Rania Salwan maybe used to globetrotting and interviewing the famous but we caught up with the TV personality, and actress to answer a few of our questions.

If I gave you an elephant where would you hide it?

If you gave me an elephant why should I hide it? I will show it to the whole world and be proud to have this Indian traditional animal from an Indian friend

If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be and what would you say to them?

Osho, the Indian mystic guru and philosopher for sure, and it would be so quiet and calm, I would not even breathe to just hear his words!!

Who has been the most fun and entertaining to interview?

Michael Bolton...due to his sense of humor and his charismatic personality

Has there been anyone you’ve been disappointed by when you’ve met them in person?

-disappointed???? Ohhhh many of them… especially “a singer”... who I wont mention.. I decided to interview him because of his new release which was a very nice song, and video clip…he came to the studio and we started on air (the segment should be running for 10-12min).. and every time I asked him a question of 2 or 3 lines, he answered by 2 words... he drove me crazy and he was so naive..    
..I was so frustracted that I just said thank for being here and sorry for waking u up... let’s enjoy some music now by watching the video clip...hahhahha

What was your most difficult interview?

It was with Gabriel Yared “the musician” they called me from TV in the morning to interview him at the same day at 5 pm.
I'm sorry to say but I didn’t know anything about him beforehand, so I had to complete full research and prepare French questions (his Arabic language is very weak) and then I went with a horrible headache to sit with him, near to the sea and the sun was just starring into my eyes... and the temperature was about 32 degrees... add mosquitoes were biting my skin… So imagine I had to concentrate on everything... It was really horrible day but as a true professional I got a really great result on air.

You’ve been in the entertainment industry for a long time, from TV personality to actress to modeling, What do you prefer to do, what are you passionate about most and why?

First of all I started as an actress, I studied and I got a certificate of "cinematographic sciences" and another one as “theater diploma” then I moved to programs as a presenter..

For some time I felt that I was losing the talent of acting... as I didn’t make good role choices… So I decide to stop, so I can find myself again… I got the opportunity to start presenting a segment for a program called “3a2ilati”or “my family” 3 times a week... I liked the experience, it helped me to know more about babies and families, especially since I was pregnant at the time.  I stayed for 3 consecutive years then started a new segment in a morning show called "3alam al saba7" or “morning’s world” to present a music segment “talking about new releases, interview the celebrities, and gossip…etc…”

also I had an outside segment in a night show called “tal al sahar” or “the long night” last Ramadan 2009 almost every day on air…

After that in 2010 the production decided to continue with this program once a week I stayed for 3 months with them and then left... I realized that it wasn’t an appropriate place to me it doesn’t add anything to my career…
I don't prefer either acting or presenting…acting is a great feeling something you cannot do in real life “live as another person”
Presenting is about knowledge, curiosity of knowing, and intelligence in asking, how to be wise in using your words and capture the viewers… I guess I’m good at that ;)
N.B: I’m not into modeling but I have another talent: I write small stories, thoughts, a bit of poetry.

How did you get started?

I started since the first year in university… when I found out there was a casting somewhere I went and introduced myself but I admit it was really difficult to start and go!!

What did you dream of doing as a child?

I always say “I go beyond the dreams”... my childhood wasn’t easy we lived during the war and stayed most of the time moving from shelter to another, for us the real pleasure was to see the light or the sun... Our dreams were so small and silly… but now I have crossed over that bridge… dreams are behind me, now I make plans, I work, I shoot, either I get a goal or I miss it!!

I’m sure you’ve succeeded and managed to fulfill many dreams and ambitions so far in your life.  You grew up during the war, how did you feel during this period of your life?

It was horrible we were 2 daughters with their mom moving from region to another walking on their feet between the bombs holding their sheets and clothes ...my dad was a soldier and we couldn’t be able to see him for months... I cannot even think of that ugly period I still have problems with big sounds like thunder or fireworks!! at that moment I felt a real anger but nothing can do!!

Who inspires you?

Every successful person inspires me
every nice word inspires me
every touching situation inspires me!!

Tell us about your new TV show that will be shown during Ramadan?

It's “Zakerat Al Jasad” or “body's memory” from the great author “Ahlam Mostaghanmi”, script writer “Reem Hanna" and directed by the genius “Najdat Anzour”
It's a great story well known in the Arab Countries... I play a role added to the main story...a Lebanese girl to be the lover of the hero “Jamal Sleiman” I won’t say anything more coz it's supposed to be a surprise ;) but I will be that sexy cute woman who gets in his life and makes a difference! My role will start in episode 23… many actors participated from Tunisia, Syria, Algeria and Lebanon... It will be shown during Ramadan 2010 on LBC and Abu Dhabi. I hope u will all like it…

My role is small but I consider myself lucky to work with geniuses like Jamal Sleiman and Najdat Anzour.

