🤐 SPOILER ALERT 🤐

The third episode of The Crown Season 5 focuses on the rise of Mohamed al-Fayed (Salim Daw) from the streets of Alexandria, Egypt, to the seat of honor at the Windsor Horse Show. A childhood glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor leads to a lifelong fascination with the British monarchy, culminating in Mohamed’s friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales (Elizabeth Debicki), who gives him the nickname “Mou Mou.” In the third installment of The Crown: The Official Podcast, host Edith Bowman talks to Daw about stepping into character. Ahead you’ll find a transcript of their conversation. For more behind-the-scenes insight into the episode and interviews with writer Peter Morgan, director Alex Gabassi and head of research Annie Sulzberger, listen to the full episode on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Edith Bowman: I was very lucky to meet the phenomenal Salim Daw who plays Mohamed al-Fayed to talk about taking on this massive role. Salim, thank you so much for being here. It’s genuinely really lovely to talk to you about this character that you play, and your performance. Congratulations — it’s really special.

Salim Daw: Thank you. 

Bowman: I want to talk about getting the role, [and] the opportunity to play Mohamed al-Fayed on The Crown. How did you feel about that? 

Daw: I was so excited to hear that I might be cast in this amazing show. It’s a great thing. We did an audition via Zoom and sometime after that I got the call confirming I was cast.

Bowman: How did that make you feel? 

Daw: For me, it’s a dream. It’s a real, real dream to have this big character in this great series. I was so happy. 

Bowman: Do you mind if I ask what you did for your audition? 

Daw: I did the lovely scene with Diana with my daughter.

Bowman: Beautiful. 

Daw: Because I did my audition when I was at home.

Bowman: Oh wow, that’s so interesting — because their relationship could be seen as very father-daughter.

Daw: Oh, yes.

Bowman: How did you work with the creatives behind the scenes? We’ve been lucky to speak to so many of them, and they work so collaboratively with each other. 

Daw: Everyone is so great. The wonderful and the great Amy [Roberts]. 

Bowman: Ah yes the amazing costume design team! Amy and Sid!

Daw: I love them so much. My god. From here I say a big hello to Amy and Sid. Amy helped me, really, to find Mou Mou. Her choices of costumes helped me to feel closer and captured his [charisma]. Then I have an amazing wig. Amazing wig! When I go in the caravan to makeup, I go as Salim Daw. [When I walk out of] there, I am Mohamed al-Fayed. And then Alex Gabassi, the director, he is so creative and so talented. It was a big pleasure for me to work with him. 

Bowman: Did he give you some freedom to play with the character?

Daw: Oh, yes. We talk[ed] a lot about my character and we listen[ed] very attentively to each other. Together we found many, many details. 

Bowman: I’m interested to know how you prepared for this role. I think the public only really know Mohamed al-Fayed from the headlines that we’ve read. We don’t know his story. So, what was the work you put in to research the character and prepare? 

Daw: Annie [Sulzberger] and the whole team of research did a wonderful job providing us with all the information about our character. This definitely helped me to know Mohamed more and to be more prepared. I have watched numerous interviews with him, observed him. The way he speaks, walks, loves  — everything about him. He is a fascinating person. So colorful. 

Bowman: Something that Peter [Morgan] said was so important to him about this particular episode [was] “Mou Mou” being bilingual. What was that experience like for you? 

Daw: Yes, this was a great challenge for me, because both English and [the] Egyptian dialect are not my languages. My language is Palestinian Arabic. Egyptian is so different. Another music, another details… but I love challenges very much. I worked hard on improving my English for the part.

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Bowman: Your English is very good, may I add! 

Daw:: Thank you. When I arrived, I [was] scared to open my mouth. Now, I feel better. 

Bowman: Salim, how would you describe your character? What’s your interpretation of Mohamed? 

Daw: Mohamed’s progression is very tense. He went through so much in his life. He is so motivated to be on top that this actually dictates the way he lives, and the way he behaves. He is so sharp, he observes everything around him, and when he gets an opportunity, he goes for it. He came from nothing. And he became everything.

