FATEN HAMAMA

(, , ) (born 27 May 1931) is an Egyptian producer and an acclaimed actress of film, television, and theatre. Filmography She was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from melodramas to historical films and occasional comedies, though her greatest successes were romantic dramas. Noted for her willingness to play serious characters, she has also acted in some of the most controversial films in the history of Egyptian cinema.
Hamama made her screen debut in 1939, when she was only nine years old. Her earliest roles were minor, but her activity and gradual success helped in establishing herself as a distinguished Arabic actress. Eventually, and after many major successful performances, she was able to achieve stardom and was nicknamed "The Lady of the Arabic Screen" (سيدة الشاشة العربية, ''Sayyidat al-Shasha al-`Arabiya''). Revered as an icon in Arabic cinema, she has substantially helped in improving the cinema industry in Egypt and emphasizing the importance of women in cinema and the Arabic society. Hamama, a revolution! Abd al Min'em, Ghada
After a seven-year hiatus from acting, Hamama returned in 2000 in what was a much anticipated television miniseries, ''Wajh al-Qamar'' (وجه القمر, ''Face of the Moon''). She has not acted since then but is expected to return in a new miniseries in Ramadan of 2007.
In 2000, Hamama was chosen as Star of the Century by the Egyptian Writers and Critics organization. In 2007, eight of the films she starred in were included in the top 100 films in the history of Egyptian cinema by the cinema committee of the Supreme Council of Culture in Cairo. Top 100 Farid, Samir

Contents

Early life and career

Career

Controversy in the late 1960s

Late career

Accomplishments in Egyptian cinema

Personal life

Awards and honors

Awards won

Honors

Selected filmography

Television

Notes and references

Published sources

Other sources

External links

Early life and career

Faten Hamama was born to a Muslim lower middle class family in Al Mansurah, Egypt (according to her birth certificate), but she claims she was born in Cairo, in the Abdeen quarter. Hamama interview Fouad, Khalid Her father, Ahmed Hamama, worked as a clerk in the Egyptian Ministry of Education and her mother was a housewife. She has an older brother, Muneer, a younger sister, Layla, and a younger brother, Mazhar. Her aspiration for acting arose at an early age. Hamama says she was influenced by Assia Dagher as a child. When she was six years old, her father took her to the theater to see a Assia Dagher film; when the audience clapped for Assia, she told her father she felt they were clapping for her.
When she won a children's beauty pageant in Egypt, her father sent her picture to the director Mohammed Karim who was looking for a young female child to play the role of a small girl with the famous actor and musician Mohamed Abdel Wahab in the film ''Yawm Said'' (يوم سعيد, ''Happy Day'', 1939). After an audition, Abdel Wahab decided she was the one he was looking for. After her role in the film, people called her "Egypt's own Shirley Temple". Yom Said Hamama, Egypt's own Shirley Temple Karim, Mohammed The director liked her acting and was impressed with her so much that he signed a contract with her father. Four years later, she was chosen by Kareem for another role with Abdel Wahab in the film ''Rossassa Fel Qalb'' (رصاصة في القلب, ''Bullet in the Heart'', 1944) and in another film two years later, ''Dunya'' (دنيا, ''Universe'', 1946). After her success, Hamama moved with her parents to Cairo and started her study in the High Institute of Acting in 1946. Faten Hamama's biography

