Michael Vice plays Benny Kassab, Dan Moor plays Danny Karam and Hazem Shammas plays Bill Bayeh
The Underbelly stars who play Bill Bayeh, Danny Karam and Benny Kassab talk gangsters, nudity and hair gel.
Hazem Shammas plays Bill Bayeh
Did you watch a lot of crime shows and movies to help prepare you for Underbelly?
I just went to family barbecues. I’m joking. I went back and watched the other
Underbelly series but nothing much else, because I didn’t want to fall in as the stereotypical gangster.
Before you read the project, were you afraid The Golden Mile was a show about urinals?
Definitely. I thought it had to be about urinals or urination — all the things that are golden up in the Cross.
How much does a crim’s style have to do with pulling hot chicks?
Well, style in the form of lots and lots of dollar bills. That’s about all the style you need. Some of these guys can look so stylish in a tracksuit and that’s because they’ve got everything at their fingertips – the world is theirs. I'm still thinking about that urinal question – funny stuff.
So who do you play on the show?
I play Bill Bayeh, a drug dealer who was undone after the Wood Royal Commission. He was put away for quite a long time. I think he’s still serving his term. In my research, people told me he was apparently known for being generous and a gentleman.
How much gel is too much?
Sometimes too much gel is never enough. You’ve got to get into the superglue.
Dan Mor plays Danny Karam
Tell us about your character, mate.
Danny Karam was a violent drug dealer. One of his nicknames was “The Lion of Lebanon”. He was a one-man army and was a commando in the Christian militia in Lebanon at a young age.
Have you got anything in common with him?
I’m Israeli, so I served in the army myself. I'm pretty handy with weapons – I was a shooting instructor and a combat-fitness instructor.
[Talks in character] You're a funny guy. But listen, steroids did not make any difference. I’ve always had a temper problem.
Do you rate Scarface as a fictional gangster?
He’s not the biggest guy but he’s the most powerful. Danny Karam was only 173cm but when I told people I was going to play him, they said, "You’re not gonna play him. He was six-foot-four [193cm]." It's like in Braveheart, where his legend turns him into a giant.
Michael Vice plays Benny Kassab
Where do you fit into The Golden Mile?
I’m one of the new guys in town. I start undercutting all the big boys and run the show for a bit. I piss a lot of people off. Fun stuff.
Your character starts off as a doorman/driver. What’s your criteria for letting people into a club?
Don’t cause trouble, don’t wear sneakers and shorts, have a bit of respect and don’t be a wanker.
It must also help to have hotties with you?
Having a little crew definitely helps. There's no way I’m letting five guys into a club. If you're with hotties, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.
What's the best answer when a bouncer asks, "How many drinks have you had?"
Not many, if any. Don’t look him in the eyes, though.
Underbelly is notorious for its nudity. Does this mean the women of Australia gonna get to see your naked arse?
I really hope so.
What Underbelly series has been your favourite so far? Leave your comment below.
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