Suad Husni
Encyclopedia
Soad Mohamed Hosny was an Egyptian
actress born in the Bulaq district of Cairo
. Hosny was known as the "Cinderella
of Egyptian cinema" and one of the most influential actresses in the artistic arena. She ascended to stardom in the end of the 1950s, performing in more than 83 films between 1959 and 1991. A majority of her films were shot in the 1960s and 1970s. Her final screen appearance was in the 1991 film The Shepherd and the Women, directed by her ex-husband Ali Badrakhan.
Souad Muhammad Kamal Hosny Al Baba was born on January 26th, 1943 in Ataba, Cairo, Egypt. She was the 10th sibling of 17 brothers and sisters. Souad was known as the "Cinderella" of Arab cinema and one of the most influential actresses in the Arabic art world. She ascended to stardom in the end of the 1950s, performing in more than 83 films between 1959 and 1991. A majority of her films were shot in the 1960s and 1970s. Some famous include "Saghira El Hob," "Khally Balek Min ZouZou," and many more! And, in many of her films she acted alongside many famous faces like Hussein Fahmy, Roshdy Abaza, the late belly-dancing legend Taheya Karioka, Nadia Lutfi Nadia Lutfi
. Souad was also infamous for her love affairs and many marriages which always ended in failure and divorce. Sadly, on June 21, 2001, she fell from a window from her best friend's London flat and died. Ironically, the same day as Abdel Halim Hafez's birthday, someone she loved.
Her final screen appearance was 10 years before in 1991, with the movie "Al Ra'i We El Nissa." To this day, she goes down as one of the most legendary and most classically beautiful actresses in Middle Eastern history.
for an unknown period of time (6 years were proposed).But there is no proof of this, though they were close friends. In ~1968, she was married to cinematographer Salah Kurayyem; the marriage lasted for approximately one year. In 1970, Soad Hosni was married to film director Ali Badrakhan; this marriage lasted for approximately eleven years. She was married to Zaki Fateen Abdel-Wahab in 1981, the son of Fateen Abdel-Wahab (film director) and Leila Mourad
; this marriage lasted only five months. Finally, in 1987, she was married to Salah Awwad, and she died while still married to him.
after sustaining a spinal fracture which had forced her to leave Egypt.
In 2001, she was found on the sidewalk below the building in which she was living; she had fallen from the balcony of her apartment. Courts in England could not decide whether Hosny had committed suicide or had been killed by her care-taker. In 2002, however, British courts decided that the cause of Hosny's death had been a suicide
, although substantial evidence suggested she had been murdered. Prosecuters argued that a woman on the verge of suicide would not have been in the right state of mind to cut through steel netting. Also, while one slipper was still on her foot, the other was found in her bathroom suggesting she has been dragged to the balcony. It has been noted that Hosny has recorded her diaries on tape in preparation for the publication of her biography. This is cited as a motive for murder as the tapes went missing after her death and also because they were said to contain material that would have hurt important public figures in Egypt (Zakeria Azmy).
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
actress born in the Bulaq district of Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. Hosny was known as the "Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
of Egyptian cinema" and one of the most influential actresses in the artistic arena. She ascended to stardom in the end of the 1950s, performing in more than 83 films between 1959 and 1991. A majority of her films were shot in the 1960s and 1970s. Her final screen appearance was in the 1991 film The Shepherd and the Women, directed by her ex-husband Ali Badrakhan.
Career
Hosni started her career at a very young age, through singing Okht El Qamar (Sister of the Moon) in the famous radio children program Baba Sharo. A family friend, Abdel Rahman el-Khamissy (a writer/director) discovered her acting talent and asked an Arabic language teacher at the time to give her singing lessons. Abdel Rahman was screening for the film Hassan We Na’ima, and wanted to present Hosni as his new discovery in the role of Na’ima. The film was produced and directed by Henry Barakat.Souad Muhammad Kamal Hosny Al Baba was born on January 26th, 1943 in Ataba, Cairo, Egypt. She was the 10th sibling of 17 brothers and sisters. Souad was known as the "Cinderella" of Arab cinema and one of the most influential actresses in the Arabic art world. She ascended to stardom in the end of the 1950s, performing in more than 83 films between 1959 and 1991. A majority of her films were shot in the 1960s and 1970s. Some famous include "Saghira El Hob," "Khally Balek Min ZouZou," and many more! And, in many of her films she acted alongside many famous faces like Hussein Fahmy, Roshdy Abaza, the late belly-dancing legend Taheya Karioka, Nadia Lutfi Nadia Lutfi
Nadia Lutfi
Nadia Lutfi , the daughter of an Egyptian father who was an accountant and a Polish mother, was one of the most popular actresses during the final phase of Egyptian cinema's "Golden Age".-Life and career:...
