1 00:00:02,750 --> 00:00:03,690 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:04,750 --> 00:00:07,190 Speaker 2: Hey, Mina, thanks for joining me. Hey, Michael. 3 00:00:07,230 --> 00:00:08,130 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me, man. 4 00:00:08,550 --> 00:00:11,990 Speaker 1: Mina Massoud, actor who leaped on the scene back in 5 00:00:11,990 --> 00:00:14,370 Speaker 1: 2019 with the movie Aladdin and has had roles in 6 00:00:14,430 --> 00:00:18,350 Speaker 1: other prominent films as well, including Jack Ryan and the rom-com. 7 00:00:18,810 --> 00:00:20,770 Speaker 2: The Royal Treatment, I should say, TV series as well. 8 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,020 Speaker 1: And you are, of course, the lead now in Daniel 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:26,779 Speaker 1: and the Fiery Furnace, which follows the biblical story of 10 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:30,540 Speaker 1: Daniel and his courageous actions under King Nebuchadnezzar. Mina, of 11 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,850 Speaker 1: all the roles you've played, What drew you to Daniel 12 00:00:33,890 --> 00:00:35,809 Speaker 1: and what is it about his story and his faith 13 00:00:35,830 --> 00:00:37,570 Speaker 1: that made you want to be part of this movie? 14 00:00:38,930 --> 00:00:40,830 Speaker 3: Well, I've been looking forward to doing a, you know, 15 00:00:40,850 --> 00:00:43,250 Speaker 3: bringing a biblical story to life for a long time. 16 00:00:43,430 --> 00:00:46,910 Speaker 3: You know, I grew up doing church plays and Stations 17 00:00:46,950 --> 00:00:50,350 Speaker 3: of the Cross in elementary school and, you know, the 18 00:00:50,390 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 3: church being a big part of my life as a 19 00:00:52,940 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 3: Coptic Christian. And I never really thought, honestly, that we'd 20 00:00:57,340 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 3: get to a point where biblical stories were being told 21 00:01:00,540 --> 00:01:04,020 Speaker 3: on this level. on this scale. And so to see 22 00:01:04,060 --> 00:01:08,140 Speaker 3: it being done now is incredible. You know, it's, I 23 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,890 Speaker 3: feel very blessed and grateful that we're having this moment 24 00:01:11,670 --> 00:01:16,330 Speaker 3: of portraying these incredible biblical stories the way that we are. 25 00:01:17,050 --> 00:01:19,789 Speaker 3: And so really that was the number one thing that 26 00:01:19,830 --> 00:01:22,809 Speaker 3: drew me to it. I'd been circling a few different 27 00:01:22,830 --> 00:01:26,089 Speaker 3: biblical projects before this one, and this one is the 28 00:01:26,209 --> 00:01:29,130 Speaker 3: one that God kind of put in my path and 29 00:01:29,390 --> 00:01:32,310 Speaker 3: we end up making. So I feel very blessed to 30 00:01:32,330 --> 00:01:33,050 Speaker 3: have been a part of it. 31 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: What do you think the lessons are in this film 32 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: for today's society, for people of faith? Because one thing 33 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: that really encouraged me in the movie is just how 34 00:01:42,500 --> 00:01:47,570 Speaker 1: Daniel didn't bow down, like literally and figuratively. 35 00:01:47,630 --> 00:01:48,910 Speaker 2: He stood up for what he believed. 36 00:01:50,030 --> 00:01:53,090 Speaker 3: Yeah, staying steadfast in your faith is certainly a theme. 37 00:01:53,150 --> 00:01:56,530 Speaker 3: And also deciding what you're going to hold to the 38 00:01:56,590 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 3: highest reverence and highest regard. I think nowadays that's a 39 00:02:00,970 --> 00:02:04,060 Speaker 3: question that I think a lot of young people especially 40 00:02:04,140 --> 00:02:07,220 Speaker 3: face every day with social media and the world being 41 00:02:07,260 --> 00:02:10,940 Speaker 3: so connected. Then you have to ask yourself, like, why 42 00:02:11,820 --> 00:02:15,859 Speaker 3: and who do you hold to the highest regard? There's 43 00:02:15,900 --> 00:02:19,700 Speaker 3: so much hype now with looking up to athletes and 44 00:02:19,740 --> 00:02:23,700 Speaker 3: