Omar Sharif

Omar Sharif became a star in the Egyptian cinema in the 1950s, but he was transformed into an international movie star when he made his first English-language film, "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962). His role as an Arab warrior earned him an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano talk about his lasting appeal in "Lawrence of Arabia," as well as his equally memorable role as the title character in "Doctor Zhivago" (1965). His other notable roles include playing opposite Barbra Streisand in "Funny Girl" (1968). Sharif made a number of other movies, some good and some bad, over the decades. Marie and Mike agree that one of his best later roles was in "Monsieur Ibrahim" (2003), in which he plays a Muslim grocer who has a friendship with a Jewish teenager.