The Actor/Model Fady Zablouk
#fadylous
International model and actor Fady Zablouk is burning up the screen and runways with his exotic look. Fady has acted in commercials, music videos and done voice-over work. I reached out to Fady to ask him a little about his passion and life. He was so nice to sit down and have a chat with me.
Can you tell us a little about yourself? How did you get started in modeling and acting?
In 2006 I moved from Iraq to India after the American war to do my Masters in IT. One day an agency came to our university campus in Delhi looking for new models for a fashion show. I went with a friend of mine to audition and we both got selected for the show. My very first runway and first photo-shoot was in Delhi. In 2009 I graduated and decided to move back to the Middle East and this time to Lebanon to see my family. I met my parent’s friend, who is an agent and offered me work on TV and I said sure. She took me to the studio and took some new photos of me and the very next day she started booking me and I was on seven channels within three months. After a short time, my visa ended so I had to leave Lebanon. I was disappointed because I thought this was the end of my modeling career. I moved next to Jordan and decided to get a visa to move to Canada. I worked for LG as an IT administrator waiting for my visa. In 2012 I got my visa and moved to Toronto, and just like any other immigrant was trying to find a job in my field but no one will hire me because I had no Canadian Experience. I landed a modeling job to make some money until something else comes up. I got a job with Bank of Montreal and I was part-time at the beginning and modeling on the side but when I became a full-time BMO employee I could not do much modeling and was missing it big time. I decided to take a risk and quit BMO and do modeling full time and here it starts in 2015 when I flipped my life upside down and since then been modeling and acting full time.
What is one of your favorite photo-shoots and why?
Freddie Mercury Inspired Photo-shoot.
When I saw the movie Bohemian Rhapsody I felt so connected to Freddie. We had many things in common and I could relate to everything that happened to him. I came up with a concept to transform Fady to Freddie by applying Freddie’s style on me. After I had the concept in my mind I started looking for the perfect photographer that has the same vision and then I found Mara on Facebook. Mara used Freddie’s photo in her profile photo and that was a sign. I proposed my concept and she was on board. Mara ordered the same Freddie Yellow Jacket and also found a studio with full instruments where bands practice and we rented it for the shoot. The photos have gone viral and everyone thought I should have been cast for the Freddie role in Bohemian Rhapsody.
How are you holding up during this coronavirus? What have you been doing to pass the time?
It is been over three weeks since I started social distancing and isolating. I have created my own routine. I start my day by doing some push-ups to wake me up. Go out for walks on sunny days. Cooking healthy meals. Learning French using some online lessons. Socializing through social media and catching up on some shows on Netflix.
What feeds your soul?
Creativity. I enjoy getting inspired by different resources around me. I like to come up with a concept and do a photo-shoot to make it into reality. I enjoy styling most of my photo-shoots and finding the right photographer and the perfect location for that concept, then publishing the final photos in a magazine or a blog. I enjoy expressing my feelings through my work and meeting all these wonderfully talented people in the process.
When we are out of this self-isolation, do you have any projects in the works?
Yes, I had several commercials, photo-shoots and runways canceled due to the epidemic and hopefully, I get to do them after things are back to normal. That includes a photo-shoot for a new men’s skincare line called Bromance and a few staged wedding shoots as the wedding season is coming up.
What are some of your hobbies?
I love traveling. I was actually on a mission targeting all the seven wonders around the world. I have seen four so far ( Taj Mahal, Great Wall, Petra, and Matchu Pichu) Hopefully I get to finish the rest soon which are (Pyramids in Cairo, Jesus the redeemer in Rio and Colosseum in Rome). I also enjoy road trips, working out, theatre and swimming.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In terms of modeling, I think I have achieved a lot. I am on billboards, subway ads, Cover Magazines, Posters, online commercials, and social media ads, you name it. I was also nominated as the Runway Model of the decade by Eren Deran on his YouTube Channel. In the next 5 years, I am hoping to get more into acting and hopefully, I get my first full-length movie with a poster playing in theatres and IMDB Page. I had a few scripts offered to me but I am still waiting to get the perfect role for me. I do not want to do just whatever and I also try not to repeat myself.
Fady, it has been a pleasure. If you want to keep up with Fady, follow him on his Instagram or keep an eye out for him burning up the screen or runway with his captivating look.