Career

Youssef Wahbi, a famous Egyptian director and actor, realized the young actress's talent so he offered her a lead role in the 1946 film ''Malak al-Rahma'' (ملاك الرحمة, ''Angel of Mercy''). The film attracted widespread media attention, and Hamama, who was only 15 at the time, became famous for her melodramatic role. In 1949, Hamama had roles in 3 films with Wahbi. ''Kursi Al-I'etraf'' (كرسي الاعتراف, ''Chair of Confession''), ''Al-Yateematain'' (اليتيمتين, ''The Two Orphans''), and ''Sït Al-Bayt'' (ست البيت, ''Lady of the House'') were all successful films.Darwish (1998) pp. 30-31
The 1950s were the beginning of the golden age of the Egyptian cinema industry and Hamama was a big part of it. In 1952 she starred in the film ''Lak Yawm Ya Zalem'' (لك يوم يا ظالم, ''Your Day will Come'') which was nominated in the Cannes Film Festival for the Prix International award. She also played lead roles in Yousef Shaheen's ''Baba Ameen'' (بابا أمين, ''Ameen, my Father'', 1950) and ''Sira' Fi Al-Wadi'' (صراع في الوادي, ''Struggle in the Valley'', 1954) which was a strong nominee in the 1954 Cannes Film Festival for the Prix International award. Hamama is also known for playing the lead role in the first Arabic mystery film ''Manzel Raqam 13'' (منزل رقم 13, ''House Number 13''). In 1963, she received an award for her role in the political film ''La Waqt Lel Hob'' (لا وقت للحب, ''No Time for Love''). Hamama receives award Al-Khodari, Khalid Hamama was also able to make it to Hollywood; in 1963 she had a role in the crime film, ''Cairo''. Cairo Mannikka, Eleanor

Hamama and Omar Sharif in ''Sayyidat al-Qasr''

In 1947, Hamama married the actor and director Ezzel Dine Zulficar while filming the ''Abu Zayd al-Hilali'' (أبو زيد الهلالي) film. They started a production company which produced the film ''Maw'ed Ma' Al-Hayat'' (موعد مع الحياة, ''Date with Life'') in which she starred. This particular film earned her the title of the "lady of the Arabic screen". She divorced al-Faqqar in 1954 and a year later, she married the famous actor Omar Sharif. In spite of that, Hamama still acted in films of his direction. Hamama's biography
In a Youssef Chahine film, ''Struggle in the Valley'', Hamama refused to have the Egyptian actor Shukry Sarhan as a co-star, and Chahine offered Omar Sharif the role. Omar had just graduated from college then and was working with his father; Hamama accepted him as her co-star. Hamama had never accepted to act any scene involving a kiss in her career, but she shockingly accepted to do so in this film. The two fell in love and Omar Sharif converted to Islam and married her. Omar Sharif This marriage started a new era of Hamama's career as the couple did many of their films together. Sharif and Hamama were the romantic leads of ''Ayyamna Al-Holwa'' (أيامنا الحلوة, ''Our Sweet Days''), ''Ardh Al-Salam'' (أرض السلام, ''Land of Peace''), ''La Anam'' (لا أنام, ''Sleepless''), and ''Sayyidat Al-Qasr'' (سيدة القصر, ''The Lady of the Palace''). Their last film together, before their divorce, was ''Nahr Al-Hob'' (نهر الحب, ''The River of Love'') in 1960. Omar Sharif's filmography

Controversy in the late 1960s

Hamama left Egypt from 1966 to 1971 because she was being continuously disturbed by the Egyptian intelligence. She was a strong supporter of the 1952 Revolution and an opposer to the regime in Egypt. She said they were "asking her to cooperate" but she apologized and refused to. As a consequence she was forbidden to travel or participate in festivals. She was only able to leave Egypt after many controversial disputes. She lived in Beirut and London during this period.
While she was away, then president Gamal Abdel Nasser asked famous writers, journalists and friends to try to convince her to return to Egypt. He called her a "national treasure" Gamal wants "national treasure" back and had even awarded her an honorary decoration in 1965. Hamama didn't return until 1971 but Abdel Nasser had passed away. When she returned, she played critical roles with messages of democracy. She often criticized the rules in Egypt in her films. In the 1972 film ''Imbarotiriyat Meem'' (إمبراطورية ميم, ''M Empire''), Hamama presented a prodemocratic point of view and received an award from the Soviet Union of Women in the Moscow International Festival. Her most significant film was ''Oridu Hallan'' (أريد حلاً, ''I Need a Solution''). In this film, she criticized the rules of marriage and divorce in Egypt. Orid Hallan Fountain, Clarke After the film, the Egyptian government abrogated a law that forbid wives from divorcing their husbands, therefore allowing khul'. Orid Hallan El-Assyouti, Mohamed Orid Hallan

