After an absence of nearly 7 years from the artistic scene, during which he did not appear on the small screen in Egypt, comedian Ahmed Eid surprised the audience by presenting an evil character in the series "Rare Currency", which is currently showing in Ramadan.

Eid co-stars alongside Nelly Karim, becoming the talk of the public and social media platforms, especially after his appearance at the Joy Awards in January, his statements about not being invited to art festivals in Egypt, and his repeated explanations that it was just a joke cut out of context.

Al Jazeera Net met with the Egyptian artist Ahmed Eid, and conducted this interview with him:

  • Why did Ahmed Eid disappear from the art scene for years?

It was not a disappearance, but the works presented to me during the last period were not appropriate, and this year I was offered two of the biggest works in the current Ramadan season by two of the top directors on the artistic scene, so I did not hesitate to accept them, so the rejection was for technical reasons and special reasons that I do not want to delve into.

  • The audience linked your participation in the series "Rare Coin" after a long artistic absence to your appearance at the Red Sea Festival, which was welcomed by social media pioneers.

On the contrary, I started filming several scenes from the series "Rare Currency" before I traveled to the festival, and I traveled to Saudi Arabia last December, and presented a play that was shown in the Riyadh season, then I returned to Egypt to complete filming the scenes of the series, then I traveled to the Red Sea Festival, and then resumed filming my scenes in the series.

  • But the announcement of your participation in the series was after your appearance at the Red Sea Festival?

Yes, because I don't like being in the media, and I don't prefer to appear on programs and interviews to talk about my future work.

  • Does your absence from the media and on social media platforms affect you negatively?

This is my personal nature, I do not have the ability to establish relationships with those around me, I do not accept gatherings, and many times I ask myself: Why do I live alone? But I find it better for me, even if it affects my work, I don't react, I don't talk much, and I don't like to appear too much either.

Recently, I have someone who runs my Facebook and Instagram page, asking me to post my selfies or "story" (comics on Instagram), I am already trying to collaborate with them on this, but this is against my nature.

  • But most artists are interested in being on social media platforms?

"I mean, after what a young man and the book did," I don't care about these things and I don't like to learn them.

  • Some have linked your absence to being an introvert?

During the past period, I have been receiving some offers at somewhat distant intervals, certainly not at the same rate as in the past, but what many do not know is that when I am offered a work of art, I remain reluctant for a long time to study the idea, whether by accepting or responding.

For example, if I am presented with a scenario I get nervous, because if the scenario is weak I get frustrated, and if it is good I am afraid that the project will not be completed, so taking any step takes me a fairly long time.

Perhaps my role in the series "Rare Coin" opens the way for me to present non-comedic roles, and present different characters, as I do not like repetition, but I first hope for success in this work, and I hope that I presented the tragic character convincingly, because I do not follow my scenes in "Al-Monitor" (the screen to display the scenes inside the filming place) or in the montage and do not watch my work in its premiere.

Ahmed Eid in the series "Rare Currency" (Source: Rare Coin series)

  • Why are you absent from your safe zone in comedic roles that the audience has known you for to present a very evil character?

Because as I said I come back after an absence, so my return should have been different in an unexpected role.

Comedy roles are difficult; they are spontaneous, improvised and spontaneous, but the tragic needs to be well prepared and study the character; a psychological study of its history and social problems, and if there is a crying scene, for example, the actor must recall sad situations to be able to cry really.

So I was excited about the character of Masoud Abdul-Jabbar, because it is the opposite of my nature, an unjust character, and I have seen in my life characters close to Massoud, and I hoped to embody those characters, maybe make a difference with people.

  • What about the difficulty of the Upper Egyptian dialect?

The Upper Egyptian dialect is difficult, especially since I am from the governorates of Lower Egypt, and for the first time I offer this role, but of course I trained on the language with a proofreader, and I think that I will not present the character of Saidi again, not because of its difficulty, but because I prefer to appear in a new way in the upcoming roles.

Whoever wants to introduce me in a new role, he must try to get something new out of me, study the character with me, get tired, teach me and endure me as an actor. I am not Zaki Tulaimat (one of the pioneers of Egyptian theater), I always need someone to teach me to succeed together.