celebrities and political figures and, you know, all these different 45 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,380 Speaker 3: kinds of people. And you have to ask, well, who 46 00:02:26,540 --> 00:02:29,380 Speaker 3: is the most important person that I should be holding 47 00:02:29,419 --> 00:02:31,990 Speaker 3: at the highest regard, right? And I think that question 48 00:02:32,030 --> 00:02:34,330 Speaker 3: is different for everybody, but it's an important question to 49 00:02:34,450 --> 00:02:39,030 Speaker 3: ask yourself because we can lose sight of that. As Christians, 50 00:02:39,130 --> 00:02:41,370 Speaker 3: as non-Christians, we can all lose sight of that. And 51 00:02:41,389 --> 00:02:43,989 Speaker 3: I think it's something that's important to remind ourselves of. 52 00:02:45,090 --> 00:02:45,570 Speaker 2: Amen to that. 53 00:02:45,590 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: I was going to ask you about your background. I've 54 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: read your biography. I'm having trouble speaking here. You said 55 00:02:51,020 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: that your parents moved, I think, from Egypt to Canada 56 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,489 Speaker 1: when you were about three and a half. They were 57 00:02:56,510 --> 00:02:58,850 Speaker 1: Catholic Christians as well, of course, and they felt things 58 00:02:58,870 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: were becoming a little too dangerous, I believe. Tell me 59 00:03:02,540 --> 00:03:05,340 Speaker 1: about that. And perhaps, did that give you an insight 60 00:03:05,380 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: into Daniel's story? 61 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, as an immigrant, I think any immigrant can 62 00:03:11,260 --> 00:03:14,380 Speaker 3: relate to this idea of leaving what you know and 63 00:03:14,660 --> 00:03:17,810 Speaker 3: leaving your home that you love so much and going 64 00:03:17,889 --> 00:03:18,669 Speaker 3: to a new place. 65 00:03:18,710 --> 00:03:20,650 Speaker 2: And then how do you adjust to that new place? 66 00:03:20,710 --> 00:03:23,549 Speaker 3: And how do you stay steadfast in not only what 67 00:03:23,570 --> 00:03:26,580 Speaker 3: you believe in, but your traditions and your culture? And 68 00:03:26,620 --> 00:03:29,370 Speaker 3: that was certainly something that my parents, I think, did 69 00:03:29,380 --> 00:03:31,829 Speaker 3: a really good job of. They spoke Arabic to us 70 00:03:31,889 --> 00:03:35,850 Speaker 3: at home. My mom cooked Egyptian food every night. And 71 00:03:35,890 --> 00:03:38,950 Speaker 3: so staying true to where I come from and what 72 00:03:38,990 --> 00:03:43,890 Speaker 3: I believe in was really helped and guided by my parents. 73 00:03:43,970 --> 00:03:47,130 Speaker 3: But it's something that created an incredible foundation for myself. 74 00:03:47,970 --> 00:03:50,220 Speaker 3: And my friends who I grew up with in the 75 00:03:50,260 --> 00:03:53,420 Speaker 3: Coptic church still remain as some of my best friends. 76 00:03:53,620 --> 00:04:00,700 Speaker 3: And so this idea... of Daniel and his family being 77 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,820 Speaker 3: stripped away from Judah and going to Babylon and being tested, 78 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:09,140 Speaker 3: their faith being tested, is something that I think any 79 00:04:09,220 --> 00:04:11,330 Speaker 3: immigrant can relate to, but I certainly did. 80 00:04:11,350 --> 00:04:15,030 Speaker 1: I think Egypt is only 10% Coptic Christian, if I 81 00:04:15,070 --> 00:04:18,570 Speaker 1: understand the religious stats there. 82 00:04:18,730 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 2: Do you remember anything about that time? 83 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:25,310 Speaker 1: And secondly, when your folks moved to Canada, I mean, 84 00:04:25,510 --> 00:04:26,710 Speaker 1: is there a Coptic community there? 85 00:04:28,110 --> 00:04:31,190 Speaker 3: Yeah. So, you know, I've been back to Egypt many times. 