Rami Malek has shared the shocking story of alleged racial profiling by police because of his appearance.

The Egyptian-American actor, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Cairo before he was born, revealed in a recent interview that he was once mistaken for a suspect in an alleged crime.

This is not the first time Rami Malek has spoken about the challenges of his legacy.

The Oscar-winning actor recounted a harrowing experience with the Los Angeles police.

"They threw me on the hood of a police car (Los Angeles Police Department) because someone robbed a liquor store and stole a woman's purse," Malek said in an interview with The Guardian. "They said (the thief) was of Latin origin and that you 'fit the description'."

Malek described the physical discomfort of the encounter, recalling, “I remember how hot that engine was; they must have been chasing each other there and it almost burned my hands.”

The actor added that his white friend stepped in to clarify his background, telling officers: “Actually, sir, he's Egyptian. Not Latin.”

Despite the serious nature of the situation, Malek was noticed laughing nervously as he was chained to the car. “I remember laughing in the police car, thinking, 'OK, this is a very unsafe situation. I might go to jail for something I didn't do.”

Malek did not provide additional details about when the incident occurred or elaborate further in the interview. The Los Angeles Police Department did not issue a statement addressing Malek's allegations.

Malek, who won an Oscar for the role of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody", he grew up in Los Angeles with his parents and twin brother Sami. As children of Egyptian immigrants, their Middle Eastern heritage was a defining part of their identity.

“It's hard enough to travel. Don't make it difficult,” Malek shared in an interview with The Guardianreflecting on the challenges he faced as he navigated his identity. "I started thinking, 'What's going on?' every time I tried to enter a country. There might be a moment these days. Then they'll say, 'No, that's the guy from 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' Let him pass.'”

Malek's sharp instincts were shaped by his upbringing in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, where he lived with his parents, Saida and Nelly, and his siblings. His parents, who were Coptic Orthodox, immigrated to the US in 1978 from Egypt. His older sister Yasmine is now an emergency physician, while his twin brother Sami shared his early family experiences as first-generation immigrants.

At home, the family spoke Arabic, and Malek only learned English when he was about five or six years old. "I didn't speak English until I was five or six," Malek said The Guardian. He jokingly recalled Sami returning from visiting his aunt in Detroit with only two English words: "yes" and "no." "I was furious that he was advertising this ability to be bilingual," Malek joked.

The Malek household was lively and culturally rich. They lived in a modest two-room apartment full of jokes, or "nakkit" in Arabic, and the tempting aromas of Egyptian cuisine. Malek's father, a butcher, taught the children how to properly prepare meat. "Very young, we carried knives, to the point where this happened..." he said, showing the scar between his thumb and forefinger.

Despite his global fame, Malek noted that experiences of otherness persist. "I don't know how you're going to get over it," he admitted. "I'm what's called 'white pass,' but I have very distinctive features and we definitely didn't fit in."

Malek explained how his background shaped his perspective and intuition. “We just had an unusual way of sensing people. … I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse. Sometimes I find it harmful. You can't help it,” he said.

For Malek, his legacy remains both a challenge and a source of pride, influencing his life experiences and shaping his journey to Hollywood and beyond.