By Tim Franks BBC News, Jerusalem Maysoon has a decent-sized role in Adam Sandler's latest film NO SWEARING, NO SEX
By Tim Franks BBC News, Jerusalem Maysoon has a decent-sized role in Adam Sandler's latest film NO SWEARING, NO SEX
This is how I always begin a pre-recorded interview. "For the top of the tape," I say, "may I have your name and how I should describe you?"
This is how I always begin a pre-recorded interview. "For the top of the tape," I say, "may I have your name and how I should describe you?"
The other day, Maysoon Zayid won the prize.
The other day, Maysoon Zayid won the prize.
"I'm a Palestinian Muslim virgin with cerebral palsy, from New Jersey, who is an actress, comedian and activist," she replied.
"I'm a Palestinian Muslim virgin with cerebral palsy, from New Jersey, who is an actress, comedian and activist," she replied.
Maysoon says she is not qualified to do anything other than comedy. She is a classically trained actress, and was a "contract extra" based in America, becoming slowly aware that she was never going to be given a line of dialogue.
Maysoon says she is not qualified to do anything other than comedy. She is a classically trained actress, and was a "contract extra" based in America, becoming slowly aware that she was never going to be given a line of dialogue.
If you can get the person across from you to laugh, they probably won't kill you Maysoon Zayid
If you can get the person across from you to laugh, they probably won't kill you Maysoon Zayid
"It became very obvious to me that in the United States of America, a fluffy ethnic disabled chick was never going to get a job unless she did stand-up."
"It became very obvious to me that in the United States of America, a fluffy ethnic disabled chick was never going to get a job unless she did stand-up."
She spends four months a year in the Middle East, partly running a programme for children in Palestinian refugee camps, partly performing her comedy routine in English and Arabic. She was the first female stand-up, she says, to appear in Jordan.
She spends four months a year in the Middle East, partly running a programme for children in Palestinian refugee camps, partly performing her comedy routine in English and Arabic. She was the first female stand-up, she says, to appear in Jordan.
The material is tailored for the audiences. In the United Arab Emirates, she emulates Bill Cosby in cleanliness: no swearing, no sex.
The material is tailored for the audiences. In the United Arab Emirates, she emulates Bill Cosby in cleanliness: no swearing, no sex.
"I do a lot of stuff about my dad and my aunt and how it is to be a single Palestinian woman in my 30s, and how my family relates to that."
"I do a lot of stuff about my dad and my aunt and how it is to be a single Palestinian woman in my 30s, and how my family relates to that."
She steers clear of anything "too challenging" about politics or religion. "The UAE has so much money you never want to insult them."
She steers clear of anything "too challenging" about politics or religion. "The UAE has so much money you never want to insult them."
A LUDICROUS ISSUE
A LUDICROUS ISSUE
Her prominence, as a Palestinian comedian, has led her to a decent-sized role in the new Adam Sandler film, You Don't Mess With the Zohan.
Her prominence, as a Palestinian comedian, has led her to a decent-sized role in the new Adam Sandler film, You Don't Mess With the Zohan.
The film premiered last month in Los Angeles, and opens next month in the UK. It follows the exploits of a crack Mossad agent who fakes his death in order to pursue his dream of becoming a hair stylist in New York.
The film premiered last month in Los Angeles, and opens next month in the UK. It follows the exploits of a crack Mossad agent who fakes his death in order to pursue his dream of becoming a hair stylist in New York.
Maysoon is evangelical: "It's a very dangerous film. It's the first time that they've attacked the Palestine-Israel subject in such a comedic way."
Maysoon is evangelical: "It's a very dangerous film. It's the first time that they've attacked the Palestine-Israel subject in such a comedic way."
Which leads me, in the compulsively downbeat reflex of a journalist, to ask what place comedy has in the home of conflict.
Which leads me, in the compulsively downbeat reflex of a journalist, to ask what place comedy has in the home of conflict.
"I was dating a Lebanese Christian Riverdancer who was gay," she replies. "And I didn't know it and I was very upset and I'd tell my friends and they'd crack up, and eventually I would crack up too."
"I was dating a Lebanese Christian Riverdancer who was gay," she replies. "And I didn't know it and I was very upset and I'd tell my friends and they'd crack up, and eventually I would crack up too."
She believes there is an analogy: "Palestine-Israel is such a ludicrous issue."
She believes there is an analogy: "Palestine-Israel is such a ludicrous issue."
Her point is that the conflict is played out with the sophisticated paraphernalia of the developed world, and yet "everyone approaches it in such an illogical way that it's almost clown-like".
Her point is that the conflict is played out with the sophisticated paraphernalia of the developed world, and yet "everyone approaches it in such an illogical way that it's almost clown-like".
Maysoon says that it is not just that the issue can be comedic, but that comedy itself can exert a power. "If you can get the person across from you to laugh, they probably won't kill you."
Maysoon says that it is not just that the issue can be comedic, but that comedy itself can exert a power. "If you can get the person across from you to laugh, they probably won't kill you."
Tim Frank's Jerusalem diary will return in September after a summer break.
Tim Frank's Jerusalem diary will return in September after a summer break.
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