86 00:04:31,250 --> 00:04:34,490 Speaker 3: I work there now. And I will say Egypt is 87 00:04:34,510 --> 00:04:38,779 Speaker 3: an incredible place that doesn't, you know, that doesn't really 88 00:04:39,460 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 3: divide by religion, you know. And even my parents, when 89 00:04:44,380 --> 00:04:47,099 Speaker 3: they were in their 30s in Egypt, they really felt 90 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:51,010 Speaker 3: like whether their friends were Muslim or Christian, that there 91 00:04:51,029 --> 00:04:54,500 Speaker 3: was really no difference between them. I think, obviously, any 92 00:04:54,580 --> 00:04:58,060 Speaker 3: extremism of any form is dangerous, and that exists in 93 00:04:58,140 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 3: every faith. But I think, overall, Egypt is a place, 94 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:06,500 Speaker 3: is a very united place. And in Canada, yeah, there's 95 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,060 Speaker 3: a huge Coptic community. I believe that the Coptic community 96 00:05:10,630 --> 00:05:15,330 Speaker 3: in Ontario, the province of Ontario, might be the largest 97 00:05:15,370 --> 00:05:16,150 Speaker 3: in all of Canada. 98 00:05:16,730 --> 00:05:17,150 Speaker 2: And so. 99 00:05:18,350 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 3: I grew up in a very tight-knit Coptic community that was, 100 00:05:24,380 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 3: you know, it was beautiful. You know, I spent a 101 00:05:26,820 --> 00:05:29,460 Speaker 3: lot of time in church and not just on Sundays 102 00:05:29,500 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 3: for the liturgy, but youth group and Bible study and 103 00:05:34,060 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 3: really think more than anything, it was just a place 104 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,250 Speaker 3: where I grew some of my best and strongest friendships. 105 00:05:40,950 --> 00:05:41,510 Speaker 2: It's my understanding. 106 00:05:41,529 --> 00:05:42,910 Speaker 1: I don't think Egypt is as dangerous as some of 107 00:05:42,930 --> 00:05:45,230 Speaker 1: the other countries for Christians in the Middle East, but 108 00:05:45,250 --> 00:05:46,270 Speaker 1: I do want to ask you that question. I don't 109 00:05:46,290 --> 00:05:48,860 Speaker 1: know if there's anything unique in the region you guys 110 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: were living. You have a fascinating background. You attended the 111 00:05:51,660 --> 00:05:57,049 Speaker 1: University of Toronto for neuroscience before transferring to Ryerson University's 112 00:05:57,060 --> 00:05:57,790 Speaker 1: theater program. 113 00:05:58,310 --> 00:05:59,110 Speaker 2: Tell us about that. 114 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:02,890 Speaker 1: Did you grow up wanting to be in neuroscience? And 115 00:06:03,210 --> 00:06:06,750 Speaker 1: what led you to make a decision and to change 116 00:06:06,790 --> 00:06:07,550 Speaker 1: your career path? 117 00:06:17,820 --> 00:06:20,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I grew up wanting to be an actor. 118 00:06:20,180 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 3: That's always what I wanted to do. But I was 119 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 3: the youngest of three to an immigrant family. Both my 120 00:06:25,610 --> 00:06:29,070 Speaker 3: sisters are pharmacists. So my parents naturally wanted me to 121 00:06:29,110 --> 00:06:31,970 Speaker 3: be a doctor. And, you know, that's kind of what 122 00:06:32,010 --> 00:06:34,390 Speaker 3: I convinced myself I wanted to do for a bit 123 00:06:34,470 --> 00:06:37,530 Speaker 3: until I kind of decided that it wasn't and that 124 00:06:37,570 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 3: I wanted to pursue my, you know, my true passion 125 00:06:40,570 --> 00:06:41,070 Speaker 3: of acting. 126 00:06:41,740 --> 00:06:43,220 Speaker 2: And so in my first year. 127 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:49,210 Speaker 3: Of neuroscience, which was really a pre-med major that I 128 00:06:49,250 --> 00:06:50,989 Speaker 3: was going to do and then apply to medical school. 