Top 40 Mena Massoud Quotes

We’ve got to celebrate all diverse artists and actors and ‘Aladdin’ does that really well.

When we represent all cultures with sensitivity and truth, we foster a society that supports all people.

I try to support all the women in my life. So absolutely, Aladdin tries to do that as well, and rightfully – rightfully so.

It’s a funny thing that’s happening online. The Middle Easterners want ‘Aladdin’ to be a Middle Eastern story, and the Indians want ‘Aladdin’ to be an Indian story. The truth is, it’s really a folk tale from the 1800s, and Agrabah is a fictional place that’s a culmination of India and Asia and the Middle East.

I went to schools that had a significantly large Caucasian population and I feel very fortunate because I was able to compare that perspective with my family’s. It allowed me to create a wider world view on things.

I don’t like the word ‘vegan’ on its own, and the reason I started Evolving Vegan, is because the people associated with that word can be very militant.

I grew up loving okra.

We’ve got to be able to get to a point where we represent everybody equally.

I went through it in high school. It’s like, ‘Who am I? Am I good enough? Is my background good enough? I know I’m different, but do I have a voice?’

You never know how things will work out.

Growing up in a Mediterranean household ruined my tastebuds a little bit because my mom, my sisters, and my aunt were all great cooks, and ever since I went plant-based, I’ve been missing a little bit of that Mediterranean affection.

We don’t tell Canadian stories enough.

I think since ‘Aladdin’ my expectations for things releasing and what they’re going to do in my career, I’ve had to really pull them back.

We immigrated when I was 3 1/2 years old, to Toronto. But I’m still very, very close to my culture and – back home in Egypt.

A good learner learns from everything!

My parents knew about the story of Aladdin far before the animation film. It’s a folk tale that is very prevalent in Egypt.

I would wish we would get to a place of colour-blind casting, where it didn’t matter what colour skin you are, where you came from, anybody could play anybody and we didn’t judge it.

I have two older sisters.

Actions speak louder than words, and the best way to set an example is to just go out and do a good job.

We’re – we’re Coptic Christian.

I think it’s time we start chipping away at the stereotypes in Hollywood about the Middle East, and the Arab World, because it’s one of the most beautiful regions in the world.

I grew up speaking Arabic at home.

You’ve got to have confidence that the universe is working out for you.

Art is very subjective and having to put numbers on it seems counterintuitive.

I’ve always envisioned working with the best directors in the world.

When we uplift artists who reflect diverse perspectives their stories not only tell us how people view others, but how they view themselves.

How often do we get to go to the biggest cinemas in the world and see diverse actors make up the majority of the cast?

My first professional gig was on a show called ‘Nikita,’ and I played Al Qaeda No. 2. At that time I had to take those roles because I just wanted to get my foot in the door.

I shocked my parents with a lot of things, whether it was becoming an actor or when I was dating someone outside the Egyptian community or when I moved away from home before getting married.

I always view auditions as the first and last time I’ll ever do a character, so that’s how I like to see the joy in it. Assuming I don’t ever book this, I get to play this character this one time and give it my all because I’ll never play it again.

Canada’s a small market. I think sometimes we do too much of supporting American stories in Hollywood and not enough supporting our own.

I think the first time I watched ‘Aladdin’ was when I was still in Egypt, because I was born in Cairo.

I get really quiet when I’m nervous. I don’t freak out.

My wish would be for positive representation and more diversity coming from Hollywood.

Ryerson helped me because I was around acting all the time. It was pretty much all I thought about, even if I didn’t really get to practice every day; I definitely thought about it. Actually a lot of it was just sitting and watching, especially in my last year, but I think a good actor learns from everything.

I think Middle Eastern hair is very resilient.

I put in my time, I worked hard and I followed my dreams.

Growing up, I didn’t see anybody with my skin color or my background. I didn’t know it was possible to have a Middle Eastern actor in a lead role.

I grew up not really seeing a lot of leads in the industry that weren’t like – and I look up to these people – but like Ryan Gosling and Christian Bale.

I went to theater school in Toronto for four years and grew up around actors, and things like headshots could cost you from $500 to $1,000. That can be a big deal for a struggling artist.