Omar Sharif in Antarctica
While working on the film Antarctic Tears, recounting my expedition to Antarctica, I came across footage that places me back in 1962 with Omar Sharif in Lawrence of Arabia.
My dad first mentioned this look to me and I hadn’t really thought about it until we were cutting the film. As I have not seen Lawrence of Arabia, I could only venture to guess what he was talking about. After looking at a few photos, I can see the resemblance. If you put Omar in a Twin Otter and bundled him up for Antarctica, I very well could have passed as his stunt double.
As I have visited Egypt and seen the people there, I can see how I can be mistaken for someone for north African descent. More than once, Egyptian police first addressed me in Arabic rather than English. Although it was entertaining, it was also disconcerting because I knew that if something went sideways, I would have an issue. But as I only know a few words of Arabic, the situation would hopefully be diffused quickly.
I wouldn’t have minded playing Sharif’s stunt double in an Antarctic film.