Hamama in the TV mini-series ''Face of the Moon'' (2001)

Late career

As Hamama became older, her acting roles declined and she made few films, compared to her activity earlier in her career, but nevertheless, her films were successful. Leilet al Qabd ala Fatma Mannikka, Eleanor She also made her first TV appearances in her late career. She starred in the TV mini-series ''Dameer Ablah Hikmat'' (ضمير أبلة حكمت, ''Miss Hikmat's Conscience'') and was quite successful as her first TV performance.
After 1993, Hamama's career suddenly came to a halt. It was not until the year 2000 that she returned in the successful TV mini-series ''Wajh ِِal-Qamar'' which was broadcasted on 23 TV channels in the Middle East. In the mini-series, Hamama portrayed and criticized many problems in the Egyptian and Arabic society. Wajh al-Qamar details Despite some criticisms, the mini-series received a lot of praise and acclaims. Hamama was awarded the Egyptian Best TV Actor of the year and the mini-series won the Best TV Series award in the Egyptian Radio and Television Festival. Wajh al-Qamar and Hamama receive awards Al-Shanduweily, Ayman Hamama entered history as the highest paid actress in an Arabic TV mini-series until 2006. 2006 breaks wages' records Rumors have been circulating that Hamama will return in a new TV mini-series called ''Wazeera 'ala al-Ma'ash'' (وزيرة على المعاش, ''Minister on the Paycheck'') in 2007, probably in Ramadan. Wazeera 'ala al-Ma'ash

Accomplishments in Egyptian cinema

When Hamama started her acting career women were commonly displayed in Egyptian films as unrealistic and bourgeois, spending most of their time chasing (or being chased by) men. It was also customary for an actress to be shown as a sex object. In the beginnings of Egyptian cinema, the casting of female characters was limited to famous singers, dancers or stage actresses. But Faten Hamama was neither a singer nor a dancer, and with not much an experience on stage. In spite of that she was able to magnetize film directors and producers as well as her audiences, which is why she was successful in a lot of her films.

Hamama, with Rushdy Abaza, in ''I Need a Solution'' (1974)

Before the 1950s, Hamama had leading roles in 30 films, in which she often played the role of a weak, sympathetic, poor girl, but that changed after this period. After the 1950s Hamama was in search of her real identity and was trying to establish herself as a distinct figure. During this period, her choice of material and roles was somehow limited. Film producers saw in Faten Hamama a true gold mine, and they went on responding to the demands of audiences in local and Arab markets. She played roles of realistic, strong women, such as in ''Sira' Fi Al-Wadi'' (صراع في الوادي, ''Struggle in the Valley'', 1954) where Hamama played the role of a daughter of a rich man who was, contradicting stereotypes, a very realistic woman which helped the poor and supported them. In the 1952 film ''Miss Fatimah'' (الأستاذة فاطمة), Hamama played the role of a student at the Faculty of Law who believed women were as important as men in the society. Miss Fatima movie In ''Imbarotiriyat Meem'' she played the role of a widow that had to take care of her family and bear life's hardships. M Empire movie El Sirgany, Sarah These films helped in the portrayal of Egyptian women's problems in a society that confronted modernity. Her most influential film was ''Oridu Hallan'' (''I Need a Solution'') which defied the laws of marriage and divorce in Egypt. A law in Egypt that forbid Khul' — a divorce initiated by women, was annulled immediately.
Most critics agree that Hamama's most intricate role was in the 1959 film ''Dua'e Al-Karawan'' (دعاء الكروان), which was chosen as one of the best Egyptian film productions and was based on a novel written by the prominent Arabic writer Taha Hussein. In this film, Hamama played the role of Amnah, a woman that seeks revenge from her uncle who had humiliated her family and killed her sister. Nightinagale's Prayer movie After this film, Hamama carefully picked her roles. In 1960, she starred in the film ''Nahr Hob'' (نهر حب, ''Love River'') which was based on Leo Tolstoy's well known novel Anna Karenina and in 1961 she played the lead role in the film ''La Tutf'e Al-Shams'' (لا تطفئ الشمس, ''Don't Turn Off the Sun'') based on a novel by Ihsan Abd Al-Qoddoos.

