Aquaman lookalike ‘entertained’ by attention
A CAPE Town freelance animator who bears a striking resemblance to actor Jason Momoa, has been turning heads in the Mother City.
But Saudiq Parker says he does not see the resemblance, despite his friends and family teasing him about their similar features.
“Since the movie, Justice League, was released recently, many people have been comparing us. The only similarity, I guess, is that we both have long hair, scars near our eyes and we love the water. Jason played Aquaman (the DC Comics character) and I love surfing,” said Parker, 32, of Goodwood.
While Momoa got his scar from being slashed in the face with a broken beer glass by a man in an altercation, Parker said his was compliments of his sister.
“I was 12 years old when my younger sister, while playing baseball, accidentally hit me in the eye with the bat. I was waiting behind her for the catch and she hit me instead of the ball.
“This left me with a scar on my left eye. Then last month, the same sister decided it would be cool to do the ‘slit’ on my eyebrow, like Jason’s, and she used a shaving machine to create the slit.
“After doing this, I posted a picture on Facebook and Instagram, and hundreds of young women and single mothers from all over the world began messaging me.”
The questions, he said, ranged from “Are you Aquaman?” to “Are you single?”
Asked how he felt about the attention, Parker said: “It’s quite entertaining, actually. I don’t mind the attention I am getting from his fans because I have my own identity. I do giggle to myself when people stare at me or ask if I am Aquaman.”
Parker said it often took him days to go through his social media messages.
“I’m quite a social guy, so I generally respond or acknowledge their messages.”
Parker, who is single, said someone had put a “deal on the table” for him to attend Comic-Con in Amsterdam, an event which showcases stars from TV, film and comics.
“I’m just waiting for confirmation.” He said he would not mind meeting Momoa, who seemed like a “pretty cool guy”.
Parker, who also has a trident tattoo on his left hand (middle finger), is no stranger to the cameras.
He played an extra in the Bollywood movie, Blood Money, starring Kunal Khemu and Amrita Puri, which was filmed in Cape Town in 2012.