Zain Al Rafeea Biography: Age, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Movies, Ethnicity

Zain Al Rafeea is a Syrian-born actor who transitioned from a displaced street youth into an internationally acclaimed cinematic performer.

Initially gaining prominence through a chance discovery by a prominent Middle Eastern filmmaker, he bypassed conventional artistic pathways to anchor a critically lauded global masterpiece.

He is widely recognized for his raw, emotionally gripping lead performance as Zain El Hajj in the Oscar-nominated Lebanese drama Capernaum and for his subsequent appearance in Hollywood blockbusters.

Zain Al Rafeea
Wiki Facts & About Data
Name:	Zain Al Rafeea
Born:	October 10, 2004 (age 21 years old)
Place of Birth:	Daraa, Syria
Nationality:	Syrian
Height:	1.57m
Parents:	Mr. and Mrs. Al Rafeea
Occupation:	Actor
Net Worth:	$500,000

Early Life and Education

Zain Al Rafeea drew his first breaths on October 10, 2004, coming into existence in the city of Daraa, Syria. Reared by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Al Rafeea, alongside his siblings, his early childhood was severely disrupted by regional conflict, forcing his family to flee across the border to Lebanon in 2012.

Growing up as an undocumented refugee in the impoverished slums of Beirut, he was deprived of formal schooling and worked street delivery jobs from a young age to support his household. Following his cinematic breakout, he resettled with his family in Hammerfest, Norway, via the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, allowing him to attend formal school for the first time, learn to read and write, and complete his basic secondary credentials. He belongs to the Arab ethnic group and practices the Islamic faith.

Career

Zain Al Rafeea initiated his professional journey through an extraordinary stroke of fate in 2016 when Lebanese director Nadine Labaki discovered him on the streets of Beirut.

Lacking any prior training or acting background, his entry point into the industry was entirely unconventional, as he was cast based on the parallel hardships between his real life and The Script. His definitive breakthrough arrived when he starred in the 2018 realist masterpiece Capernaum, playing a neglected boy who takes legal action against his parents for bringing him into a world of suffering.

His intuitive, heavy-hearted performance won him instant international acclaim, capturing the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and earning him a Best Actor trophy at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.

Building upon this monumental exposure, he successfully transitioned into international mainstream cinema after relocating to Europe. He achieved a major industry milestone by securing a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing as a Mesopotamian villager in Chloe Zhao’s 2021 superhero epic Eternals.

This high-profile Hollywood involvement expanded his creative footprint from independent arthouse cinema into global franchise entertainment. Through his remarkable journey from an illiterate street laborer to an award-winning international performer, he has established an enduring legacy as a symbol of resilience and raw artistic authenticity.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @zainalrafeea

Personal Life

Zain Al Rafeea entered the world on October 10, 2004, and is currently 21 years old. He maintains a quiet personal life while adapting to his new life in Scandinavia, remaining single with no records indicating any past marriages or public romantic relationships. He does not have any children.

Away from film locations, he enjoys playing soccer in local Norwegian parks, focuses heavily on his ongoing language and academic studies, and remains a passionate advocate for refugee children’s welfare worldwide.

Filmography

• Capernaum (2018)
• Eternals (2021)

Net Worth

Zain Al Rafeea commands an estimated net worth of $500,000. His primary financial foundation is built upon international film salary contracts, global streaming residuals from his breakthrough independent feature, and appearance fees from Hollywood studio productions.

These core acting revenues are supplemented by private support funds allocated during his UN relocation, commercial media interviews, and long-term personal savings managed in Norway.