Tarik Andrew James Makarem was born and raised in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, a city steeped in history and culture. This British-Lebanese individual's journey began with a prestigious education at the Royal Conservatoire Scotland in 2005, where he won numerous awards, including the Laurence Olivier Bursary Award and the Duncan MacRae Memorial, for his exceptional skills in speaking Scottish dialects. This prestigious institution has produced talented individuals such as James McAvoy, David Tennant, and Sam Heughan, to name a few.
Tarik's heritage is a unique blend of English and Lebanese cultures, which has undoubtedly influenced his acting style and approach to his craft. His early career saw him take on leading guest roles in various television series, including the critically acclaimed BBC sci-fi hit Torchwood III in 2009. The following year, he appeared in period dramas such as ITV's Foyles War and the feature film Anton Chekhov's The Duel, alongside the talented Andrew Scott.
Tarik's most notable role to date is that of Nikhil Sharma in the long-running ITV series Emmerdale, which earned the show several prestigious awards, including the BAFTA Best Serial Drama in 2017 and the National TV Award Best Continuing Drama in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He left the series in 2016 after over 620 episodes.
In 2016, Tarik joined the cast of the BAFTA-winning drama Casualty, playing the leading role of Dr. Sebastian "Seb" Grayling alongside William Beck. This critically acclaimed series went on to win the Best Drama award at the National Television Awards in 2017, beating out other popular shows such as The Night Manager and Game of Thrones.
Tarik has also had a successful career in theatre, taking on various roles throughout his career. In 2022, he joined the cast of the BBC One and Showtime USA series We Hunt Together, playing the lead guest role of James O'Neill. This talented individual has continued to work with producer Alex Lamb on this project.
In 2025, Tarik will take on the lead role of Jesus of Nazareth in the highly anticipated historical drama Jesus Crown of Thorns. Produced by Nutopia, a production company that won three Emmy Awards in 2024 for its work on the documentary series "African Queens," this series chronicles Jesus' life against the backdrop of political turmoil and brutality. The first season of this critically acclaimed series will premiere on FOX in the USA.