It has a lot of famous actors, who was your favorite to work with?

Well I didn’t meet many of them coz my scenes are with Jamal… they are all good and nice to work with... but my hero was Jamal… no doubt about it... I guess after watching the series women will hate me hahaha

Women will always be jealous, but I’m sure the boys will be jealous of Jamal lol…Your character is different from you in real life, how did you adapt to play the role?

My character is so complicated I guess whether they like it or not... Every one of us has something hidden inside themselves… some people get the chance to show it somewhere and some die with it… I'm so thankful that I'm lucky to have this gift which is the talent of acting so I can always show what I can be and what I can achieve by being another person

You’re based in Lebanon, would you consider moving to more European or US TV roles?

My life is all about Lebanon, I was born in Lebanon, during the war I stayed here and got raised… In Lebanon I studied, I worked, I met my husband, I have 2 wonderful children, and in Lebanon I will stay and die… hahhahh I was trying to make a tragedy...
no really I like to stay in my country, but of course I would like to act in some foreign film if I could have the chance...

Where’s the last place you went on holiday?

I was in Iran two months ago I visited Isfahan and Tehran it was really nice to know such a cultural country...there is history everywhere, beauty nature nice people and especially we got respect from everyone and we are well known there “I had a movie showing there and I went with two actors we have been invited by the TV there” I really enjoyed a whole week there..

When was the last time you cried?

I am a very sensitive woman if I see on TV someone crying… I cry and you know my dear Asif, this world is full of bad people and unfair rules so how couldn’t I cry everyday???

When was the last time you said I love you?

Love is the way one behaves!!

But let's say that every minute I say I love u to my son and daughter but everyday I SHOW my husband how much I love him.
I just learned that showing love is much more important than saying just words!!!

What’s your guilty pleasure?

The pleasure is never a guilty feeling to me… also I’ve never done anything in my life that I regretted.

Do you live up to the glamorous lifestyle?

I enjoy my life... I do whatever I love to do… I wear what fits me not what's fashion, I eat what's healthy, and I don’t care about which restaurant I go to, or to show people where and what I’m eating.  

I go party when I feel like dancing and having fun, not to show off and make from myself an easy target for the photographers.  I'm so simple, I’m a very normal person, I don’t even wear branded clothes... I buy anything anytime from anywhere…

But I'm a fun woman I like to be happy and make everyone happy around me :)

Your an incredibly attractive young lady, and it's refreshing to see that your not so into fashion or beauty, what do you think about the actors and actresses who use plastic surgery to maintain their youthful looks?

When it comes to ordinary girls I think yes, we have a problem coz they have become all the same, Its like they have been photocopied… I'm not against surgeries but there is a big difference between fixing something wrong and changing your look… I just wonder how can a man like a girl who looks like 100000 other girls...everyone of us likes beauty but when we try too hard to make it, we become ugly... It's nice to be unique to have maybe a birth mark or a mole or maybe a remarkable small bone on the nose or on the front. “I have a broken bone on my nose and I wont get it fix it"

Looking at some of the most famous faces in Beirut their faces all now look the same, heavily botoxed with lots of surgery... Is it a growing problem there?

Even famous women have become all the same, just big things on their body... Sorry for saying that but it is disgusting...they have to love themselves for what they make and who they are, not what they do to themselves… at the end I say like there are foolish men, there are also wise men who can choose and notice the difference.

What is the weirdest thing you ever had to do for a story?

Weirdest thingssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
If I have to start, I’m afraid I will never finish...
Just imagine someone like me very energetic, motivated, hyper, moody, and creative... What will happen!??!!??!?

If you weren't in entertainment today, what would you be doing?

I wouldn’t exist if I weren’t in entertainment… I was born to do this!!

Tell our readers when and where they can see you on TV next?

You still can see me on future TV in “3a2ilati/my family” and every Friday in “3alam al saba7” the morning show at 9:45am to present a music segment… during Ramadan as I said on LBC and ABUDHABI in “Zakerat Al Jasad” starting episode 23...
Next month I will choose between two scripts I have to know what role I will be playing...  I’m hoping I have a nice surprise after Ramadan ;)))

Rania you’re a true lady and you’ve overwhelmed us here at Jetset Dubai, with your beauty, charms, grace, humor and truthful nature.  It’s been a pleasure to be in your presence and for once for you to be answering all the questions.

Thanks to Asif, Thanks to this lovely magazine...
You made me answer guys; It’s weird not to be the one asking hehe

Good luck and wish you the best, and a big thank you to all my fans and family for their support.

Best regards
Rania Salwan