Lobna Abdel Aziz
Lobna Abdel Aziz | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 1, 1935 Cairo, Egypt |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1957–1967, 2007–2010 |
| Known for | The Empty Pillow, This is Love, I Am Free, Oh Islam, Ah of Eve, Bride of the Nile, Slalom, The Yacoubian Building |
Lobna Abdel Aziz (; born August 1, 1935) is a renowned Egyptian actress.
Early life
She was born in Cairo and received her education at St. Mary's School followed by The American University in Cairo. Subsequently, she attained a master's degree in acting from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Career
Lobna Abdel Aziz’s acting journey commenced with her participation in her university's theater troupe, where she gained recognition for roles such as in The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov. Although film opportunities arose, she chose to focus on her academic pursuits, securing a scholarship to study at the University of California. In her childhood, she was the host of the European radio show Mama Lulu. Director Salah Abu Seif cast her in the radio drama The Empty Pillow, leading to her film debut in its 1957 adaptation alongside Abdel Halim Hafez.
Her career includes 18 films, with leading roles in notable productions like The Empty Pillow (1957), This is Love (1958), I Am Free (1959), Oh Islam (1961), Ah of Eve (1962), Bride of the Nile (1963), and Slalom (1965). After a decade-long presence in cinema, she retired in 1967.
During her time in the United States, she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue drama studies at the University of Washington, contributed articles to Al-Ahram newspaper, and completed a PhD. Upon returning to Egypt in 1988, she revived her radio program and earned the Radio Festival Award. Following a 40-year hiatus from acting, she appeared in the 2007 miniseries The Yacoubian Building, adapted from Alaa El Aswany’s novel.
Although director Youssef Chahine, a close associate, wished to cast her, her then-husband Ramses Naguib opposed due to doubts about Chahine’s directorial skills. After their separation and her subsequent three-decade residence in the U.S., she declined casting offers from Chahine and others upon returning around 2000, which reportedly caused tension until his passing.
Personal life
Her father was the Egyptian writer Hamed Abdelaziz. Early on, she married prominent Egyptian producer Ramses Naguib outside Egypt to avoid local marriage restrictions. Despite their affection, Naguib divorced her within Egypt without her consent; she learned of this through a publication. During their marriage, Naguib maintained his Christian faith as upheld by court decisions. Later, she wed Ismael Barrada, with whom she had two daughters; Barrada passed away after more than four decades of marriage.
Film
- 2011: Geddo Habibi (Grandpa My Darling)
- 1967: Edrab El Shahhatin (Strike Of Beggars)
- 1967: El Mokharrebun (The Vandals)
- 1967: El Eib (The Defect)
- 1965: Slalom (Italian) (Zigzag)
- 1963: Aroos El Nil (Bride of the Nile)
- 1962: Ressalah min emraa maghoula (Letter from an Unknown Woman)
- 1962: Ah Men hawwa (Ah of Eve)
- 1961: Wa Islamah (Oh Islam)
- 1961: Gharam El Asyad (Masters Love)
- 1959: Ana Horra (I'm Free)
- 1958: Hatha Huwa Al-Hubb (This Is Love)
- 1957: Huda
- 1957: El Wesadah El Khaliyah (The Empty Pillow)
Television
- 2007: Emaret Yakobyan (TV series) (Yakobyan Building)
Theatre
- 2010: Sokkar Hanem (stage production) (Lady Sugar)