From the deserts to F1 circuit – this ‘extra topping’ added a unique shine to the big screen. “We’re all co-actors. Each person, even the ones in the shadows, add their own sheen to the final masterpiece,” says Yousuf al Housni who played an ‘extra’ in the latest Hollywood blockbuster F1

Muscat – In anything grand we often forget the ‘extras’… Extra cheese always adds more flavour to pizza, extra leg space adds comfort in a long flight and an extra rose in a bouquet adds an extra smile from one’s beloved.

Extras add life and base to grandeur. The same note goes to the extra actors in movies. They act as the foundation of every war, disaster or romance on the silver screen. Without extras, even the best frames or best methodical acts would fall apart. Such is the story of a ‘junior’ actor from Oman, Yousuf al Housni.

Movies are a world of glamour and power. People feel proud to be part of it in some small way. Yet there are many like the extras who feel apprehensive to say that. Often people ridicule or pass sly smirks.

Yet for Omani actor Yousuf al Housni, being an extra was an honour — vocal and bold in stating that every participation in a film, big or small, deserves recognition. “It’s not about the size of the role,” he says, “it’s about the sincerity of the effort. I enjoy the process more than the appearance.”

Recently, Yousuf made his appearance in the latest Hollywood blockbuster F1 – the Brad Pitt-led Formula One film – currently screening in cinemas worldwide. This marks his second appearance in a major international production following his earlier role in the sci-fi epic Dune 2 in 2024.

Perseverance, patience

The few seconds of presence in these globally celebrated films have transformed Yousuf — not just as an actor, but as a human being. “What I learned on those sets is beyond cinema — it’s about patience, endurance, and self-respect,” he reflects.

One of his toughest experiences was shooting Dune 2 in the scorching desert of Abu Dhabi, where the mercury touched 40 degrees Celsius.

“We were around 600 people, including 30 extras from Egypt, Afghanistan and Syria. I was one of the 30 selected extras portraying soldiers of Javier Bardem’s character,” he disclosed.

Every extra wore a three-layered costume weighing over 5kg, and many also carried props — guns and gear weighing up to 10kg. The walk across the dunes was exhausting, and the discipline was almost military.

“You can’t even visit the restroom easily. To undress and redress was too daunting a task,” he recalls. The patience was just as demanding — “we’d wait for hours just for a one-second shot.” Sometimes, the shoot demanded such effort that people fell ill.

“It was challenging but we continued with the processes,” Yousuf shared. When one extra fell seriously ill, the production crew needed a last-minute replacement. And Yousuf was chosen to step in and play an elderly man.

“I was rushed into makeup and given the part. When I finished the shot, the whole unit clapped for me,” he says. “Actors like Timothy Chalamet, Javier Bardem and Zendaya — they hugged the crew at the end. But what impressed me most was director Denis Villeneuve. Calm, focused — like a painter lost in his Muse and canvas.”

No role is small

Yousuf’s F1 shoot, in contrast, was more relaxed. Shot over five days, Yousuf appeared as a VIP guest from Oman — a moment of great personal pride. “I studied about F1 races before the shoot. Even as an extra, I wanted to be prepared,” he smiles. “No role is small.”

Two more Hollywood films featuring Yousuf are expected to release by the end of the year. For Yousuf, acting is both craft and lifestyle. “Fitness is crucial — physically, mentally and spiritually,” he says. “If you’re slow or inattentive, you get replaced; and I never want that.”

He continues to hone his skills by attending workshops in Oman and Abu Dhabi and has registered with international casting agencies. He was also featured in an Abu Dhabi Police cybersecurity awareness film, portraying a hacker — a role far from his spiritual, disciplined real-life self. “It was challenging to play someone so opposite to myself,” he laughs.

Yousuf began his acting journey in 2013 as a student at the College of Applied Sciences in Salalah, pursuing Management Studies and Accounting. As a boy, Yousuf was fascinated by action, wrestling, and martial arts — drawn to the world of Van Damme, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

In 2017, he co-founded a YouTube channel with friends and began producing, writing, and acting in short films. His creations, Blood and Silent, earned accolades among film festivals and his community. He was also active in theatre, but over time realised he needed to study acting more deeply. Yousuf is not only an actor but also a director and his short film Empty had bagged three awards globally.

‘Why I chose films’

“I began diving into acting techniques and film studies. I didn’t just want to be an actor — I wanted to understand everything about cinema.” That passion led him to examine the technical aspects of filmmaking, differentiating the nuances between stage and screen. “Theatre taught me to be subtle, while films demanded focus and detail. I realised I couldn’t do all media simultaneously — so, I chose films.”

Sometimes, fate throws open unexpected doors. During the pandemic, Yousuf had got a surprise Instagram message from a US-based director working on a film titled Alien Sniperess. The filmmaker needed a 30-second clip of a man stuck at home as his family is attacked by aliens. “He sent the storyboard and lines. I created the scene in my garage with ketchup as blood. When the film released in the US, I saw my name in the credits as a supporting actor and second unit director. I was overwhelmed with joy”, he said.

Yousuf has also been active in the Scouts movement, and remains passionate about gym workouts, martial arts and fitness. His favourite actor is Christian Bale — “not just for Batman, but for his ability to become any character, physically and mentally.”

He also admires Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt, with Fight Club being a long-time inspiration. In terms of directors, his favourites include Christopher Nolan and James Gunn. “Their visuals make me believe the punches, blood and explosions are real. That’s the dedication I aim for.”

One-inch barriers of subtitles

Yousuf still remembers watching a show The Cobsy Show in Grade 3. “I didn’t understand the language — I just read subtitles. But then I realised cinema transcends language. Emotions don’t need translation.” This resonates with what Bong Joon-ho famously said at the Oscars -14x] “Once you overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles, you’ll discover amazing films.” Yousuf understood that truth long before it became a quote.

He insists that on a shoot with celebrities, one doesn’t need to show that he is fan but indeed a co-actor. “We’re all co-actors. Each person, even the ones in the shadows, add their own sheen to the final masterpiece,” he said.

With conviction in his voice, he adds, “I want to be the first Omani actor in a major international role. I want to direct, produce, and keep growing. I want to win an Oscar — not for fame, but to prove that hard work, silence, skills, knowledge, focus and sincerity can move mountains and create mesmerising storyboards.”

For Yousuf al Housni, the extra is never just extra — it’s the heartbeat of the scene.

(Pictures by VK Shafeer)