Yousra[1] (/ˈjɔːsrə/ YAWS-rə; Arabic: يسرا, IPA: [ˈjosɾɑ]; born Sivin Nesim, Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [siˈveːn neˈsiːm]) is an Egyptian actress and singer.[2] She is considered as a glamorous icon for the Middle East and is an influential voice in the region.[3]

Yousra يسرا
سيڤين حافظ نسيم
Yousra in 2009
Born
Sivin Hafez Nessim

(1955-03-10) March 10, 1955 (age 69)
OccupationActress
Years active1977–present
SpouseKhaled Selim

Career

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Yousra participated as a main Role actress in almost 81 films, 20 Drama Serials and 3 Live theater performances. She first appeared in the 1980 film Athkiya' Laken Aghbiya (Smart yet Stupid). Then she played many roles with varying looks – the naughty, quiet, docile, or impish. Yousra participated in comedy, drama, and entertainment.[4] Kasr Fi El Hawaa (Castle In the Air) by Abdel Halim Nasr in 1980. Fatah Tabhath Ann Alhob (A Girl Looking for Love) by Nader Galal in 1977. Alf Bossa Wa Bossa (A Thousand and One Kisses) by Mohamed Abdel Aziz in 1977. Ebtessama Waheda Takfi (One Smile is Enough) by Mohamed Bassiyouni in 1978, to mention just a few.

These were followed by a number of successful films with Adel Emam such as: Shabab Yarkoss Fawk Alnar (Youth Dancing on Fire) by Yehiya Al Alamy in 1978, Al Ensan Yaeesh Mara Waheda (Man Only Lives Once) by Simone Saleh in 1981, Ala Bab Al Wazeer (At the Door of the Minister) by Mohamed Abdel Aziz in 1982, Al Avocato (The Lawyer) by Raafat Al Mihi in 1984, Al Ins Wa Algen by Mohamed Radi in 1985, and Karakoun Fi El Shareih. The duo of Adel Imam and Yousra, always made an interesting movie with a message and a lot of laughter. Later, Adel Emam and Yousra worked together in three different movies: Al Mansi (The Forgotten), Al Irhab Wal Kabab (Terrorism and Kebab), and Toyour Al Zalam (Birds of Darkness). In all three movies, comedy was used to deliver an underlying political message to great critical and public acclaim.

 
Yousra in 2013

One of the most important milestones in Yousra's career was working with the famous Egyptian director Youssef Chahine. She acted in Chahine's Hadduta Masreya (Egyptian Story) in 1982, Iskanderiya Kaman we Kaman (Alexandria Again and Again) in 1990, and Al Mohager (The Emigrant) in 1994. Yousra was very impressed with Chahine's work, stating, "Youssef Chahine affected me on a personal and professional level. He is a school for anyone who works with him.”

Yousra made a number of the serial television dramas popular during Ramadan, including 2005's Ahlam 'Adiya (Ordinary Dreams). She portrayed an enterprising con woman in what the English version of Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram called “a major departure from the star's usual Ramadan screen persona, which has consistently verged on the romantic and the demure."[5]

In 2006, she took a supporting role in The Yacoubian Building, a star-laden adaptation of the novel of the same name. The film is reported to have had the highest budget of any Egyptian production to date. Playing an entertainer working in a restaurant, Yousra, according to Variety, “effortlessly stirs old emotional waters when she sings 'La Vie en rose.'"[6] Yousra released her first vocal album in 2002. She featured in Abu's hit single 3 Daqat in 2017. In 2018, she acted in Ladayna Akwalon Okhra (We Have Another Statement). In 2019, Yousra and Saba Mubarak starred in a photo session for Harper's Bazaar Arabia, and both Arab actresses wore elegant evening gowns.[7] In 2020, she starred in Saheb Al Maqam, her first film in eight years. [8]

Personal life

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Yousra in 2021

Yousra is the sister-in-law of actor Hesham Selim, son of famous Egyptian football player, actor and former president of Al Ahly, Saleh Selim, and the wife of Khaled Selim.[9]

Political views

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Despite all the troubles and the tension between Algeria and Egypt after 2009 Egypt–Algeria World Cup dispute, the Egyptian actress Yousra cheered for Algeria in the World Cup which was held in South Africa.[10] She and Omar Sharif initially staged a protest against Algeria after Algeria accused Egypt of misconduct during the Algeria-Egypt football match.