129 00:06:51,990 --> 00:06:54,170 Speaker 3: In my first year, I decided to take a leap 130 00:06:54,210 --> 00:06:57,010 Speaker 3: of faith and audition for theater school and see if 131 00:06:57,070 --> 00:06:59,450 Speaker 3: I get in. They only took 30 people for the 132 00:06:59,500 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: program each year. And I got in and decided that 133 00:07:03,580 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 3: I would finally pursue my passion. 134 00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: And Aladdin, of course, was where most of us first 135 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,500 Speaker 2: heard of your name. How did you land that role? 136 00:07:12,900 --> 00:07:16,490 Speaker 2: And Were you shocked when they called you and told 137 00:07:16,530 --> 00:07:17,490 Speaker 2: you you're the one? 138 00:07:18,550 --> 00:07:22,950 Speaker 3: I was shocked when it started moving in the right direction, 139 00:07:23,010 --> 00:07:26,610 Speaker 3: to be honest. I had initially auditioned and for six months, 140 00:07:26,650 --> 00:07:28,690 Speaker 3: I never heard anything back. And so I kind of 141 00:07:28,710 --> 00:07:31,730 Speaker 3: forgot about it as every actor is trained to do 142 00:07:31,770 --> 00:07:35,350 Speaker 3: because of the utter rejection that we face every day. 143 00:07:36,130 --> 00:07:38,910 Speaker 3: And so when they called me after six months to 144 00:07:38,990 --> 00:07:41,210 Speaker 3: say that they wanted to see me again, that's really 145 00:07:41,250 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 3: when the real surprise was. But For me, it was 146 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:50,450 Speaker 3: so early on of moving to LA and really starting 147 00:07:50,490 --> 00:07:54,530 Speaker 3: my professional career in the States that, for me, the 148 00:07:54,610 --> 00:07:57,670 Speaker 3: victory was just flying to London and getting to meet 149 00:07:57,710 --> 00:07:59,930 Speaker 3: Guy Ritchie and screen test with all of them. I 150 00:07:59,970 --> 00:08:03,020 Speaker 3: really didn't care if I booked a role after that point, 151 00:08:03,060 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 3: to be honest with you. Though, obviously, I'm grateful that 152 00:08:06,340 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 3: I did and feel very blessed. 153 00:08:09,770 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: Did you have a background, though, in singing? I mean, 154 00:08:12,690 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: that's a big part of this, a big part of Aladdin. 155 00:08:14,940 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: I mean, was that something that you grew up doing 156 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:17,980 Speaker 1: as well? 157 00:08:18,700 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, we had a fantastic program in theater school. It 158 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:25,890 Speaker 3: was a conservatory-style program. So it was 13, 14-hour days 159 00:08:25,950 --> 00:08:27,670 Speaker 3: every day, six days a week. When I was in 160 00:08:27,730 --> 00:08:30,590 Speaker 3: theater school for four years, put a lot of hours 161 00:08:30,650 --> 00:08:33,550 Speaker 3: into everything. So singing was a part of it. Dancing 162 00:08:33,590 --> 00:08:35,890 Speaker 3: was a part of it. And then, of course, the classics, 163 00:08:35,929 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 3: commedia dell'arte, Shakespeare, mask work. you know, the classics. So 164 00:08:41,580 --> 00:08:43,260 Speaker 3: we did a bit of everything in theater school. And 165 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 3: I think that really helped prepare me for, you know, 166 00:08:45,940 --> 00:08:49,620 Speaker 3: that a mega, a mega job like Aladdin was. 167 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:52,119 Speaker 1: Do you know what types of movies and products you 168 00:08:52,140 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 1: want to be involved in in the future? And I 169 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:56,100 Speaker 1: asked that because you've been involved in so many different types. 170 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: I mean, is there something that you want to really 171 00:08:57,960 --> 00:08:59,420 Speaker 1: pursue in the future or are you kind of open 172 00:08:59,450 --> 00:08:59,900 Speaker 1: to anything? 