A biography for Omid Djalilihasn’t been written yet.
“The plight of the Baha'i community in Iran has served as a backdrop to my life growing up in London, particularly since the Islamic revolution in 1979.”
“I couldn't care less whether 'Sex and the City 2' was disappointing. I got to spend a week with the four girls and it was wonderful.”
“I think for any comedian to come and get big laughs from a really tough, discerning, comedy-literate audience, it is the biggest stamp of approval.”
“It started when I did a 20-minute act in the comedy clubs and only had enough material for 17 minutes, so I filled with a bit of belly dancing. Then the act got stronger and I didn't need it, but people asked for it.”
“To have a comedian stand up and use the shield of irony and the sword of truth, you're there to point out ridiculous things in society. Who better than a comedian to do that?”
“The big crowds are good, but when you're on stage at the Hammersmith Apollo it's like Euston station; there are 3,600 people, so there's always going to be 100 people getting up and moving around and it's very distracting.”
“The Iranian government must respect the rights of all its minorities, release the seven leaders, and emancipate the Baha'i community.”
“Unbelievably, I was to have an encounter with Mel Smith when he came to my school to watch 'The Scott Joplin Revue' - my first ever play. There was never a real explanation as to why he was there.”
“Not the Nine O'Clock News' was the first comedy show I truly responded to when I was a teenager. I watched it avidly not just for pleasure but also for kudos.”
“Breakfast is French toast. It's very similar to English toast. The only difference is, when I'm eating it, a Turkish friend comes round and insults me.”
“I used to be a very fit, athletic footballer. When I became a comedian, everything went to pot: long journeys; late-night food. I went from being a fit young man to a blob.”
“The first job I ever had was working for my dad, helping him out with some of his work as a translator - he used to take in sick lodgers who had come over from Iran to get medical assistance. It was 1975 and I was 10 at the time.”
“I had spinal meningitis when I was 13.”
“The prospect of living in a world where there is no God terrifies me. Even if the atheists are right, it doesn't uplift me to hear them.”
“I think it's a huge thing in a multicultural society that people know my name.”
“What I'm trying to do through comedy is to be a solution. I'm trying to do something because the world is so crazy. I'm going on tour just to try to make sense of it myself and to see if I can ask the right questions and provide the right answers.”
“Muslims believe in Moses, Christ, Buddha, but they say Mohammed was the last, everyone in the world should become Muslims. The Baha'is believe their prophet is the latest and not the last. All religions are different chapters in the same book.”
“My English side really loves the royal family, and my Iranian side hates me for this.”
“I was very lucky to get a part in Gladiator and had a couple of scenes with Oliver Reed. I was basically a bit frightened of him.”