I love to be with my son and my grandchildren, like normal people. I have no particular idea of what I represent to other people. It's very mysterious to me. I don't understand it.

I decided I didn't want to be a slave to any passion any more except for my work, i had too many passions - bridge, horses, gambling. I want to live a different kind of life, be with my family more because I didn't give them enough time.

They chose me for Lawrence of Arabia because I spoke English, had black hair, black eyes and a moustache. It was all luck.

I don't watch any films. Billy Elliot is the only film I've seen in the last 25 years. Oh, and ET. Both of which I loved!

The reason it has relevance is because I, as a popular Arab personality - the Arab people like me and respect me - thought it was time for me to make an ever so tiny statement about what I thought about this whole thing.

This character in the film, these things that he says which sound like advice and wise things, they are very common for Orientals. It's all the tradition.

I didn't want to be a slave to any passion anymore. I gave up card playing altogether, even bridge and gambling - more or less. It took me a few years to get out of it.