EVENING ARGUS (Brighton)

April 5, 1993

INSIDE
STORY

EVERY day we ask people in the news to tell us about themselves.
Nabil Shaban an actor crippled from birth with brittle bones and
confined to a wheelchair has appeared in the films Born Of Fire
and City Of Joy. On TV he played Sil in Doctor Who.

Where were you born?
Somewhere outside my memory.

What sort of house do you live in?
Council flat.

First job?
Trainee executive in advertising agency.

Biggest regret?
The British people being fooled by Thatcher.

Biggest love?
Tina Leslie, my girlfriend, who was born a Saint in a cruel world.

Biggest embarrasament?
Eating bangers and mash next to Patrick Swayze and him asking me if he could feel my sausage.

What makes you angry?
Fascism, injustice, double starndards in politics and international relations. The belief that Might is Right.
Intolerance. Robbing the poor to prop up the rich. Cruelty to animals.

What makes you sad?
Humanity's failure as benevolent stewards of the planet.

What are your bad habits?
Not admitting to my bad habits.

How do you relax?
Pursuing activities which may help me to unravel the secrets of life, universe and everything.

What pets to you have?
A one-eyed dog called Leonie and a black cat called Solar.

Who is your hero and why?
Anyone who sacrifices their life for the cause to free the oppressed, or simply to save another life.

What is your biggest extravagance?
Writing a four-page letter to President Bill Clinton, knowing it won't make any difference.

What do you like and hate about this world?
I love the diversity and ingenuity of nature. I hate the short-sighted and destructive selfishness of man.

How would you spend a million?
On ways to promote world revolution so that cruelty and hunger are a thing of the past.

What is your favourite restaurant?
I hate restaurants because they are over-priced and full of Yuppies.

Favourite food?
As I only eat to live, I have no favourites.

Favourite drink?
I don't drink alcohol any more, but I used to like cider.

What is your biggest achievement?
Answering your questions.

What would you like for an epitaph?
Either: "He was a small step in a better direction", or "The old sod's not dead yet."