Tarek El Ebiary is no stranger to the spotlight. Fans will recognise him as the ultimate sweetheart in lovable roles like Hazem in Ayza Atgawez (I Want To Get Married) or Galal in Ramadan Mabrouk. Recently, he’s actually been trying to shake off that ‘nice guy’ image.eniGma’s Danya Danish sat down with El Ebiary for a chat to learn more about the new, different role he is taking on. Here are excerpts from their fascinating conversation.
What are you most excited about in your new film Matrah Matrouh (Wherever you go)?
I’m very excited about the action sequences I’m doing in the film. I used to dream of having action roles, but I didn’t have a chance to, until now. So, when they contacted me, I was immediately interested. I was also extremely excited when I found out that Scott Adkins was going to be part of this project, since I have always looked up to him. One of my goals was to work with an international star, so obviously working side by side with Adkins is an important milestone for me.
Was preparing for this role difficult?
It was difficult, but I enjoyed it. From the way I looked to how I fought, I had to prove I was capable of action roles and I also needed to learn the action sequence itself. I spent my days doing a combination of gym and MMA training. In the morning I would go to the gym to work out, then I would attend an MMA class, and at night I’d go learn the choreography.
What has your experience working with Scott Adkins been like?
I found him to be extremely dedicated to playing his part. He is really proactive. It didn’t matter if they were filming him or not, he was there on set just preparing for his next sequence. Every time he filmed a scene he went to the camera to check the recording; he’d look at how it came out. I really admired that he wasn’t just all about show. He really cares about everything he does and is constantly assessing what he did to see how he could improve. That really had an impact on me. When you watch someone working so hard, it’s difficult not to want to push yourself to work just as hard.
Having worked with big names such as Mahmoud Hemeida, Samir Ghanem, and Adel Imam, who is someone you look up to?
I was really lucky to have been able to work with people like the late Samir Ghanem, Mahmoud Hemeida, Adel Imam, Omar El Hariry, Lubna Abdelaziz, and so many more. There’s something admirable about every one of them and you just unconsciously pick up something from every individual you work with. However, if I had to choose someone I want to be like, it would definitely be the late Omar Sharif. Like him, I’m really passionate about having international acclaim and being able to act in movies abroad as well as in Egypt. Getting an Oscar is something I truly hope to achieve one day. With the rise of the Egyptian presence in the industry abroad, it feels more achievable; with hard work and dedication of course.
Seeing that this is your first action movie, does the process of making it differ from other genres?
Absolutely. Obviously, a part of it is exactly like preparing for any other role. But in my case, there is the added element of trying to change how people see me because no one is used to seeing me in an action role. Unlike other genres, there’s also a physical element that can be very challenging. Not only did I have to make sure my physical health was at its peak, I also had to learn how to fight. It took me about two to three months of daily training at the gym and MMA classes before I started to learn the choreography. I wanted to have a solid base to lean on when I started learning the fight sequences. Also, learning how to fight on camera is very different from learning how to fight in real life. There are moves you need to do before and after the hit to make the frame believable; that was a new technique I learned. I also had to learn how to react to a hit to make it seem realistic on camera.
Is being on set this time with director Wael Ehsan different from previous projects such as Amir al Behar and Ramadan Mabrouk?
It was slightly different because this time it was an action movie, which we hadn’t done together before. However, I love working with him and I fully trust him. He will always have a special place in my heart because the first film I ever did was with him. In my case, he gave life to the character of Galal in Ramadan Mabrouk and, to this day, people still recognise me as Galal in the street.
Speaking of your older projects, is there one that is particularly close to your heart?
They’re all my children; each one holds a special place in my heart for different reasons. I love them all and I feel like I picked up something from each one. I don’t really know what to say. However, Matrah Matrouh is slightly more special to me because of how much I wanted to play an action role.
Was there another project that seemed like it would never come together but it did?
Definitely some of the Ramadan series seemed like that. We’d be filming while the show was airing and things would get really chaotic sometimes. One time I was shooting a series and ended up outside for 48 hours straight between two sets just to get the shooting done on time. However, thank God everything turned out alright.
Besides acting and directing, what else do you enjoy doing?
I adore watching movies and plays. I can go see three movies back-to-back without a problem. I also love to read. I read a lot of Tony Robbins and Ibrahim El Fayed. I also love martial arts, specifically MMA, kickboxing, and wrestling. I was a huge fan of WWE growing up, and still am. I’ve always been a game geek, but now I get to play games with my son Youssef, which I really enjoy.
Tell us more about your role as a World Youth Forum Ambassador. What did the conference look like?
Not to exaggerate, but I truly felt so proud to be Egyptian. I was in disbelief at the excellent organisation and the shows that were presented. Everything was of such a high calibre. I also saw many young people and all of them were so impressive. They were giving talks about their struggles and how they achieved the most amazing things, from robotics to sports. Everyone there was really passionate and very clever and there was a lot of good energy everywhere you went. There were so many people from around the world; watching it all and being part of the events was such an honour.
Now that you are working with the Ministry of Youth and Sport, is there a cause you want to bring attention to?
Amir El Masry and I were chosen to be representatives for the cultural sphere. So, in short, we attend certain events and give talks occasionally. The whole point is to tell everyone that they can do whatever they set their mind to; and this is something I truly believe in. I think that self-improvement is something that needs to happen everyday, and you need to check that you’re working on yourself no matter how small the improvement may be. Any day you don’t try to be a better person, be it personally or professionally, is a day you lose; and time is of the essence. From my own experience, I learned that I needed to work on myself and after that, everything else would fall into place. For example, before I got this role, I decided to start working out on my own. I wasn’t going to wait for a role to start preparing, and, sure enough, after I took this step on my own, I was called and cast in Matrah Matrouh.
Photographer & Art Direction: Eslam Soliman
Stylist: Lamis Khalil
Suit Designer: Moamen Awad
Hair: El Sagheer Salon (Mohammed Hosny)
Location: Lodge Egypt
Retouch : Karim Mahmoud