there's no way I can answer that but properly in Arabic
I mean I'm gonna sound like a 10 year old kid I can mix it up okay let's do it
First I'd like to congratulate you on the success of Mr. Robot
-Thank you very much
This success is thanks to your fine performance playing
IT engineer, Elliott Anderson, who is a complex character
you lend it an emotional and philosophical depth. He is mentally and morally confused
invests his hacking abilities to aveng the dark
forces of the world, yet he's aware that what is doing is illegal
Sam Esmail compared him to the Arab youth, who revolted
Against the tyrants of their countries. Do you agree with him?
Yes. because there young people who have problems with Society, and they want to change that
That happened in Egypt with the youth in the revolution, and I see it here
in America, you know the culture here in America. people you know they're having
taken with you know the government power in our society the way they kind of
compromise us and there's guys like Elliott that want to do something about
They want to do something, and he has the ability with technology the way
they did in Egypt to you know reach out to the masses in a certain way and
and make a change
Achieving a lead role in a TV
series in Hollywood is very difficult, particularly
to An Arab actor. We are used to see arab actors doing
bad guys and terrorists. Here you're playing the role of
a professional IT engineer. How did you achieve that?
I've been disgruntled for a certain time about all the other roles and in Hollywood going
you know for Middle Eastern people were the rows of "terrorist" the terrorists and you
know it's sad it's had to see people going out for just this role to play the
villain and I always wanted to do something else
I wanted I wanted to just do a variety of roles and and show play some very
complicated characters and show that you know so show range I wanted to look back
it at my career and be proud of all the different things I got to do and playing
Elliot and mr. robot he's a guy who could be anyone in the world and the
fact that you know I'm Egyptian descent speaks to the changes that are happening
hopefully happening in Hollywood these days
Why do you think we don't see Arab actors in lead roles in Hollywood movies
and TV shows? regardless of its nature.
of a major studio so I can't tell you why but I don't know I hope that's
something that'll change one day I feel like the discussions been coming up and
some of the big blockbusters of last year and I feel like in time hopefully
hopefully people see that we're capable of anything I mean I think that will
happen and I hope to be a part of it somehow anta Lolita wat errata who Nancy
you were born and raised here in LA, but your were immigrated from Egypt
As an Arab actor, what are the challenges that you've faced
in the course of your professional journey here in Hollywood?
difficult to understand my mother has a hard time expressing their
yeah okay I had to speak in an Egyptian
My Dad and Mom from Egypt. My Mom from Cairo and my Dad from Upper Egypt
-Upper Egypt - Upper, Exactly
They live here and want their son
to work as a doctor or a lawyer, something like that
hard because you know Acting is not considered the greatest career to go
into from that standpoint but you know in America it's a different story
it's it's really a special career to be a part of and you know now that I've
achieved some success everybody seems very happy with that but it's difficult
it's it's it's a very very difficult business to break into and I'm very
fortunate that I've been able to just I've just kept going
Are they satisfied now and proud of you?
They are very happy, all of them are happy
How has the success of Mr. Robot impacted you professionally and personally?
Now people point at me in the street saying this is Mr. Robot, something like that
I am a little bit famous now. The show has been successful
People watch here it's something I'm very proud of and I
can't wait for it to make its way to the whole world. it's a very
Universal story and you know a young man that he's very relatable very
complicated and you know as I said before he wants to change things in the world
that is a I think a lot of people can identify with well he'll canonical dude
What are the reactions from Egypt towards your performance in the show?
yeah my family over there is really proud of me too I mean I know that it's
it's now airing over there so yeah the response has been great from from here
and over there and getting you know seeing my family over there get in touch
with me in a different way is a very special feeling as to share the lesson
Do you watch Arab films and TV shows? and how do you compare
Arab actors performance to Americans? and I want an honest answer without flattery
I watched Egyptian films when I was a kid
you know I grew up watching all of those films you know they're the they're the
of course The TV shows that are very broad and you know that it's a different
style of acting and it's very enjoyable and that's something you know every
family grows up with and it's fun to watch but they're you know there's some
really great filmmakers coming out of Egypt and Lebanon all over the Arab
world that are making really special films that are you know garnered the
attention of this country and Europe and and travel to film festivals but yeah
I'm trying to introduce my family to those really special independent movies
they come out of there and because it has you know a really great sensibility
that they may not have necessarily grown up with I'll treat one to share it we
Do you want to take part in these movies?
yes. of course yeah I would love to you know
I need to enhance my Arabic
you need to work on your Arabic..
A little bit. not the Arabya (Car in Arabic), the Arabic
-The Arabic Language - The language
The Arabya is in Egypt
The only Arab actor who made it in Hollywood was Omar Sharif, Do you want to follow his footstep?
When you look a head, what you want to achieve?
yeah I know I love Omar Sharif i I think he'd you know did somegreat is made some great films and
iconic films iconic role work with some is you know
our best directors and actors here in this country and yeah he's definitely
you know charted away a path for actors but you know I look at him as I do every
other actor that I respect you know someone to look up to someone you know
someone to appreciate you know their canon of work and yeah I am Who I am I
hope people recognize that for whatever that's worth
but yeah to say that I you know I grew up here I don't you know I I feel like I
have it easy in a certain way that I'm you know I'm part of part of this world
and this establishment in Hollywood and that makes it a bit easier for me help
Does Hollywood now offers better roles than
the ones you had done prior to Mr. Robot?
never had that problem maybe in the beginning you know I played a role as
you know I've done acero a Night at the Museum I did a terrorist once one time
on a show called over there but for the most part I've had the opportunity to
play a wide variety of roles it's something I appreciate and I'm very
thankful to have that but I've never looked at it in a way you know I thought
I've always thought I could play anything hostel auntie Liz how was he
A little bit
Rami, Thank you very much - you're welcome. Thank you
-until next time - Yes, next time