. Souad was also infamous for her love affairs and many marriages which always ended in failure and divorce. Sadly, on June 21, 2001, she fell from a window from her best friend's London flat and died. Ironically, the same day as Abdel Halim Hafez's birthday, someone she loved.
Her final screen appearance was 10 years before in 1991, with the movie "Al Ra'i We El Nissa." To this day, she goes down as one of the most legendary and most classically beautiful actresses in Middle Eastern history.
Notable family members
- Soad Hosny's birth certificate shows that both of her parents were Egyptian citizens.- Father: Mohammad Hosny - Egyptian calligrapher.
- Mother: Gawhara Mohamed Hassan - Egyptian citizen
- Half sister: Nagat el Saghira - Egyptian singer
- Brother: Ezz Eddin Hosny - Egyptian music composer
- Brother: Sami Hosni - Egyptian cello player / jewelry designer / Arabic calligrapher
Marriages
Soad Hosni was married four times. She was rumored to be married to renowned great Egyptian musician Abdel Halim HafezAbdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Ali Shabana commonly known as Abdel Halim Hafez , is among the most popular Egyptian and Arab singers and performers. In addition to singing, Halim was also an actor, conductor, business man, music teacher and movie producer...
for an unknown period of time (6 years were proposed).But there is no proof of this, though they were close friends. In ~1968, she was married to cinematographer Salah Kurayyem; the marriage lasted for approximately one year. In 1970, Soad Hosni was married to film director Ali Badrakhan; this marriage lasted for approximately eleven years. She was married to Zaki Fateen Abdel-Wahab in 1981, the son of Fateen Abdel-Wahab (film director) and Leila Mourad
Leila Mourad
Leila Mourad was an Egyptian singer and actress. She is also credited as "Laila Mourad" and "Layla Mourad".- Life :Leila Mourad was born in Al Daher, Cairo on February 17, 1918 to an Egyptian of Iraqi Jewish descent father, Zaki Mourad, a respected singer and musician in the twenties, and to a...
; this marriage lasted only five months. Finally, in 1987, she was married to Salah Awwad, and she died while still married to him.
Death
Hosny died in London, England in 2001. This occurred after she had suffered severely from an unknown illness for five years. Hosny had sought treatment in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
after sustaining a spinal fracture which had forced her to leave Egypt.
In 2001, she was found on the sidewalk below the building in which she was living; she had fallen from the balcony of her apartment. Courts in England could not decide whether Hosny had committed suicide or had been killed by her care-taker. In 2002, however, British courts decided that the cause of Hosny's death had been a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, although substantial evidence suggested she had been murdered. Prosecuters argued that a woman on the verge of suicide would not have been in the right state of mind to cut through steel netting. Also, while one slipper was still on her foot, the other was found in her bathroom suggesting she has been dragged to the balcony. It has been noted that Hosny has recorded her diaries on tape in preparation for the publication of her biography. This is cited as a motive for murder as the tapes went missing after her death and also because they were said to contain material that would have hurt important public figures in Egypt (Zakeria Azmy).
Selected filmography
- Hassan wa Na'imaHassan and NayimaHassan and Nayima is a 1959 Egyptian drama film directed by Henry Barakat. It was entered into the 9th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Muharram Fouad - Hassan* Soad Hosny - Nayima* Mohammed Tawfik* Hassan el Baroudi* Leila Fahmi...
(Hassan and Na’ima) (1959). - Esha'a hob (Rumour of Love) (1960).
- Banat waal saif, El (The Girls and the Summer) (1960).
- He talata (H-3) (1961).
- Aaz el habaieb (I Want Love) (1961).
- Ghosn el zeitoun (The Olive Branch) (1962).
- Dow el khafet, El (The Dim Light) (1962).
- Mawed fil borj (Meeting at the Tower) (1963).
- Al-sahera al-saghira (The Little Sorceress) (1963).
- Morahekan, El (The Two Young teenagers) (1964).
