire, identity, communication–and lack thereof–that apply to any and every romance, despite the context.”

Given the film’s thematic significance and ambitious narrative, Hasna had two key elements he needed to develop when stepping into the role — with the first being the fact that Layla is a skilled drag performer. Hasna divulges, “I’d never done drag properly before, so I remember spending a couple of weeks wearing heels whenever I cooked dinner. I also have a lot of videos on my phone of me looking like a twit in my bedroom, practicing the various dance routines Layla does in the film.” The actor adds, “In the original script, Layla had five drag performances, and [Layla’s writer and director Amrou Al-Kadhi] and I worked closely to construct them together – Layla’s final performance was choreographed by the amazing Palestinian choreographer Tarek Khwiss.”

The second key aspect of the film is the tangible connection between its two leads. And with the story drawing heavy parallels to Romeo and Juliet, chemistry is something extremely crucial to the plot. Fortunately, time, talent, and comfort helped the film reach its full potential. “We had about a week’s worth of rehearsal time before shooting, which was great and rare,” Hasna tells us. “[Louis Greatorex] and I cherished this. We used it to become comfortable with each other and to trace the complicated journey that Layla and Max go on in the show. We were able to rehearse the majority of the scenes in this film, which meant that in the often hectic rush of the filming day, we had a mutual language around scenes to build on.”

Earlier this year, the film covered plenty of ground as it held its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and later opened the BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, receiving a warm reception at both prestigious events. For Hasna, seeing the film embraced by audiences at these festivals was a deeply gratifying experience, affirming the hard work and passion poured into the project. “Going to Sundance and opening Flare were definitely two of my highlights this year,” the actor admits. “To travel to Utah and premiere the film alongside such cultural juggernauts in the filmmaking world was a total privilege. And to have the film premiere at the Egyptian theatre specifically felt serendipitous. Flare was extra special for the team, as it was through the Flare mentorship scheme that Amrou and the producer Savannah of this film met.” 

Hasna’s leading performance in Layla has already been meticulously praised for its exuberance and depth – offering moviegoers a nuanced presentation of this now-infamous character. And on a personal note, Hasna notes, “I think what drew me to the character most was this idea of code-switching. Layla very rarely says what they feel in this film. They are constantly altering their behavior to meet the perceived demands and expectations of those around them. It is only by the end of the film that they are able to harness the various facets of their identity in a way that feels wholly truthful and authentic to them.”

Hasna then makes a point to reiterate that Layla as a character is a true fighter who refuses to be held back by any past traumas they’ve endured. “I was also keen for Layla to not be understood solely as a victim.” Hasna elaborates, “They lie in this film, and they fabricate certain aspects of their own trauma. Whilst that behavior stems from the internalization of certain prejudices against them, I was keen to push at the complexity and nuance underpinning that internalization process.”

Working with rookie filmmaker Al-Kadhi on their directorial debut also served as a compelling draw for the nuanced title, introducing a relevant perspective that ultimately enriched the viewing experience. So, as the film unfolds, Al-Kadhi’s vision and Hasna’s palpable commitment to the role generate a powerful synergy that shines through in the final product. However, the filmmaker’s desire to work alongside others in the LGBTQIA+ community took the film’s authenticity to the next level. 

The actor notes, “As a writer/director who themselves are a British-Arab drag queen, Amrou’s passion and intensely hard work to bring this story to life was clear throughout the process. It felt great to know that this was a story being told by someone for whom it meant so much. And, more widely, it was wonderful to see that the world of the film was reflected by its crew; so many of our heads of department were part of the LGBTQIA+ community, so many of our supporting artists were real drag queens, and so many of our cast were members of the scene in London too.” Hasna concludes, “This really is a film made by the community across every level, and I’m so proud to be part of that.”

Beyond Layla, Hasna’s career has consisted of a diverse array of roles from his starring role in the Disney+ series Extraordinary to his co-lead in Amazon Prime Video’s Dead Hot. In Extraordinary, Hasna plays Kash, a character in a world where everyone develops a superpower at the age of 18. Kash, who can rewind time, contributes a unique dynamic to the series with his aspirations of becoming a serious superhero – all through the lens of a fun, light-hearted take on the superhero genre. In Dead Hot, Hasna stars as Elliot, a young man grappling with the mysterious disappearance of his first love, Peter. Set in present-day Liverpool, the series follows Elliot and his best friend Jess as they navigate grief and hedonism, all while unraveling a complex mystery filled with unexpected twists along the way. 

Through these unpredictable roles that range in genre or stylistic influences, Hasna has shown a remarkable ability to choose projects that resonate on a personal level while still pushing the actor to grow. “Riz Ahmed has a ‘representation scale’ for roles that I think is so great, and one that I use all the time when deciding what project to take on.” The actor continues, “The first tier are roles that are racial stereotypes — insensitive and poorly written. The second tier is roles that are written with sensitivity and authenticity with regard to race or ethnicity. I consider Layla to be one of those roles. And the third are roles that are not defined in any way by race. I feel like my work has also allowed me to play these kinds of roles too — like Kash in Extraordinary, or Elliot in Dead Hot. I am most interested in telling authentic stories about people who, whether from my background or not, I find interesting, unique, and could feasibly play.”

In addition to the rising star’s recent on-screen work, Hasna has also ventured into voice acting, lending a voice to a key character in the upcoming animation The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim. Set 183 years before the events of the original trilogy, the animated film tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, a legendary king of Rohan, and his family as they defend their kingdom against an army of Dunlendings. Regarding his newfound presence in a globally celebrated franchise, the actor admits, “It was a totally new experience, doing voiceover work for an anime. You start by recording your lines without any film to sync it to. And then, slowly but surely, every time you come in, the film is further along the process of being built. The work that went to create this film is almost unfathomable; the attention to detail is magnificent, and I can’t wait for the world to see it. I feel very lucky to be part of a franchise that means so much to so many people around the world.”

Outside of his trek into the Lord of the Rings universe, Hasna still has plenty of other projects coming in 2025, including the family-friendly Christmas Karma alongside Eva Longoria, Kunal Nayyar, and Hugh Bonneville – serving as a revamped version of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol set in a vibrant London backdrop. Additionally, the buzz-worthy actor is set to appear in an episode of the acclaimed anthology series Black Mirror, which continues to push the boundaries of storytelling with its thought-provoking narratives. Opening up about this next chapter, Hasna explains, “I’m so excited for the projects I’ve filmed this year to come out, as I am playing very different characters in each of them. From a tech analyst to a British-Indian businessman in the 1980s, I’ve been so grateful for the variety of roles I’ve been able to play.”

That being said, when it comes to the tantalizing potential surrounding future projects, there are still a few roles he hopes to tackle during the next phase of his expansive career. “I’d love to play a villain. Someone the audience has to despise,” he admits. “I think I’ve played characters intended to be pretty likable until now, and I’d love to try my hand at something a little bit cruel!”