Actor Khaled tells Kamal Soltan about his life as an actor, and how his legal background has helped him fit into the role Khaled was born in Alexandria in 1963, obtained a BA in law from Cairo University in 1985, then studied film direction at the Academy of Arts, from where he graduated in 1993. He worked as a lawyer for a time before being hired as an assistant director by a succession of prominent directors, including Khairi Bishara, Mohamed Khan and Raafat El-Mihi. He also worked as a director for several state-owned television channels. 's acting career, however, began much earlier. He began performing in college and was a founder of the Egyptian Society of Theatre Amateurs. In 1989 he created the Free Theatre Movement, which boasted among its members Khaled Saleh, Fathi Abdel-Wahab, Mohamed Heneidi and Mohamed Shuman. He also wrote and directed for the theatre, winning two Taymur Awards for Theatrical Creativity in 1991. After graduating from law school he took jobs as a lawyer and a journalist. A small role in the American television film Legend of the Last Tomb raised his hopes for a while, but it was to be years before his first real break. He was 35 when Syrian director Anwar Al-Qawadri selected him to play Gamal Abdel-Nasser in a feature film that bombed at the box office. The critics, however, were kind to and impressed with his performance, and he went on to play several successful roles in cinema and television. For the past two years, has worked almost exclusively in film, but he is coming back to the small screen with the Qanun Al-Maraghi (The Maraghi Law ) series, which will be shown later this year. Interestingly, his legal studies and practice are relevant to his part in this television show. "I play the character of Hesham El-Maraghi, a famous but opportunistic lawyer," says. "This lawyer accepts any case that comes his way, regardless of whether the person he's defending is innocent or not. But he is married to a woman with a strong sense of morality. She too is a lawyer, and they ended up locking horns in a power struggle that becomes a bit of a public affair. "The show addresses a number of questions, such as: Why do men cheat on their wives? At what point is it hard to forgive? And is society an accomplice in hypocrisy?" The show is directed by Abdel-Hamid and produced by Mahmoud Baraka. It is written by a workshop of artists, including Nadine Shams, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Farid, with the scriptwriter Azza Shalabi acting as supervisor. The cast includes Ghada Abdel-Razeq, Moufid Ashur, Rashwan Tawfiq, Nour Qadri and Malak Qura. "The fact that I was a lawyer helped me, of course," says. "My father is a well-known lawyer too, and I often consulted him about some aspects of the character. I also played a lawyer in Uyun wa Ramad [Eyes and Ashes] two years ago. My legal background helps me put things in perspective. For example, when I do the character of a criminal, I do it on the assumption that only one aspect of the personality is evil, not the entire personality." is not bothered by the fact that fame came to him late in his career. "There is a special sweetness to stardom at 40, because it has come only after a lot of work. I was able to achieve my potential as an actor, director, writer, and also a composer -- I composed the music for my stage plays with the Movement. So I believe my decisions and choices at this age are based on good judgement." After the Gamal Abdel-Nasser film, had every reason to expect a few big parts to come his way. But that didn't happen. "There is a problem here [in Egypt]," he says. "We don't have the agencies that go out and try to locate and promote talent. If there is a difference between 1989 and now, it is that people still think a lot of me as an actor. After I played Gamal-Abdel Nasser, I waited at home for two years for the phone to ring. In the end I was forced to take on small parts." But eventually things turned around, and found himself playing the part of a homosexual journalist, Hatem Rashid, in the blockbuster Yacoubian Building. "This was a turning point for me. I have to say that I was fascinated by the part even as I read the script, and I had no problem accepting it. At the same time I do understand why other actors didn't want to play that part. I have been blessed with praise by the public and critics, but I can't repeat this part, since it is very special. I agreed to do the part because I had confidence in my fans. My features and my previous roles all make it clear that I am heterosexual, so there was nothing to scare me away from the role. Although some Arab countries have banned the film, we in Egypt, have a longer history of art and our public can tell the difference. "This wasn't the first gamble I took in my career. Gamal Abdel-Nasser was a gamble too, and so was the stage play Al-Laeb fil Demagh [Mind Games] . " Why are so many stage actors deserting the theatre for film? "I will only speak for myself," says. "I have taken lead roles on the theatre, and directed some. Still, I remained known only to theatre-goers, who are a small part of the public. When the opportunity came for me to work in film I couldn't turn my back on it. But I still love the theatre and owe it a lot of my success. I am therefore ready to go back to the theatre if I can find a producer who would be ready to work with me. I have several works ready to go, just like the ones I presented at the Hanager with Hoda Wasfi, who has helped me so much over the years. In short, the theatre is my home, and I cannot do without it." spends some of his spare time on the Internet. He has a blog on which he posts his own poetry and essays. "It's a great way of communicating with my fans," he says. Films soon to be released include: Al-Farah (The Wedding) using the same cast as Cabaret; Adrenaline, in which he is a police investigator; and Al-Saffah (The Serial Killer ), for which wrote the screenplay.
