26 only four came from Sydney. So I was surrounded by very different people. Artists. At first the only thing I thought I had in common with them was acting, but they have become my best friends for life. NIDA is really a “Life Training” school. For three years you study the craft of acting, which essentially is a study of humanity. And in order to understand characters you first have to understand yourself. So NIDA holds up a mirror to you for three years – and you quickly see the good and the bad. You start to change the way you walk, talk and express yourself. It’s very transformational. Very hard and confronting at times but I wouldn’t take it back for a second.
I’ve ever had. It was exhilarating and fun. Getting chased by aliens and getting paid for it!
You played Tarek, the lead character in Cedar Boys, in 2008. Do you think this film helped to raise awareness of issues that face young people in the Lebanese-Australian community? I do. This script first came my way after I graduated NIDA. I said “no” to it initially because I was cautious about playing characters of middle eastern descent when I had just spent three years trying to show that I Les with Vin Diesel Your first film role was in the sci-fi feature Pitch Black, alongside Vin Diesel. What was it like to be part of such a big Hollywood production? It was very exciting. It was my first acting job. I had no idea what I was doing and had to learn very quickly. It still is the most memorable experience could be more diverse. But the director, Serhat Caradee really wanted me on board, and so we had a few chats and I really liked that he wanted Tarek to be less of a stereotype, and more of a young man who is doing the best he can with what life has dealt him. A lot of young Middle Eastern guys saw themselves or people they know reflected in some of the characters. At the same time, I also think we should start showing