The world of cinema does not end with Hollywood and Bollywood: we invite you to travel to the sunny Middle East and take a look at the local beauties who stand guard over Arab cinema.
Their careers are followed by millions of social media users, and they themselves boldly and confidently debunk the myth that an Arab woman’s success cannot extend beyond her home. We show what the 10 most popular eastern actresses look like and tell why talent and exotic beauty are far from their only advantages.
Hand Sabri
Country: Tunisia
She is a regular at the most prestigious film festivals in Dubai and Doha, and, by the way, not always as an actress. Alas, only experienced orientalists will be able to watch Hand Sabri’s performance, since films with her participation were never aimed at Western distribution. But you can appreciate her talent as a director in the documentary “Cairo, Visions and Hopes,” which was translated into English.
By the way, social work in Hand’s career occupies no less significant place than acting in films. For more than 10 years now, the woman has been acting as an ambassador for the UN World Food Program and is also actively blogging on social networks (including her own website), where she regularly publishes posts (in English too) that draw attention to the humanitarian problems of the Middle East.
Donia Samir Ghanem
Country: Egypt
Donia was born into a family of actors, so the girl’s talent for acting in theater and cinema was probably inherited. Her star lit up when she was 16 years old – she played in one of the popular Egyptian TV series. Now, in addition to filming full-length film projects, Donia actively participates in TV shows (including acting as a judge in the Arabic version of the X Factor program) and sings with a guitar (her songs are also available on Russian resources).
Of course, she also blogs and does charity work. Her field is protecting children (the girl is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Egypt).
Ghada Abdel Razek
Country: Egypt
Some time ago, Ghada Abdel Razek received the prestigious Lebanese Murex d’Or award as “Best Actress in the Arab World.” At 52 years old, the woman barely looks 40, and although she is not currently an ambassador for any charitable organization, she can be called an ambassador of Arabic style with full confidence.
Yasmin Abdulaziz
Country: Egypt
Yasmin Abdulaziz began acting at the age of 15 – however, the girl began her path to fame with commercials. But it was precisely such small projects that opened the way for her to local television series and later to feature films. It is interesting that, despite the early start in her film career, the girl did not give up the idea of getting an education. Yasmin graduated from the prestigious Modern Academy, an educational institution that specializes in the study of economics and business administration.
Dorra Zarrouk
Country: Tunisia
Dorra Zarrouk is not only known for her beauty but also for her intellect. As the daughter of the former head of the Central Bank of Tunisia, she received a top-notch education in law and political science, dedicating her thesis to the issue of Palestinian refugees. Dorra’s natural gifts extend beyond her intelligence; she is also blessed with remarkable looks and undeniable acting talent. Before making her mark on the big screen, Dorra worked as a model and explored her talents in theater.
Today she is one of the most sought-after actresses in Egypt and Tunisia. Also, thanks to her theater experience, she periodically serves on the jury of reputable Middle Eastern film festivals.
Mona Zaki
Country: Egypt
It’s funny that initially Mona Zaki didn’t want to be an actress. She received her first role completely unexpectedly for herself, when she came to the casting just to catch a glimpse of her idol, actor Mohammed Sobhi, and he took and approved her for the role in his play. However, even then Mona did not perceive this as a sign of fate, and instead of acting she chose the Faculty of Communications of Cairo University. True, even there a respected director found her and invited her to play a role in the series.
Since then, Mona no longer goes against her talent and builds an excellent career in cinema (Russian audiences can admire her performance in the film “Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story,” which gained fame at the Venice Film Festival). In addition, the woman, in collaboration with WHO, is leading a campaign to increase literacy in the field of blood donation, and also actively criticizes the internal policies of the Egyptian government.
Mai Ezz Eldin
Country: Egypt
Mai’s fans affectionately call her the “fashion princess,” a title she truly embodies. Originating from the Emirates, Mai is not only a sought-after actress but also a favorite among local representatives of leading fashion houses. Her influence extends beyond the screen and luxury brand ads. Mai is passionate about her Instagram (an extremist organization banned in Russia), where she delights her followers with stylish outfits and shares her unique hobby: intricate braiding, blending glamour with personal charm.
Mais Hamadan
Country: Jordan
Mais Hamadan has become widely known as a comedic actress and a talented impersonator. Moreover, this talent played a bad joke on her when Mais, during the next TV show, allowed herself to parody a Filipino accent (the actress speaks excellent English and portraying some dialect is not a problem for her). The Filipinos ended up being terribly offended, calling the Jordanian star “racist.” However, Mais publicly apologized for her outburst, and the scandal quickly subsided without affecting the actress’s popularity in any way. At least at local social events and carpet events, Mais is still the guest of honor.
Ayten Amer
Country: Egypt
The star of melodramas Ayten Amer – unlike many of his colleagues – went through a full-fledged acting school in Cairo. The girl dreamed of shining on the screen since childhood, but on the way to her goal, Aiten had to overcome one of the most dangerous professional phobias – the fear of the camera. Experience in the modeling business helped. Now the actress is 35 years old, and her portfolio already includes about 25 works in films and TV series.
Nesrin Tafish
Country: Syria
Nesrine owes her magnificent beauty to her Algerian and Palestinian roots. Like most of her colleagues, she started out filming commercials and episodic roles in TV series. Today, however, she not only acts in films, but also produces music videos (unlike films, they are, fortunately, widely available and do not require a translator), and also does not forget about her social duty, actively advocating for peace in Syria and campaigning for recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.