Filmography

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Films
Year Film Translation
1977 Fatah Tabhath Aan Al-Hob A Girl Searching For Love
1997 Eish el-Ghorab The Mushroom
1978 Ebtesama Smile
1978 Shabab Yarkos Fawqa An-Nar Youths Dancing on Fire
1979 Ushaq Al-Eshreen Lovers under 20
1980 Amal Eh El-Hob Fi Baba What did Love Do for Dad?
1980 Qasr fi Al-Hawaa A Mansion on Air
1981 Leilat Shitaa Dafeia A Warm Winter Night
1981 El Insaan Yaeesh Mara Waheda Man Is Living Once
1981 Karakoon Fi El Sharea A Prison in the Street
1982 Shitan Al-Gazeera Island's Devil
1982 Ala bab Al-Wazeer At Minister's Door
1982 Hadoota Masriyyia Egyptian story
1984 Al-Tha'r Revenge
1984 Al Avocato The Lawyer
1984 La Tasalny Man Ana Don't Ask Me Who I am!
1985 Al Ins Wal Gen Men and Jen
1985 As-Saaleeq The Servants
1985 Shaqat Al Ostaz Hasan Mr. Hasan's flat
1986 Al Bedaya The Beginning
1986 Al Galsa Al Serriya The Secret Meeting
1986 Abl El Waddaa Before Goodbye
1986 Wasmet Aar Stigma
1987 At-Taweeza Taweeza
1987 Al Laeeba
1987 Sekket En-Nadama The Way of Remorse
1987 Asfoor Laho Aneyaab Birds' Teeth
1987 Li Adam Kefayet El Adellah Insufficient Proofs
1987 Darb el Hawa
1988 Sarkhet Nadam Cry of Remorse
1988 Emra'a Lel Asaf Unfortunately Woman
1989 Iskendria Kaman Wi Kaman Alexandria Again and Forever
1989 Kaboos Nightmare
1990 El Moolid Mawlid
1990 Gizeeret El Shaitan Devil's Island
1991 Al-Ra'i wal Nisaa The Shepherd and the Women
1991 Sayedat Al-Qahira Cairo's Mistress
1992 Al-Shares The Fierce
1992 Emra'a Ayela Lel Soqoot A Non-Secure Woman
1993 Al-Mansi The Forgotten
1993 Mercedes
1993 Al Erhab Wi El-Kabab Terrorism and Kebab
1993 Dehk Wa Le'b Wa Gad Wa Hob Laugh, entertainment, seriousness and Love
1998 Dantilla
1994 Al-Mohager The Immigrant
1996 Teyoor Ez-Zalaam The Birds of Darkness
1996 Nazwa Lust
1998 Risala Ela Al-Wali A Message to the Wāli
1999 Kalam El Leil The Night talk
2001 Al-Asefa The Tempest
2001 Al-Warda Al-Hamra Red Rose
2002 Ma'ali al Wazir The Minister's Excellency
2004 Iskendria New York Alexandria... New York
2005 Kalam Fil Hob Talk in Love
2005 Dam El Ghazaal Gazelle's blood
2006 Emaret Yaccobian The Yacoubian Building
2006 Mateegy Nor'os Let's Dance
2009 Bobbos
2012 Game Over
2020 Saheb Al Maqam Dignitary

Television

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Television
Year Title Translation Role
1979 Anf we 3 Eyion Nose and 3 Eyes Amina
1994 Rafat Al-Haggan Rafat Al-Haggan (Name) Helen Samhoon
1996 Hayat El-Gohari Al Gohari's Life Hayat
2000 Awan El Ward Flowers Time Amal
2002 Ayna Qalbi Where Is My Heart Faten
2003 Malak Rohi Angel of My Soul Malak
2004 Leqa Ala el hawa- Leqaa On Air Leqa
2005 Ahlam el 3adea Normal Dreams Nadia Anzaha
2006 Lahazat Harega Critical Moments Sarah
2007 Adiyyeit Raie Aam A Matter of Public Opinion Abla
2008 Fi Aydee Amina In Safe Hands Amina
2009 Khas Giddan[11] Up Close and Personal Dr. Sherifa[12]
2010 El Arabi maa Yousra The Arab with Yousra Herself
2010 Bel Shamaa Al-Ahmar In Red Wax Dr. Fatma
2012 Sharbat Louz Sharbat Louz Sharbat
2014 Saraya Abdeen Abdeen Palace Khoshyar Hanim/ El Walda Pasha
2016 Fo'k Mostawa ElShobohat Above Suspicion Dr. Rahma
2017 El Hesab Ygm3 A Score to Settle Na'eema
2018 Awalem Khafeya[13] Star guest Yousra
2018 Ladayna Akwalon Okhra We Have Further Comments Amira Mansour
2020 Kheyanet Ahd [14] Ahd's betrayal Ahed
2021 Harab Ahelya Civil War Mariam
2022 Ahlam Saeda Sweet Dreams Farida

Hikayat aruus wa aruusah Story of bride and groom

References

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  1. ^ "The proper way of writing Yousra in English".
  2. ^ "Yousra". elcinema.com.
  3. ^ Laila Marei (January 2003). "Yousra". Enigma Magazine. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014.
  4. ^ "Yousra: Positivity opens doors". gulfnews.com. 21 October 2010.
  5. ^ [1] [dead link]
  6. ^ "The Yacoubian Building". Variety. February 12, 2006.
  7. ^ "Yousra & Saba Mubarak Ooze Classic Glamour for Harper's Bazaar Arabia Photo Session". Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  8. ^ "Streaming-first release of Yousra and Asser Yassin's new film 'Saheb Al Maqam' is 'historic moment' for Arab cinema". The National News. July 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "For Almost 50 Years, Egyptian Star Yousra Keeps Reinventing Herself". Haaretz. 10 March 2020.
  10. ^ [2] [dead link]
  11. ^ "Khas Jidan, Pictures Khas Jidan, News Khas Jidan, Discussion Khas Jidan". Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "Five Million Dollars For Yousra This Ramadan". Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  13. ^ "يسرا وفاروق الفيشاوي ضيوف الحلقة الأخيرة من عوالم خفية". بوابة الأهرام (in Arabic). Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  14. ^ "Kheyanet Ahd (TV Series 2020) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
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