“What I believe will make my acting career successful going forward is hard work. I like to challenge myself. Then it’s the people I meet and choosing the projects I want to work on correctly. There’s a lot of characters I can play.”

I dont see myself only as a Somali character. I think of myself as an actor, and if the job fits me and I like the story, I will go for it.

I left Somalia when I was seven years old, but I witnessed a whole year in a war.

I was lucky enough to have parents that took me out from country to country and go to school and learn how to be a better person.

The line was originally, ‘Captain Phillips, get a load of me: fancy-free on the seven seas,’ but I ad-libbed.

It is weird. A lot of people try to ask me political questions. Im not a politician.

When you work with a great director, you realise you are far from being a director.

I just want to keep acting and better my craft and see how far it goes.

Heaven ain’t hard to find; all you gotta do is look.

Tis hard to fight with anger, but the prudent man keeps it under control.

Forgiveness is almost the hardest thing that you could ever do.

Self-love is hardest to do when you need it most.

Walking away from someone that you believe you love, despite them being an unhealthy match for you, is one of the hardest things to do.

Stay away from people you make you realize you’re hard to love.

The hardest battle you’re ever going to fight is the battle to be just you.

Life gets easier when you love yourself harder.