Bowman: We first see you on screen as Mohamed as he is attempting to buy the Ritz Hotel. How would you describe the character at this particular point? What's he like? I like how you laugh!

Daw: I’m laughing ’cause I love this scene very, very much. At this point he is most confident because he wants the hotel. He loves this hotel and he knows he will get it. And I felt that when I did this scene, I knew exactly that I will get this hotel from Madame Ritz. When I worked on this character from the beginning, I felt [that he’s] like a crocodile. He’s here, [he] observes, waiting. And when he sees something important, he goes [for] it. 

Bowman: In this scene as well, we also get a real insight into [another] side of the relationship between Mohamed and [his son] Dodi. I wanted to ask how you would describe Mohamed and Dodi’s relationship in this episode, played by the wonderful Khalid Abdalla?

Daw: It’s a very complicated father-son relationship. This is a father that loves his son deeply and is willing to do anything for him. But at the same time, this same love can make him be controlling and unfair. Dodi is such a devoted son, torn between pleasing his father and waiting to make his own decisions. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. 

Bowman: Do you think it’s complicated because he had a complicated relationship with his father? Do you think that’s part of the reason?

Daw: Yes. His father was a simple teacher, you know? And Mohamed, he saw the world… he wants to be on top. And he wanted his son, Dodi, to be really on top. 

Bowman: Yeah. Wanted him to be like him. 

Daw: Yes. I think every father wants his sons to be like him. It’s the big fault of every father all over the world.

Bowman: It’s really wonderful to watch you and Khalid play those scenes together. He’s a beautiful actor. What was that like, working with him? 

Daw: Khalid is such a talented actor and a wonderful human being. We have such a wonderful relationship on- and off-screen. You know, it feels like we are really a father and a son. There is a confrontation between Mou Mou and Dodi, when Dodi asks Mou Mou for money to produce his own movie. Yes, Mou Mou insults him, telling him he has nothing. But then immediately we see Mou Mou and Dodi on the set of Dodi’s film, realizing Mou Mou gave him the money in the end. And this really shows how complicated the relationship was. He loves him very much and he is so hard with him sometimes, but in the end, he gives him everything.

Bowman: It’s almost like he wants him to fight for it before he gives it to him. He wants to see the drive, he wants to see the determination.

Daw: Exactly. 

Bowman: I love watching you when they win the Oscar. That’s a great scene. 

Daw: Yes. Very lovely scene. We win! I win! 

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Bowman: How would you describe Mohamed and Sydney Johnson’s relationship? He’s a very important man in Mohamed’s life. 

Daw: When Mou Mou first sees Sydney, he doesn’t love him at all and asks to throw him out, but when he realizes who he is, he asks for him back. And here we [understand] Mohamed al-Fayed. He can change. He’s flexible. Why does he ask to have him back? Because he needs Sydney to help him to be a real British, English gentleman. This is his dream. But then after that, Sydney becomes Mou Mou’s only best friend. 

Bowman: From all the research that you did, and the script and playing the character, what is your understanding of his drive for acceptance by the royal family? 

Daw: I understood that he thinks that he will own the world if this happens. He will become bigger if he’s close to the queen.

Bowman: The one person that he does become close to within that family is Diana. At the end of this episode, we see Mohamed and Diana meet and quickly become friends. They’re like kindred spirits almost, both seeking acceptance. Diana’s played by the hugely talented Elizabeth Debicki. Tell us a little bit about filming with Elizabeth. 

Daw: We enjoyed working together a lot, and we developed a very special work relationship together. It’s a huge pleasure for me to work with this friend. 

Bowman: I love the scene at the polo [match] with the bag of goodies. It’s almost like they’re pulled together. 

Daw: Elizabeth and me, we listen to each other. We laugh very well together. So, what [do] I need more than that? Nothing.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length. For more, check out the full episode of The Crown: The Official Podcast.