As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has traversed the globe from Switzerland to London and back again, I can confidently say that I am utterly captivated by the extraordinary journey of Yasmina El-Abd. This young actress, barely out of her teens, is breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes in the Arab world’s film industry with every role she takes on.
16-year-old rising Egyptian actress Yasmina El-Abd, who’s gained significant success since her debut at age 12, demonstrates the growing prominence of women’s empowerment within the Arab world’s film and television industry.
El-Abd, originally from Switzerland and part of an Egyptian family, pursued drama studies in London. Her debut acting role was in the critically acclaimed short film “The Shadow of Cairo,” where she portrayed Maya, a 12-year-old character who seeks justice for her mother’s death by taking on the role of a vigilante-like figure, targeting sexual harassers in Cairo.
Following these initial appearances, she has taken on various roles such as:
18-year-old multilingual talent Yasmina El-Abd (fluent in English, French, and Arabic) shared insights on her professional journey and the reason she’s eager to take on the role of an executive producer, as she discussed this with EbMaster.
At what point did you come to understand the significance of portraying strong, empowered women in the shows or films you act in?
Shortly following the release of “Shadow of Cairo,” which played a significant role in shedding light on sexual harassment in the Middle East, I submitted a self-tape to director Zaid Abu Hamdan, which ultimately led to my involvement. In “Daughters of Abdul-Rahman,” I portrayed Abdul Rahman’s daughter. My character’s journey within this film centered around early and child marriages; being coerced into marrying a man significantly older than myself at a young age. Consequently, it was becoming increasingly clear that I aimed to challenge societal norms in every role I undertook.
How significant has it been to play a lead role in Egyptology-themed series “Theodosia”?
It was an incredible privilege for me to represent Egypt in our production. I found myself deeply captivated by the script, not just because it caters to younger viewers but also because it resonates with all age groups. The writers, who collaborated with Egyptologists, ensured that the content was historically accurate and well-researched.
How has it been for you working with Hend Sabri on “Finding Ola”?
Watching ‘Finding Ola’ was my debut TV series in the Middle East, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate for it was my initial venture. Hend, the star of the show, is simply extraordinary; I could ramble on about her endlessly, but she’s just an exceptional talent if not more. In this second season, Zeina has matured somewhat compared to her first appearance. Age brings growth every few minutes, followed by a return to youthful immaturity, yet the cycle persists. Zeina still embodies the typical Gen Z influencer persona, but she’s gained more prominence in this season, which makes for an interesting portrayal.
In what ways does it matter to you that Sabri, not only plays the lead in “Finding Ola,” but is also one of the show’s executive producers?
I’ve always believed we shouldn’t be limited in the industry as women, we can do the exact same things [as men] and we can lead a show; we can lead a project; we can lead a film and do it in a way that is the most authentic to us. So to see that happening is amazing. She’s also paving the way for young actors like me so that we don’t have to do that too far along in our careers. We can do it young. For us this is a huge blessing, especially in the Middle East. We are seeing a lot of that in the West, where there are so many young girls who are now executive producing projects as well as starring in them. And we should be able to do that here as well, also globally. Because we’re able to; because we can. It’s not just because: oh, we want to. It’s because we really can, and we have things to say that actually matter.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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2024-09-27 16:48