U’mar el-Shereef: I Only Divorced Faten Hammama 6 Years Ago

In an interview with the al-Wafd newspaper, acting giant U’mar el-Shereef stated that revenues derived from acting are immoral and that the Egyptian cinematic production produced in the present day are “trash”. The former actor also averred that he does not know of the comedian Ahmed Helmy and has not heard of him.Moreover Shereef has stated that among the films that he has taken part in abroad, he recognizes only four from the lot as worthy efforts. With regards to his Egyptian works, he recognizes only one or two as worthy adding that he only took part in the rest so that he would not be sit idly at home. Shereef has also surprised followers by revealing that he had only divorced fellow actress Faten Hammama six years ago. To this respect the actor has added: “Following our marriage, Faten did not wish to travel with me and did not like working in the United States and so I said to her, ‘sweetheart, we will not get a divorce. I will travel and if someday you discover that you love someone else or would rather get married anew, call me and I will send you the divorce papers straight away.’ She remained my wife throughout this entire period and I did not divorce her until much later. We were both past seventy when she got to know her present husband.”In his interview with the al-Wafd newspaper Shereef also discussed his acceptance of a part in the film title “Isha’aa Wahida la Takfy” (“One Rumor Does not Suffice”) despite the fact that the idea on which the film is based had previously been presented in the cinema title “Isha’aat Houb” (“Love Rumors”). To this effect the esteemed actor has said: “I have not worked for two years and it’s difficult to remain idle for such an extended period. Moreover I agreed to the film because I found its idea to be original.”Shereef has also asserted that the late actor Ahmed Zakky is Egypt’s finest actor and that his talents exceeded his own. With regards to his relationship to the late filmmaker Youssif Chahine, the performer has stated: “My relationship with Youssif Chahine expired quite quickly. He has offered me several roles which I have turned down because I could not portray the roles that he suggested.”