Canadian B次元官网网址淎laddinB次元官网网址� star Mena Massoud says his wild carpet ride to movie stardom has been bewildering, and humbling.
But the affable, Toronto-bred actor says itB次元官网网址檚 just the beginning of what he hopes is a long career that will include championing homegrown productions and supporting talent from a diverse range of racial backgrounds.
The Egyptian-born Massoud was relatively unknown before snagging the lead role in the live-action Disney remake of the animated childrenB次元官网网址檚 tale in theatres now.
He says he B次元官网网址渓ived in a closetB次元官网网址� in a friendB次元官网网址檚 apartment to save money for a few months when he moved to Los Angeles two and a half years ago, until he booked a role on the Amazon episodic thriller B次元官网网址滼ack Ryan,B次元官网网址� which he shot in Montreal.
Now the 27-year-old finds himself in a big-budget feature helmed by U.K. director Guy Ritchie and sharing top billing with industry veteran Will Smith, who plays the wise-cracking, blue-tinted Genie.
Massoud seized on the revampB次元官网网址檚 mission to feature a diverse cast and a more empowered female heroine, a headstrong Princess Jasmine with political aspirations, played by Naomi Scott.
HeB次元官网网址檚 also mindful of an impressionable young audience that will be drawn to this film, boasting about a cast that includes actors with heritage from Tunisia, India, Turkey and Iran.
B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址楢laddinB次元官网网址� was one of the few things that I watched as a kid where I was like, B次元官网网址極h, that guy looks like me and has a similar culture to mine,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Massoud says in a whirlwind round of interviews in Toronto on Thursday.
B次元官网网址淚 mean, my first role, my first ACTRA gig where I got to join the union was B次元官网网址楢l Qaeda No. 2B次元官网网址� on a show called B次元官网网址楴ikita.B次元官网网址� So itB次元官网网址檚 been a struggle for people of colour and I donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 enough to celebrate one group of minorities. WeB次元官网网址檝e got to celebrate all diverse artists and actors and B次元官网网址楢laddinB次元官网网址� does that really well.B次元官网网址�
Wish granted. Tickets are now available for DisneyB次元官网网址檚 , in theaters May 24.
B次元官网网址� DisneyB次元官网网址檚 Aladdin (@disneyaladdin)
He admits it was challenging on many fronts to play a rakish thief who darts through crowded markets by leaping from roof tops while singing his heart out.
In addition to acting, singing and dancing, Massoud says he learned to scuba dive, juggle, ride a camel and perfect basic parkour moves including somersaults, cartwheels, flips and slides.
And then there was the day he was greeted on set with news he needed to learn to play the oud, a classical Middle Eastern string instrument.
B次元官网网址淎nd I was like, B次元官网网址榃hat?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he recalls.
B次元官网网址淎nd then B次元官网网址� on the day-of, Guy was like, B次元官网网址榊ou know what? WeB次元官网网址檙e actually going to get Naomi to play it because it makes more sense if Jasmine plays it.B次元官网网址� So thatB次元官网网址檚 show business for you.B次元官网网址�
Such demands are all in service of a long-term career for Massoud, who says heB次元官网网址檚 dreamed of becoming an actor since he was a kid, even dropping out of a neuroscience program to study theatre at Ryerson University.
But he also has an eye on producing films through his own production company, and promoting a diverse talent pool in Toronto through a project he calls the EDA Foundation, or the Ethnically Diverse Artists Foundation.
Its goal is B次元官网网址漷o support and really make the path easier for ethnically diverse artists in Toronto,B次元官网网址� he says.
Then thereB次元官网网址檚 Evolving Vegan, a company he founded to promote veganism through an IGTV series currently on Instagram. There are also plans for a book and a travelling culinary TV series that would highlight more than 50 vegan and vegetarian establishments in 10 different cities across North America.
B次元官网网址淚t would kind of be like Anthony Bourdain, but vegan-style,B次元官网网址� he explains.
Of course, thereB次元官网网址檚 more on the acting horizon, too.
Next, Massoud heads to North Carolina to star opposite Abigail Spencer in the Hulu drama B次元官网网址淩eprisal,B次元官网网址� which he calls: B次元官网网址渧ery different, very dark and dramatic.B次元官网网址�
Amid all his interests, Massoud insists acting is his primary passion.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always envisioned working with the best directors in the world,B次元官网网址� he says, citing Christoph Waltz as inspiration.
B次元官网网址淐hristoph Waltz, you know, blew up in Hollywood at a very old age. He won two Oscars back-to-back so I thought, B次元官网网址榊ou know what? Even if it happens when IB次元官网网址檓 50, thatB次元官网网址檚 fine.B次元官网网址� You know, IB次元官网网址檒l always keep going, always keep trying.
B次元官网网址淭o have (B次元官网网址楢laddinB次元官网网址�) happen now is a blessing.B次元官网网址�
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Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press
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