by Sherif Awad
Although many Arab performers dream of reallocating in
Egypt, Heind Sabry and Dorra are few of the Tunisian actresses who became
superstars in the Egyptian film and TV to the extent that they both stopped
working elsewhere. On the opposite side, actresses like Sandy, Latifa or Feryal
Youssef Among the new generation of Tunisian stars is Fatma Nasser who was
receiving positive reviews for her supporting roles on the big and small screen
until finally this year, she is top billed on the poster of the romantic drama
Rouge that will come soon to cinemas.
Egypt, Heind Sabry and Dorra are few of the Tunisian actresses who became
superstars in the Egyptian film and TV to the extent that they both stopped
working elsewhere. On the opposite side, actresses like Sandy, Latifa or Feryal
Youssef Among the new generation of Tunisian stars is Fatma Nasser who was
receiving positive reviews for her supporting roles on the big and small screen
until finally this year, she is top billed on the poster of the romantic drama
Rouge that will come soon to cinemas.
Before studying business administration then working in the Spanish
banking field, Fatma Nasser grew up like many of her generation watching Egyptian
black & white classic films on the National Tunisian television. Her
introduction to the Egyptian entertainment scene came accidentally while on
vacation in Cairo when she was cast in an early short film directed by Amr
Salama entitled The Advertisement (2006). This caught the attention of
Ihab Lamee, another Egyptian director, who cast her in On Air, a light
comedy feature that miraculously found its way to the competition of Cairo Film
Festival 2007, a year that lacked more serious production. Many supporting
roles in films and TV series followed, notably in Tell Us, Scheherazade Tell
(2009) and Bitter Sugar (2015). Nasser returned to her homeland to
appear in films and television works as well. She starred in the short Tunisian
film Clean Soap directed by Maleyka Emar (2010) and the feature Free (2015) by
Moaz Kamoun. The latter was screened last year in Alexandria Mediterranean Film
Festival (AMFF). Following a costarring role opposite Hany Salama in his TV
series My Destiny, Your Destiny, Nasser returned last September to AMFF
to present her first starring role Rouge, a romantic drama co-starring
Amir Salah. Directed by first time feature helmer John Ikram, Rouge
takes place in one night when beautician Wafaa, played by Fatma Nasser, decides
to commit suicide. However, deliveryman Hassan saves her only to spend together
a night full of surprises.
banking field, Fatma Nasser grew up like many of her generation watching Egyptian
black & white classic films on the National Tunisian television. Her
introduction to the Egyptian entertainment scene came accidentally while on
vacation in Cairo when she was cast in an early short film directed by Amr
Salama entitled The Advertisement (2006). This caught the attention of
Ihab Lamee, another Egyptian director, who cast her in On Air, a light
comedy feature that miraculously found its way to the competition of Cairo Film
Festival 2007, a year that lacked more serious production. Many supporting
roles in films and TV series followed, notably in Tell Us, Scheherazade Tell
(2009) and Bitter Sugar (2015). Nasser returned to her homeland to
appear in films and television works as well. She starred in the short Tunisian
film Clean Soap directed by Maleyka Emar (2010) and the feature Free (2015) by
Moaz Kamoun. The latter was screened last year in Alexandria Mediterranean Film
Festival (AMFF). Following a costarring role opposite Hany Salama in his TV
series My Destiny, Your Destiny, Nasser returned last September to AMFF
to present her first starring role Rouge, a romantic drama co-starring
Amir Salah. Directed by first time feature helmer John Ikram, Rouge
takes place in one night when beautician Wafaa, played by Fatma Nasser, decides
to commit suicide. However, deliveryman Hassan saves her only to spend together
a night full of surprises.
“In ten years, I acted in Egypt more than
Tunisia”, commented Fatma Nasser. The Egyptian film and TV industry
are bigger and more popular across the Arab world. So far, my favorite two
appearances were on TV in two TV series: After the Beginning in 2015 and
Exit in 2016 although I target cinema as my priority”.
Tunisia”, commented Fatma Nasser. The Egyptian film and TV industry
are bigger and more popular across the Arab world. So far, my favorite two
appearances were on TV in two TV series: After the Beginning in 2015 and
Exit in 2016 although I target cinema as my priority”.
Nasser was attracted to the role of Wafaa, the middleclass
young woman and the main character in Rouge that represented Egypt in
both the Mediterranean Feature Competition and the Arab Feature Competition
during AMFF last September. “I liked her change that her character go
through from a desperation to believing that fate is stronger than any human
being’s will”
young woman and the main character in Rouge that represented Egypt in
both the Mediterranean Feature Competition and the Arab Feature Competition
during AMFF last September. “I liked her change that her character go
through from a desperation to believing that fate is stronger than any human
being’s will”
In AMFF and on her film’s premieres, Nasser always catch the
attention of Egyptian media and most of paparazzi’s cameras that hunt her to
get many angles of her fashionable dresses. “I show up really to connect
with filmmakers I don‘t know and of course to promote my new
outings”, explains Nasser who was cast in the next film by Moroccan
filmmaker Hassan Benjelloun last year when he met her in Alexandria and saw her
Tunisian film Free that was selected in the competition.
attention of Egyptian media and most of paparazzi’s cameras that hunt her to
get many angles of her fashionable dresses. “I show up really to connect
with filmmakers I don‘t know and of course to promote my new
outings”, explains Nasser who was cast in the next film by Moroccan
filmmaker Hassan Benjelloun last year when he met her in Alexandria and saw her
Tunisian film Free that was selected in the competition.
Next ambition for Fatma Nasser is seeking an agent in the UK
or the US to follow the footstep of many Arab actors in appearing in international
productions. “Practicing French and English not to mention my universal
look, I am sure I can make it on the international scenes”, she says in an
assuring tone.
or the US to follow the footstep of many Arab actors in appearing in international
productions. “Practicing French and English not to mention my universal
look, I am sure I can make it on the international scenes”, she says in an
assuring tone.
Next for Fatma Nasser, a new Tunisian film she has just
finished called Rough Seas. “This new drama was shot entirely in
Tunisian village”, says Nasser. “It is set during the 1950s during
the struggle for Independence from France. My costars are the Tunisian Havian,
Atif Bin Hussein and Mohammed Sayari.
finished called Rough Seas. “This new drama was shot entirely in
Tunisian village”, says Nasser. “It is set during the 1950s during
the struggle for Independence from France. My costars are the Tunisian Havian,
Atif Bin Hussein and Mohammed Sayari.
