Q&A With Omar Sharif

By Rebecca Winters

In Monsieur Ibrahim, opening in limited release on Dec. 5, Omar Sharif plays an Arab grocer who befriends a Jewish boy.

You stopped making movies a few years ago. How come?

Darling, I was making for the last 25 years rubbish movies. I couldn't stand myself anymore.

Why return to acting for this one?

I thought I should make a statement as a popular person in the Arab world. I wanted to say, look, it is possible to ... love each other.

How's your love life?

I have none. I don't want to be the slave of any passion anymore, including women. When I really like someone a whole lot, I've got to marry her or stay friends. One of my best friends was Ava Gardner. And I never attempted to make love with her because I didn't want to do anything to ruin our wonderful friendship.

Your son married a Jew, a Christian and an Arab. It sounds like a joke.

I have a Jewish grandchild and a Muslim grandchild. The Muslim is only 4. She doesn't understand anything. I'm working on her not to have any religion. And the oldest one is an Orthodox Jew. I gave him the biggest bar mitzvah ever.