Personal life

Hamama lived most of her life in Egypt, she was forced to live in London and Lebanon for part of her life due to some problems in the late 1960s in Egypt. She had always admired the director Ezzel Dine Zulficar, and while filming the ''Abu Zayd al-Hilali'' film in 1947, which he directed, the two fell in love and married each other. The couple had a daughter, Nadia Zulficar. Their marriage would only last for seven years, as the couple divorced in 1954. Faten said her love to Zulficar was little more than a student's admiration and love to his teacher. The two remained friends, and Hamama even acted in his films after the divorce.
In 1954, Hamama chose now renowned actor, Omar Sharif, to co-star with her in a film. She shockingly accepted to act a romantic scene where the two should kiss. The two actually fell in love and Omar Sharif converted to Islam and married her. The couple did many of their films together, often displaying their relationship romantically. They had a son together, Tarek Sharif. After almost 20 years, their marriage came to an end. The couple divorced in 1974.
Hamama later met Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab Mahmoud, a successful doctor in Egypt, and married him. Faten Hamama's biography Hamama learned a lesson from her previous marriages. She decided not to make her personal life public, so she rarely appeared with him publicly or mentioned him in her interviews. She currently resides with him in Cairo.

Awards and honors

Main articles: List of Faten Hamama's awards and nominations

Hamama received the Star of the Century award at the Alexandria International Film Festival in 2001

Awards won

Throughout Hamama's career, she has won many awards for her acting roles: Hamama's awards

★ First Prize of Acting in Beirut for ''Irham Dmoo'i'' (Have Mercy) (1954)

★ Prize of Acting from the Egyptian Ministry of Guidance for her role in ''Irham Dmoo'i'' (1955)

★ Prizes of Acting from the Egyptian Catholic Center for Cinema for her role in ''Al-Tareeq al-Masdood'' (The Barred Road) and ''Hatta Naltaqi'' (Until We Meet) (1958)

★ Prize of Acting from the Egyptian Ministry of Guidance for her role in ''Doaa al-Karawan'' (The Nightingale's Prayer) (1961)

★ First Prize of Acting from the National State Award for the film ''Al Leila Al Akhira'' (The Last Night) (1965)

★ Special Award for her role in the film ''Al-Kheit al-Rafee'' (The Thin Thread) in the first Tehran International Film Festival (1972)

★ Special Award from the Soviet Union of Women for the film ''Empire M'' in the Moscow International Film Festival (1973)

★ A Diploma of Honor and the Diploma of Recognition for her role and the idea for ''Oridu Hallan'' (I Need a Solution) in the third Tehran International Film Festival (1974)

★ The Organization of Film Critics and Writers' Prize of Recognition for her role in ''Oridu Hallan'' (1975)

★ The Prize of Excellence in the Festival of Egyptian Films for her role in ''Oridu Hallan'' (1976)

★ Best Actress Award from the Tehran International Film festival for her role in ''Afwah Wa Araneb'' (Mouths and Rabbits) (1977)

★ Golden Nefertiti Award from the Second Cairo International Film Festival for her role in ''Afwah Wa Araneb'' (1977)

★ Lebanese Golden Order of Merit for her role in the film ''Leilet Al Qabd Ala Fatma'' (The Night of Fatma's Arrest) (1984)

★ Prize of Recognition and Life Achievement Award from the Organization of Cinematic Art for her role in the film ''Leilet Al Qabd Ala Fatma'' (1984)

★ Best Actress Award in the Carthage International Film Festival in Tunisia for her role in ''Yawm Mur Yawm Hilw'' (Bitter Days.. Nice Days) (1988)

★ Best Artistic Achievement Award in the Cairo International Festival (1991)

★ Lifetime Achievement Award in the Montpelier Mediterranean Film Festival (1993)

