HAAZ SLEIMAN

Islam believes that Jesus is a prophet, and they honour him - highly - and they respect him, and they follow his teachings. So, for me, as somebody who was raised Muslim, it is an honour to actually play Jesus, just because of that.

We all have hearts.

I'm from Lebanon, and I've been exposed a lot to Syria.

Jesus was a teacher, in a way. I mean, essentially, Jesus was a teacher. He was teaching people. He was helping them see themselves for what they were. He was helping them see their power, their strength, their beauty, what they're capable of.

There's always something personal, no matter how big or small the story is.

God created me. And the closest I will ever get with God is this soul, this body. And if I don't have myself, if I don't listen to myself, if I don't trust myself, then I don't trust God, because God created me.

The bigger the movies you're in, the chances are better at getting more diverse roles.

I want people to have conversations, to have controversy because it creates dialogue and builds bridges.

There are a lot of Arabs that are not Muslims. They are Christians; they are Jews. Muslim Arabs, especially in my family, are just so ecstatic that I get to play Jesus. They're so proud.

You can't argue with the truth.

In Islam, Jesus is a prophet, and if you look at Mohammed and Jesus and Moses, it's not like Moses is better than Jesus and Jesus is better than Mohammed. They're all so highly respected and honored and followed, and they're all there for a reason.

I'm from Lebanon, and I've been exposed a lot to Syria.

In Islam, we believe Jesus is a prophet and respect him and follow his teachings and put him beside the Prophet Muhammad - a lot of people don't know that.

It's definitely my responsibility not to stereotype any character, but especially a gay character because of the misperceptions people still have about gays.

We all have hearts.

There are a lot of Arabs that are not Muslims. They are Christians; they are Jews. Muslim Arabs, especially in my family, are just so ecstatic that I get to play Jesus. They're so proud.

The bigger the movies you're in, the chances are better at getting more diverse roles.

Musicals look beautiful and great and fun, but man, when you're getting into it, you got to be on top of it.

I cannot speak for Jesus, but I can quote his teachings, and he said, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'... How would he react to me playing Jesus? He wouldn't judge it. He wouldn't judge his own enemy... Playing this part highlights his teaching in a very nice way.

The closest you'll get to God, ever, in your existence, is measured by how close you get to yourself. Because your connection with God is you. He created you. That is the ultimate connection you have with God is you.

You can't argue with the truth.

No actor wants to be typecast, so you always want to make good, careful choices.

The power of love - there's nothing more powerful than that.

As an actor, my No. 1 focus was to be on the same page with the writer, director, and producers.

It's moving in the right direction for Arab actors but very slowly.

Islam believes that Jesus is a prophet, and they honour him - highly - and they respect him, and they follow his teachings. So, for me, as somebody who was raised Muslim, it is an honour to actually play Jesus, just because of that.

There's always something personal, no matter how big or small the story is.

God created me. And the closest I will ever get with God is this soul, this body. And if I don't have myself, if I don't listen to myself, if I don't trust myself, then I don't trust God, because God created me.

My religion is inclusivity.

I want people to have conversations, to have controversy because it creates dialogue and builds bridges.

When you trust yourself, then you trust God.

Whatever it is that you are doing as an actor, if it frightens you, if you're scared of it, you need to do it.

Whenever you create some sort of disturbance in the air, there's an awakening that happens, an opportunity for a conversation, an opportunity to build bridges, specifically, an opportunity to connect different groups that typically wouldn't connect with one another.

Jesus was a teacher, in a way. I mean, essentially, Jesus was a teacher. He was teaching people. He was helping them see themselves for what they were. He was helping them see their power, their strength, their beauty, what they're capable of.

I don't know exactly what kind of training musical theater actors get, but I never had that.