Yousra ( ; , ; born Sivin Nesim (. ) is an

Egyptian ''Egyptian'' describes something of, from, or related to Egypt. Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to: Nations and ethnic groups * Egyptians, a national group in North Africa ** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of year ...

actress and singer. She is considered as a glamorous icon for the

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

and is an influential voice in the region.

Career

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. ''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 Adel Mohammed Emam (; born on 17 May 1940), is an Egyptians, Egyptian Cinema of Egypt, film, Television in Egypt, television, and Egyptian Theatre, stage actor, known for his extensive career with over 150 artistic works, including films, plays, a ...

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,

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. One of the most important milestones in Yousra's career was working with the famous Egyptian director

Youssef Chahine Youssef Chahine ( ; 25 January 1926 – 27 July 2008) was an Egyptian film director. He was active in the Egyptian film industry from 1950 until his death. He directed twelve films included in a list of Top 100 Egyptian films published by ...

. 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 ''Al-Ahram'' (; ), founded on 5 August 1876, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second-oldest after '' Al-Waqa'i' al-Misriyya'' (''The Egyptian Events'', founded 1828). It is majority owned by the Egyptian governm ...

'' called “a major departure from the star's usual Ramadan screen persona, which has consistently verged on the romantic and the demure." In 2006, she took a supporting role in ''

The Yacoubian Building ''The Yacoubian Building'' ( ''‘Imārat Ya‘qūbyān'') is a novel by Egyptian author Alaa-Al-Aswany. The book was made into a film of the same name in 2006 and into a TV series in 2007. Published in Arabic in 2002 and in an English trans ...

'', 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 Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'', “effortlessly stirs old emotional waters when she sings '

La Vie en rose ; ) is the signature song of popular French singer Édith Piaf, written in 1945, popularized in 1946, and released as a single in 1947. The song became very popular in the United States in 1950, when seven versions reached the ''Billboard'' cha ...

.'" 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 Saba Ahmed Soliman Mubarak El Siouf (; born April 10, 1976, in Anjara, Jordan) is a Jordanian actress and producer. She graduated from Yarmouk University in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in Theater acting and Directing. In 1998, she started her a ...

starred in a photo session for ''Harper's Bazaar Arabia'', and both Arab actresses wore elegant evening gowns. In 2020, she starred in ''Saheb Al Maqam'', her first film in eight years.

Personal life

Yousra is the sister-in-law of actor Hesham Selim, son of famous Egyptian football player, actor and former president of

Al Ahly Al-Ahly Sporting Club (), commonly known as Al-Ahly, is an Egyptian professional sports club based in Cairo, Egypt. The club is mainly known for its professional football team which currently plays in the Egyptian Premier League, the highest ...

Saleh Selim Mohamed Saleh Mohamed Selim (; 11 September 1930 – 6 May 2002) was an Egyptian football executive, former football player and an actor. He was the 13th president of Al Ahly SC. Nicknamed "El Maestro", for taking Al Ahly's football team to nu ...

, and the wife of Khaled Selim.

Political views

Despite all the troubles and the tension between

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

and

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

after

2009 Egypt–Algeria World Cup dispute There were disturbances before and after two international association football matches between Egypt national football team, Egypt and Algeria national football team, Algeria in November 2009, leading to diplomatic tensions between Egypt, Algeria ...

, the Egyptian actress Yousra cheered for Algeria in the World Cup which was held in South Africa.
She and

Omar Sharif Omar Sharif (, ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub ; 10 April 1932 – 10 July 2015) was an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the 1950s. He is bes ...

initially staged a protest against Algeria after Algeria accused Egypt of misconduct during the Algeria-Egypt football match.

Filmography

Television

Hikayat aruus wa aruusah Story of bride and groom

References

External links

*
''The Yacoubian Building'' at the Tribeca Film Festival

Marefa – Yosra's biography
* {{Authority control 1955 births Living people Egyptian film actresses 20th-century Egyptian women singers Feminist musicians Egyptian television actresses Singers who perform in Egyptian Arabic Actresses from Cairo Singers from Cairo Arabic-language singers of Egypt