★ Best Actress award in the Cairo International Festival for her contributions to the Egyptian Cinema where 18 of her films were selected amongst the best 150 films ever made until 1996 during the celebration of a 100 years of cinema (1996)

★ Award from The Radio and Television Festival for her role in ''Wajh al-Qamar'' (2001)

Émile Lahoud presenting the ''Al-Arz'' Decoration to Hamama (2001)

Honors

Hamama was also honored on several occasions: Hamama's honors

★ Decoration of Creativity of first degree from the Lebanese prime minister Prince Khaled Shehab (1953)

★ Decoration of Republic of first degree for Art from president Gamal Abdel Nasser (1965)

★ Decoration of State of the first order from President Mohamed Anwar Sadat during first Art festival (1976)

★ Honorary award from the Egyptian National Festival for Cinema for her long distinguished cinematic career (1995)

★ PhD from the American University in Cairo (1999)

★ Lifetime achievement award as the Star of the Century in Egyptian cinema at the Alexandria International Film Festival (2001)

★ Decoration of "Al-Arz" (Lebanese Cedar) from Lebanese President Émile Lahoud (2001)

★ Decoration of Competence and Creation from King Mohamed El Hassan the Sixth of Morocco (2001)

Selected filmography

Main articles: Filmography of Faten Hamama

Year	International Title	Arabic Title	Role
1939	''Happy Day''	''Yawm Said'', يوم سعيد	Aneesa
1944	''Bullet in the Heart''	''Rossassa Fel Qalb'', رصاصة في القلب	Najwah
1946	''Angel of Mercy''	''Malak al-Rahma'', ملاك الرحمة	Thoraya
1947	''Abu Zayd al-Hilali''	''Abu Zayd al-Hilali'', أبو زيد الهلالي	Caliph's daughter
1948	''The Small Millionaire''	''Al-Millionairah al-Saghirah'', المليونيرة الصغيرة	Pilot's girlfriend
	''Immortality''	''Khulood'', خلود	Laila / Amal
	''The Two Orphans''	''Al-Yateematain'', اليتيمتين	Ne`mat
	''Towards Glory''	''Nahwa al-Majd'', نحو المجد	Suhair
1949	''Chair of Confession''	''Kursi al-I`tiraf'', كرسي الاعتراف	Phileberta
	''Lady of the House''	''Sitt al-Bayt'', ست البيت	Elham
	''Every House Has a Man''	''Kul Bayt Lahu Rajel'', كلّ بيت له راجل	Faten
1951	''Son of the Nile''	''Ibn al-Nile'', ابن النيل	Zebaida
	''Your Day Will Come''	''Lak Yawm Ya Zalem'', لك يوم يا ظالم	Ne`mat
	''I'm The Past''	''Ana al-Madi'', أنا الماضي	Elham's daughter
1952	''House Number 13''	''Al-Manzel Raqam 13'', المنزل رقم 13	Nadia
	''Immortal Song''	''Lahn al-Kholood'', لحن الخلود	Wafa'
	''Miss Fatimah''	''Al-Ustazah Fatimah'', الأستاذة فاطمة	Fatimah
1953	''A`isha''	''A`isha'', عائشة	A'isha
	''Date with Life''	''Maw`ed Ma` al-Hayat'', موعد مع الحياة	Amal
1954	''Pity My Tears''	''Irham Dmoo`i'', ارحم دموعي	Amal
	''Traces in the Sand''	''Athar Fi al-Rimal'', أثار في الرمال	Ragia
	''The Unjust Angel''	''Al-Malak al-Zalem'', الملاك الظالم	Nadia
	''Always with You''	''Dayman Ma`ak'', دائما معاك	Tefeeda
