The star of SBS program Safe Harbour, Hazem Shammas, is still in disbelief.
SBS News talked with Mr Shammas on Monday, a day after he won most outstanding supporting actor at the TV Week Logie Awards for his role as Ismail Al-Bayati in the asylum-seeker mini-series drama.
"It was an amazing experience, it [still is] an amazing experience, the journey continues," he said, reflecting on his involvement with the program.
Hazem Shammas with his Logie for the most outstanding supporting actor at the 2018 Logie Awards at The Star Casino on the Gold Coast, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AAP Source: AAP
As a Palestinian-born Australian with parents who moved to Australia in search of a better life, Mr Shammas praised the Safe Harbour's ability to tackle topical issues such as xenophobia.
"We are being caught up in our xenophobia and there are repercussions, and it's something we don't talk about enough."
"What SBS does … Is to challenge some of the norms we think we can get away with on the other networks."
He said the series made him focus on "the people who take that kind of journey, and are taking that journey now, and who are locked up".
Speech to remember
Accepting his award on Sunday, Mr Shammas delivered a powerful speech addressing xenophobia and racism in Australia.
The actor stunned the audience with a heartfelt acceptance speech about his new role as a father.
He thanked the nurses that cared for his nine-week premature son, calling them the "real heroes", and admitted he was distracted during the award's show.
A shot from Safe Harbour. The show also took out • Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie. Source: SBS
“This is overwhelming. I’m sorry I’ve got to confess I’m slightly distracted this evening,” he started.
“I want to take a quick moment to just send a thank you to my beautiful family. We’ve just welcomed a brand new baby boy into the world. He’s about nine weeks premature and while my heart is there, I wanted to send my thank yous to the amazing nurses at the NICU ward at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Randwick. You guys are the real heroes, thank you.”
After thanking his wife for her support, Mr Shammas then courageously addressed discrimination in Australia.
“[It’s] the fragility and the preciousness of life that makes me realise now how amazing something like Safe Harbour is,” Mr Shammas said.
“Life is too fleeting to deal with xenophobia and the racism and the hatred that we really don’t want to talk about. It’s because of SBS and Matchbox and their courage to create this drama and these kinds of characters is why I’m here and why I’m so proud to be a part of this. This is surreal."
He finished his speech on a touching note, dedicating the award to his late-father for risking everything to bring his young family to Australia in the hope of a new life.
SBS also picked up another award, with NITV winning the TV Week Logie award for Most Outstanding Children's Program for the animation Little J & Big Cruz.
