George Diab: The Art of Acting and the Secrets of Success

A Life Dedicated to Acting

The Zaman Al Jameel Festival opens pages from the book of the golden era of art in every new session it organizes, and the Lebanese people relive their memories. Among the artists honored by the festival was actor George Diab, wearing his famous hat, who stood on stage receiving his award amidst warm applause from the audience.

For him, the most important thing is the honorary gestures, regardless of whether they are material or moral. He continued to Asharq Al-Awsat: “A true artist does not care about receiving financial compensation when he practices his passion. He offers his talent on a platter of love that comes from the depths of his being. These honorary gestures are beautiful, but I prefer that he be honored after every work he does. He is evaluated and his acting styles are highlighted in his embodiment of the character.”

The Secrets of Success

George Diab continues his artistic contributions, albeit in small doses. Like his peers of his age, he is not often called upon in Arab drama productions. To whom does he direct his reproach on this issue? He replies: “The game is bigger than me, the director, the writer, and even the producer of the work. We are supposed to be supported by our country, but in the absence of countries of this type, we do not reproach anyone.”

In the character of Professor Mandour (George Diab)

Diab feels sorry for young actors who are full of talent and art, but no one encourages them. “They appear shyly like a rose among thorns, and their contributions are temporary, and hardly anyone notices them. This is what prompts me to say that the matter is dangerous for them, because these young people are the family wealth that we boast about for a bright future. In the absence of the family, drama also disappears because its texts stem from it. Just as love stories, so too are stories of immigration, friendship, and others, which form the launch of dramatic work.”

He says that his secret lies in his passion, which is always and forever burning, and he explains in the context of his talk: “Passion accumulates inside a person to fill feelings that do not perish, and they begin to flow more and more with time. In my opinion, it is the only thing that contributes to the youth and fitness of its owner. Just like the flow of a river, if its waters dry up, everything around it dries up and withers.”

New Ventures

Today, actor George Diab is working on writing dramatic scenarios. “They are like small workshops that I do to discover my worth in the subject of dramatic writing. I do not consider it my future profession at all, and it remains just attempts to write beautiful texts that we need. Our series from the past were beautiful in their simplicity and realism. Today I yearn for them because with their spontaneous composition they were very successful.”

Diab criticizes the topics of today’s drama, considering them boring and similar. “It is true that they are more modern, and there is no dullness in them and in the way they are implemented, but they should be closer to our daily lives in a better way, as distancing ourselves from our reality has become undesirable. I admit that I do not currently yearn to play any role, nor do I yearn to embody a character offered to me. I content myself with watching reruns of old Lebanese works, including those by Philippe Akiki, Michel Tabet, Salah Tizani (Abu Salim), and Elie Sanifer, as their works do not contain filler or crowded scenes. Whereas today’s productions, we know their endings from the moment they begin.”

Recent Works and Regrets

In recent years, George Diab participated in the play “Under the Care of Zakour” by Gaby Yammine, in tribute to the late Raymond Gebara. He feels grateful and amazed by this recent experience. “I did not expect to see young talents succeed to this extent. I doubted them at first and told myself that they might not be able to provide what the late Gebara asked of his team, but I was surprised by their ability to improvise, which we, as veteran actors, were naturally endowed with. It is very important to pay attention to these people and support them so that they can achieve more and more success.”

Dubbing and the Actor’s Strength

Among the most recent works in which George Diab participated are “Al Hayba”, “Salon Zahra”, “Al Pasha”, “La Hukm Aleih” and “Zawj Taht Al Arrest”. However, he comments with regret on the part of the heroes: “The world is difficult because the production machines control people’s destinies. They have their own point of view, and they may be behind our absence from the screen. Today, we are like someone standing on the side of the road. As if we are clothes hanging backstage waiting to return to the stage to play their role again. The actor’s strength is acting and living two parallel lives. One belongs to him and the other to the character he embodies.”

Today, he spends his time practicing dubbing: “This type of acting is not easy at all. It requires a mixture of feelings in a few minutes, and I am proud to be one of the distinguished in this profession. I present characters with my voice, and I also dub documentaries.”

Conclusion

George Diab’s career is a testament to his dedication to his craft and his ability to adapt to the changing landscape of the industry. Despite the challenges he faces, he remains optimistic and committed to his passion for acting. His words of wisdom and insight into the world of acting serve as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and creativity in achieving success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the most important thing for you as an actor?

A: The most important thing is the honorary gestures, regardless of whether they are material or moral.

Q: What do you think about the current state of drama in Lebanon?

A: I think that today’s drama is boring and similar. It should be closer to our daily lives in a better way.

Q: What are your thoughts on the role of the director and the writer in the production process?

A: The game is bigger than me, the director, the writer, and even the producer of the work. We are supposed to be supported by our country, but in the absence of countries of this type, we do not reproach anyone.