Lindsay Lohan was invited to appear on season two of Ramy Youssef's comedy show. Getty Images
Lindsay Lohan was invited to appear on season two of Ramy Youssef's comedy show. Getty Images
Lindsay Lohan was invited to appear on season two of Ramy Youssef's comedy show. Getty Images
Lindsay Lohan was invited to appear on season two of Ramy Youssef's comedy show. Getty Images

'I guess she couldn't make it': Ramy Youssef reveals Lindsay Lohan didn't turn up for 'Ramy' cameo


Emma Day
  • English
  • Arabic

The acclaimed second season of Ramy Youssef's semi-autobiographical comedy series had a number of famous faces among the cast: there was a guest appearance by Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and Egyptian actor Amr Waked stars.

But there was another big name that was supposed to feature in the season, according to Egyptian-American actor Youssef.

Mean Girls star Lindsay Lohan was due to make a cameo in the hit Hulu show.

"We were interested in this idea of people that you don't really think are Muslim," Youssef, 29, told Entertainment Weekly in a new interview. "We actually cast Lindsay Lohan, because Lindsay had this whole thing about converting to Islam."

Though the actress, 33, had been officially cast, according to the comic, she failed to turn up on the day of shooting.

"I talked to her and she was down, and then, you know, like Lindsay does, we just kind of stopped hearing from her," he said. "I was trying to get hold of her and she was on the call sheet, and I guess she couldn't make it. I don't know, I never heard from her."

Youssef said "Lindsay is going to be Lindsay", acknowledging that you couldn't "put her in a box, that's what I know".

The actor is still hopeful of enticing Lohan to star in the next series of Ramy, should the sitcom be renewed.

"Season three inshallah," he tweeted this week.

Youssef's eponymous show, for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy last year, first premiered in April 29.

The actor's faith forms the crux of the groundbreaking sitcom, in which he plays a Muslim man grappling with his background and religion in the US.

Lohan, meanwhile, embraced Islam in recent years, and in 2017 was seen holding a copy of the Quran.

"My very close friends ... in London are Saudi and they gave me the Quran and I brought it to New York because I was learning," she told Turkish TV. “It opened doors for me to experience spiritually, to find another true meaning. This is who I am.”

The actress moved to Dubai several years ago, and has remained in the city throughout the pandemic. She has often said the lack of paparazzi here is one of the major reasons she lives in the UAE.

“I live here, yep, I have been here for about six years," she told David Spade in an interview last month. "But I go to New York a lot to see my family … and I was in London before this,” she said.

The second season of Ramy will premiere on Hulu on Friday, May 29.

The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm

Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm

Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

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Healthy tips to remember

Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:

Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast

Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits

Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day

Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet

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Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900

Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

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Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km

JAPAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
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Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.