173 00:09:01,590 --> 00:09:03,569 Speaker 3: You know, I feel like I'm still young in my 174 00:09:03,630 --> 00:09:06,770 Speaker 3: career and I'm open to anything. You know, I've been 175 00:09:06,809 --> 00:09:10,849 Speaker 3: very lucky to do, you know, the big blockbuster like Aladdin. 176 00:09:10,870 --> 00:09:14,189 Speaker 3: The indie film world, you know, has been my world 177 00:09:14,270 --> 00:09:18,130 Speaker 3: for really the last few years. The rom-coms with the 178 00:09:18,170 --> 00:09:21,290 Speaker 3: Royal Treatment and films like Hotel for the Holidays and 179 00:09:22,370 --> 00:09:24,150 Speaker 3: a film that I did last year that I really 180 00:09:24,570 --> 00:09:27,980 Speaker 3: enjoyed working on was Julia Stiles' directorial debut, Wish You 181 00:09:28,010 --> 00:09:32,380 Speaker 3: Were Here. That was a really kind of dramatic, sad 182 00:09:32,510 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 3: film that I really enjoyed working sinking my teeth into. 183 00:09:36,860 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 3: So I think I'm kind of open to anything. 184 00:09:39,100 --> 00:09:39,740 Speaker 2: I haven't done. 185 00:09:39,620 --> 00:09:42,060 Speaker 3: Comedy in a while now, so maybe comedy would be 186 00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 3: nice as a change. But I also love the dramatic 187 00:09:46,220 --> 00:09:48,860 Speaker 3: pieces and the genre of drama. 188 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 2: So I. 189 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:52,990 Speaker 3: Feel very lucky to have done a bit of everything 190 00:09:53,030 --> 00:09:54,069 Speaker 3: so far in my career. 191 00:09:54,550 --> 00:09:57,030 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've enjoyed the couple of rom-coms you did. Those 192 00:09:57,070 --> 00:09:59,970 Speaker 1: are kind of family-focused rom-coms. I think one of them 193 00:09:59,990 --> 00:10:01,370 Speaker 1: might have been on Netflix. The other one may be 194 00:10:01,410 --> 00:10:02,370 Speaker 1: an Amazon platform. 195 00:10:02,390 --> 00:10:02,830 Speaker 2: I forget. 196 00:10:02,890 --> 00:10:06,010 Speaker 1: But yeah, those were fun. Final question for you, Amina. 197 00:10:06,650 --> 00:10:09,530 Speaker 1: My 14-year-old daughter, Maggie, is a big fan of the 198 00:10:09,570 --> 00:10:13,690 Speaker 1: movie Aladdin. She's watched it at least 20 times. She 199 00:10:13,730 --> 00:10:15,980 Speaker 1: has a question for you, and I'm going to ask 200 00:10:16,010 --> 00:10:19,989 Speaker 1: it for her. If the genie was real... What would 201 00:10:20,010 --> 00:10:22,350 Speaker 1: you wish for in real life right now? 202 00:10:22,370 --> 00:10:29,450 Speaker 3: Oh, man, a long and healthy and prosperous career and life. 203 00:10:29,750 --> 00:10:32,750 Speaker 3: I think, you know, that's I think the one thing 204 00:10:32,790 --> 00:10:34,830 Speaker 3: that I think about now as I get older is, 205 00:10:34,890 --> 00:10:38,210 Speaker 3: you know, people say if you're not the one wish 206 00:10:38,230 --> 00:10:42,910 Speaker 3: you have when you're not healthy is to be healthy. 207 00:10:43,290 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 3: And when you're healthy, you have a multitude of wishes. 208 00:10:46,860 --> 00:10:50,490 Speaker 3: But ultimately, I think health is the number one thing 209 00:10:51,090 --> 00:10:52,850 Speaker 3: that I would wish for, for me and my loved 210 00:10:52,929 --> 00:10:53,530 Speaker 3: ones around me. 211 00:10:54,170 --> 00:10:57,170 Speaker 2: Amen to that. Mina, thanks so much. Thank you. 212 00:10:57,220 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 4: Thanks, Michael. If you liked today's episode, please subscribe and 213 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,179 Speaker 4: leave a five-star review. That's how we help more people 214 00:11:05,420 --> 00:11:08,380 Speaker 4: just like you find the show. A big thanks to 215 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 4: the team at Life Audio for their partnership with us 216 00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 4: on the podcast. If you go to lifeaudio.com, you will 217 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 4: find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network. 218 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:18,819 Speaker 2: See you next time.