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.

There are lots of wonderful old Italian actors. You don't need to take an Egyptian to play an Italian actor.

Working gets in the way of living.

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.

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.

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.