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. Mena Massoud Read Quote
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. Mena Massoud Read Quote
Even though I’m very fortunate and grateful to have played Aladdin, there were still four, five casting directors who never gave me a shot in Toronto. They didn’t give me the time of day. I never got to audition for them. Mena Massoud Read Quote
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. Mena Massoud Read Quote
In the industry, artists of of color struggle the most. Caucasian artists have really solidified themselves in the industry, and with African Americans now we see directors and producers who vow to only produce work that shines a light on African American artists. But everybody in the middle gets lost. Mena Massoud Read Quote
I’m trying to be a voice for the North African Arab community. We’ve got to continue to fight for our place in the industry. Mena Massoud Read Quote
We’re trying to give back to artists of colour and make the journey for them a little easier. Mena Massoud Read Quote