	''Date with Happiness''	''Maw`ed Ma` al-Sa`adah'', موعد مع السعادة	Ehsan / Amal
	''Struggle in the Valley''	''Sira` Fi al-Wadi'', صراع في الوادي	Amal
1955	''Our Beautiful Days''	''Ayyamna al-Holwa'', أيامنا الحلوة	Hoda
	''Love and Tears''	''Hob Wa Dumoo`', حب و دموع	Fatimah
1956	''Love Date''	''Maw`ed Gharam'', موعد غرام	Nawal
	''Struggle in the Pier''	''Sira` Fi al-Mina'', صراع في الميناء	Hameedah
1957	''Road of Hope''	''Tareeq al-Amal'', طريق الأمل	Faten
	''Land of Peace''	''Ard al-Salam'', أرض السلام	Salma
	''Sleepless''	''La Anam'', لا أنام	Nadia Lotfy
1958	''The Barred Road''	''Al-Tareeq al-Masdood'', الطريق المسدود	Fayza
	''The Virgin Wife''	''Al-Zawjah al-Azra', الزوجة العذراء	Mona
	''Lady of the Castle''	''Sayyidat al-Qasr'', سيدة القصر	Sawsan
1959	''Among the Ruins''	''Bayn al-Atlal'', بين الأطلال	Mona
	''The Nightingale's Prayer''	''Doaa al-Karawan'', دعاء الكروان	Amnah
1960	''River of Love''	''Nahr al-Hob'', نهر الحب	Nawal
1961	''I Will Not Confess''	''Lan A`tref'', لن أعترف	Amal
	''Don't Set the Sun Off''	''La Tutf'e al-Shams'', لا تطفئ الشمس	Layla
1962	''The Miracle''	''Al-Mu`jiza'', المعجزة	Layla
1963	''Cairo'' (USA) Cairo	''Cairo''	Amina
	''No Time For Love''	''La Waqt Lil Hob'', لا وقت للحُب	Fawziyah
	''The Open Door''	''Al-Bab al-Maftooh'', الباب المفتوح	Laila
	''The Last Night''	''Al-Laylah al-Akheera'', الليلة الأخيرة	Nadia / Fawziyah
1965	''The Sin''	''Al-Haram'', الحرام	Azizah
	''Story of a Lifetime''	''Hikayet al-`Omr Kolloh'', حكاية العمر كلّه	Nadia
	''The Confession''	''Al-`Itriaf'', الاعتراف	Nawal
1966	''Something in My Life''	''Shai' Fi Hayati'', شيء في حياتي	A'ida
1970	''The Great Love''	''Al-Hob al-Kabeer'', الحب الكبير	Hanan
1971	''Thin Thread''	''Al-Khayt al-Rfee'', الخيط الرفيع	Mona
1972	''M Empire''	''Imbratoriyat Meem'', امبراطورية ميم	Mona
1974	''My Love''	''Habibati'', حبيبتي	Samia
	''I Need a Solution''	''Oridu Hallan'', أريدُ حلاً	Fawziyah
1977	''Mouths and Rabbits''	''Afwah wa Araneb'', أفواه و أرانب	Ne'mat
1979	''Ladies Should Not Offer Condolences''	''Wa La `Aza'a Lil Sayyidat'', ولا عزاء للسيدات	Rawya
1985	''The Night of Fatima's Arrest''	''Laylat al-Qabd `Ala Fatimah'', ليلة القبض على فاطمة	Fatimah
1988	''Sweet Days.. Bitter Days''	''Yawm Mur Yawm Hilw'', يوم مر.. يوم حلو	Aisha
1993	''Land of Dreams''	''Ard al-Ahlam'', أرض الأحلام	Nargis

Television

Year	Title	Arabic	Role
1991	''Miss Hikmat's Conscience'' (mini-series)	''Dameer Ablah Hikmat'', ضمير أبلة حكمت	Hikmat
2000	''Face of the Moon'' (mini-series)	''Wajh al-Qamar'', وجه القمر	Ibtisam al-Bostany
2007	''A Retired Minister'' (TBA)	''Wazeerah 'ala al-Ma'ash'', وزيرة على المعاش

Notes and references

Published sources

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Other sources

★ The Star of all Stars

★ Faten... The Legend

★ The Star Of the Century

★ Voice of the Moon

★ Faten Hamama ... A National Wealth!

External links

★ Faten Hamama's official website

★