Arab Cinema’s Leading Ladies: 10 Vintage Photos of Iconic Egyptian Actors
A throwback to The Golden Age of Egyptian cinema, captured in timeless vintage photographs of its most iconic actors
In the modern era, unattainable beauty standards reign supreme – predicated upon the belief that one must excessively exert oneself to attain aesthetic perfection. It is a breath of fresh air to look back at previous generations of iconic Arab women – more specifically, the leading ladies who dominated the Golden Age of Egyptian cinema – who remind us that beauty comes in a range of shapes and styles, and that it is rooted in authenticity, effortlessness, and spontaneity.
A vintage photograph embodies each of these imperfectly perfect traits: Its grainy appearance, lack of sharpness, and absence of colour render the captured moment all the more unique. Untarnished by excessive touch-ups, both the vintage photo and the photographed Egyptian actor exude a timeless and unbridled joy – capturing an authentically beautiful moment in time. Transporting us back to spontaneous and authentic moments lived by Arab cinema’s most glamorous leading ladies, Bazaar Arabia compiles 10 vintage photographs of iconic actors, whose timeless and effortless beauty lives on today.
10 Vintage Photos of Iconic Egyptian Actors
Soad Hosny (1943-2001)
Dubbed the “Cinderella of Egyptian Cinema,” Soad Hosny is one of the most renowned and beloved actresses in the Arab world at large. Stealing hearts across the globe with her playful and innocent charm, the multitalented star has sung and acted in a wide variety of projects including the iconic Khalli Balak Min Zouzou (Watch Out For Zouzou), Ghoroub wa Shorouq (Sunset and Sunrise), and Saghira Ala El Hob (Too Young To Love). Mona Zaki honoured Soad Hosny by portraying her in the highly successful biopic The Cinderella, based on the late icon’s career and life. The Cinderella of Egyptian Cinema tragically passed away in 2001, after suffering a fatal fall from the balcony of her friend’s apartment in London.
Naglaa Fathi (1951-present)
Née Fatmah Elzahra Hesin Fathi, Naglaa Fathi is considered to be one of the most beautiful, delicate, and graceful actors in the history of Arab cinema. Having starred in over 80 films — including Alexandria… Why?, Supermarket, and The Most Beautiful Days of My Life — the star has shared the Big Screen with some of the biggest heartthrobs in Egyptian cinema such as Ahmed Zaki, Hussein Fahmy, and Farid Shawqi.
Laila Elwi (1962-present)
The iconic Laila Elwi is a striking and effortless beauty, inspiring a generation of women to emulate her unique and distinctive style. The highly gifted and charismatic actor holds a prestigious position in Egyptian cinema to this very day, having starred in iconic projects throughout her career such as I Love Cinema and Hob Al Banat (Girls’ Love).
Shadia (1931-2017)
Née Fatma Ahmad Kamal Shaker, the iconic Shadia was initially a gifted singer, but she swiftly became one of the most successful and beloved actors in Arab cinema. She notably starred in the renowned Raya and Sakina play, mesmerising audiences with her impeccable acting skills and divine vocal prowess. She acted in over 100 films and married her co-star Salah Zulfikar; the pair starred in Aghla Min Hayati (More Valuable Than My Life), along with other projects.
Shwikar (1938-2020)
The Egyptian icon Shwikar, of Circassian and Turkish descent, was primarily a comedic actor at the start of her career. She rose to fame alongside her co-star and husband Fouad El-Mohandes, and the successful comedic duo dominated the Egyptian film industry with films like Sayedaty Al-Gamila (My Fair Lady), Akhtar Ragol Fil Alam, and Viva Zalata. The couple ended up separating after 20 years of marriage, but the multidimensional Shwikar went on to diversify her portfolio, starring in a range of genres beyond comedy.
Zubaida Tharwat (1940-2016)
Zubaida Tharwat is renowned for her elegance, grace, and strikingly beautiful eyes. In fact, she won a nation-wide competition in Egypt for having the most beautiful eyes — acquiring the coveted title of the lady with “the most beautiful eyes in classic Egyptian cinema.” She starred in a range of timeless classics such as Yom Min Omri (1961), alongside the legendary Adel Halim Hafez. Contemporary audiences have most recently pointed out the uncanny and intriguing resemblance between the Egyptian star and Jennifer Lawrence.
Hind Rostom (1931-2011)
Hind Rostom is one of the most beautiful actresses in Egyptian cinema, particularly revered for her sensuality and seductive allure. Dubbed the “Marilyn Monroe of the East,” the iconic actress holds a prestigious and timeless position in Arab cinema. She has starred alongside some of the greatest names in Egyptian cinema such as the iconic Fareed Al Atrash. A classic beauty, the beloved Hind Rostom’s timeless appeal lives on today.
Mervat Amin (1946-present)
Mervat Amin is a renowned Egyptian actor, known for her beauty and elegant demeanour, who dominated the world of Egyptian cinema alongside Naglaa Fathi at a certain point in time. The actors were considered to be competitors, but each of the stars had her own dedicated audience of admirers.
Her mother was British, and the star was often praised for her unique European features. Mervat ended up tying the knot with her beau, the legendary Hussein Fahmy, in 1974. The duo achieved plenty of success together with films like Enemy Brothers and Forbidden Desires. An icon of beauty and grace, the actor most recently starred in the hilarious Egyptian film Morgan Ahmed Morgan alongside comedic legend Adel Emam.
Samia Gamal (1924-1994)
Samia Gamal was initially a distinguished belly dancer, praised for her impeccable and distinctive style of dance as well as her playful charm and undeniable beauty. She entered the world of cinema and rose to fame alongside the legendary “King of Oud” Fareed Al Atrash, both of whom starred in films like Habib El-Omr, Ahebbak Enta, Ma Takulshi La Hada, and Little Miss Devil. Despite their true love story, the couple never wed and Samia ended up marrying another Egyptian legend Rushdy Abaza, with whom she starred in The Second Man (1959).
Mariam Fakhr Eddine (1933-2014)
Nicknamed the “Beauty of the Screen” and the “Angel of the Screen,” Mariam Fakhr Eddine is one of the most beloved and graceful actors in Arab cinema. She was praised for her unique beauty, which she inherited from her Hungarian mother, and was known for her elegance and calm demeanour on the Big Screen. The renowned actor starred alongside various Egyptian legends in a range of films, including Fareed Al Atrash and Rushdy Abaza. Mariam wed Mahmoud Zulfikar, the prominent Egyptian filmmaker who discovered her in the first place, in 1952. Coincidentally, Mahmoud is the brother of Shadia’s former husband Salah Zulfikar.
Lead image courtesy of @egyptiancinemaexperience
Images courtesy of @vintageeast