Playing terrorist: The Arab Actor’s Ghetto
| October 5th, 2007From Ezra:
The undisputed champion of the Arab terrorist role is Sayed Badreya. The burly, bearded Egyptian-born actor has played an array of menacing characters in a 20-year Hollywood career. He’ll appear with Robert Downey Jr. in next year’s “Iron Man” as an Arab arms dealer who kidnaps the hero. In 2003, he and Issawi made a short film called “T for Terrorist” in which an Arab actor, frustrated with endless terrorist roles, takes over a movie set at gunpoint.
Badreya recalls when he first arrived in Hollywood in 1986. “I couldn’t work. I was too handsome,” he laughs. “So I put on some weight and grew a beard, and suddenly I was working every day and playing the angry Arab.”
October 5th, 2007 at 11:29 am
That’s great! Finally, Hollywood is looking for overweight actors.
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October 5th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Damnit, reg-only article. Sounded interesting to read more of.
@Decnavda
Hollywood has always had a place for fat actors, as long as you’re supposed to hate or laugh at them.
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