- Garima el dahika, El ("the laughing crime") (1964).
- Awwal hob (First Love) (1964).
- Ariss yassel ghadan, El (The groom Arrives Tomorrow) (1964).
- Tareek, al- (The Road) (1964).
- Gharamiyat Imraa (A Woman's Affairs) (1966).
- Shakket el talaba (Students' Apartment) (1966).
- Chakawet rejala (The Awful Men) (1966).
- Lailat el zafaf (The Wedding Night) (1966).
- Al-Kahira thalatheenCairo 30Cairo 30 is a 1966 Egyptian drama film directed by Salah Abu Seif. The film was selected as the Egyptian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 39th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.-Cast:* Soad Hosny* Ahmed Mazhar...
(Cairo 1930) (1966). - Saghira ala elhob (Too Young to Love) (1966).
- Shabab magnoun geddan (Very Crazy Youth) (1967).
- Lekaa el tani, El (The Second Meeting) (1967).
- Zawja al-thaniya, al- (The Second Wife) (1967).
- Zawag alla tarika el-hadissa (Marriage a la moderne) (1968).
- Sit el-nazra, El- (The Headmistress) (1968).
- Nil wal-Hayat, al- (The People of the Nile) (1968).
- Baba ayez keda (Daddy Wants it That Way) (1968).
- Ikhtiyar, al- (The Choice) (1970).
- Al-hob al-dayi (Lost Love) (1970).
- Zawgati wal-kalbMy Wife and the DogMy Wife and the Dog is a 1971 Egyptian film directed by Said Marzouk. The film was selected as the Egyptian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 45th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.-Cast:* Soad Hosny* Nour El-Sherif...
(My Wife and the Dog) (1971). - Khalli Balak min Zouzou (Watch out for Zouzou) (1972).
- Ghurabaa (Strangers) (1973).
- Amira hobi ana (My Love's princess") (1974).
- Ala min notliq al-rasas (Whom Should We Shoot?) (1975).
- Al-Karnak (The Karnak Cafe) (1975).
- Chafika et MetwalChafika et MetwalChafika et Metwal Chafika et Metwal Chafika et Metwal ("Chafika et Metwal"," Shafika and Metwali "," Shafika wa Metwalli(y)" ("شفيقة و متولي") is a 1979 Egyptian drama/romance film starring Souad Hosni and Ahmed Zaki...
(1979). - Maowid ala ashaaMaowid ala ashaaMaowid ala Ashaa, , is an Egyptian romance movie, starring Souad Hosni and Ahmed Zaki. The life story of a beautiful and pure woman, interested of the very little things with a great sensibility....
(A Dinner Date) (1981). - Al-MashbouhAl-MashbouhAl-Mashbouh, , , is a 1981 Egyptian romance movie, starring Souad Hosni and Adel Imam. It tells the story of a burglar, a belly dancer, a policeman and a friend of them.-Cast:*Souad Hosni as Batta.* Adel Imam as Maher....
(The Suspect) (1981). - Al-Go'a (The Hunger) (1986).
- Al-Darga Al-ThalithaAl-Darga Al-Thalitha*, ))* director = Sherif Arafa*producer = Arab Egyptian Films* writer = Maher Awad* starring =*Soad Hosny*Ahmed Zaki*released = 1988*country = Egypt...
(The 3rd Class) (1988). - Howa wa heyaHowa wa heya* " Howa wa Heya", "Him and Her," هو و هي"* director = Yehia Al-Alamy* producer = Egyptian television*writer = Sanaa Al Bisi*script and lyrics =Salah Jahin* starring =*Soad Hosny*Ahmed Zaki...
(Him and Her) (TV series with Ahmed Zaki), (1985). - Al-Ra'i wal NisaaAl-Ra'i wal Nisaa"Al-Ra'i wal Nisaa", The Shepherd and the Women), is a 1991 Egyptian drama/romance movie, starring Souad Hosni , Yousra and Ahmed Zaki.-Plot:...
(The Shepherd and the Women) (1991).
General Internet Resources
Articles and essays
- Egyptian screen star dies
- Egyptians mourn screen Cinderella
- http://www.middle-east-online.com/?id=32318
- http://www.ashkra.com/news/view.php?categorypara=art&article_id=757&the_sub_id=8
- http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&article=44239&issueno=8243
- http://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6450