Faten Hamama: Biography-IMDb

The Icon
Perhaps the icon of the longest movie star stood in
her place, and a living legend.
Faten hamama (known as the Lady of the Arabic
Screen) has become a standard and the most
important actress of the Egyptian and the Arabic
Cinema. She is also the most honorable actress in
the Middle East Region. Every decade of her life
represents a new era of acting and witnessed the
re-shape and the progress of the Egyptian cinema.
The progress in her different characters when she
started as a child in 1938 until today could easily
compare with the progress that modern Egyptian
women have gone through during the twentieth
century and their interaction with the public,
culture or political life. During the celebration
of 100 years of Egyptian Cinema on 1996, she was awarded as best actress
after selecting 18 of her films where she had the leading role as part of
best 150 films ever made until 1996. It was no surprise at the end of the
last century (2000), that the Egyptian Organization of Critic and Writers
to present to her the award of the star of the Century.

A Star Is Born
Born on May 27, 1931 in Elmansoura, Egypt. The daughter of Mr. Ahmed
Hamama, the employer of ministry of knowledge in Egypt. Her Legendary
journey started as a secret statement between a six years old kid and her
father after they watched a film in a theatre in their neighborhood, where
the leading actress and producer Assia Dagher was present in the show.
Faten told her father that she felt that all audiences are applauding for
her as the leading actress, then her father gave her a hug with a vision to
help his daughter to become a movie star. After winning a contest for the
most beautiful child in Egypt, her dad sent her picture to director
Mohammed Karim (pioneer of Egyptian cinema).

Karim was looking for a child for his new film with famous Egyptian
musician Mohamed Abdel Wahab. Faten won the competition and guaranteed the
role in this movie. Moreover, "Yom said" (1940) aka "A Happy Day" was
released on 1940 with more scenes for Faten than what was originally in the
script. Karim realized Faten's talent and increased her role in the movie.
He placed a contract with her to work with him in the future. Four years
later he gives her a role a movie with Mohamed Abdel Wahab again, "Russasa
fil kalb" (1944) aka "A Bullet in the Heart". With her third movie with
Karim, "Dunia" (1946), Faten placed a foundation for herself in the
Egyptian cinema as an actress ready for bigger roles. Her father along with
her family moved to stay in Cairo to help their daughter in her career. She
also started her study in the High Institute of Acting in 1946.

The Angel
With actor and director Youssef Wahby (Known as dean of Egyptian theater),
Faten started new stage of her career, the Stage of the melodrama. Yousef
realized her talent in Karim's movies and was able to add this angle face
into in his next film, "Malak al rahma" (1946) aka "The Angel of Mercy",
where she was playing his daughter. She has stolen the screen from all
other stars in the movie, although she was only 15 years old. All writers
and audiences were talking about this teenager in the movie called Faten
Hamama. Since then, Faten became a viable star for the Forties, competing
with famous stars at that time.

She added more roles with Youssef Wahby as in, "Kursi el iteraf" (1949) aka
"The Chair of Confession", where she played a lover for the cardinal's
brother whom mistakenly goes to jail in murdering her father. With the
success and huge box office hit movie, "Yatimatain, El" (1949) aka "The Two
Orphans", followed by the success of the comedy set of a wife and her
mother in law in the movie, "Sitt el beit" (1949) aka "The Lady of the
House", Faten continued to be the most preferred star by novelists and
directors due to her ability of attracting both, "the box office and
critics" and her name became the secret word for insuring success for any
movie.

The Golden Years for Egyptian Cinema
The Fifties was an era of introducing new directors to the silver screen,
that most of them made it in the history of movies industy by today's
standards. It was the beginning of what used to be called the golden age of
Egyptian cinema. During that time, Faten helped all talented new directors
introducing their new visions to cinema. The vision of the realism by Salah
Abouseif in his first realism picture, "Laka yom ya zalem" (1951) aka Your
Day Will Come" that topped box office. worked agian with Salah Abouseif in
other successful roles as in "Tarik el masdud, El" (1958) aka "The Barred
Road", and achieved best actress award in the romantic political movie "La
wakta lil hub" (1963) aka "No Time for Love".

She also supported director Youssef Chahine in his first movie "Dad Amin"
(1950), aka "Father Amine" with new musical vision, then continued together
for more successful work presenting realism vision as in, "Son of the Nile"
1952 and "Siraa Fil-Wadi" (1954), aka "Struggle in the Valley" where both
were presented in the main competition of Cannes festival. Youssef used to
mention that Faten is his favorite actress and best Egyptian actress of all
times.

She also worked with director Kamal El Sheikh in his first movie
introducing mystery and suspence pictures to Egyptian cinema in, "Manzel
rakam tletash, El" (1952) aka "House No. 13", "Lan aataref" (1962) aka "I
Will Not Confess" and continued the journey until they reached the success
of making the movie "Laila el akhira, El" (1964) aka "Last Night" that
captured at least 10 awards in the national competition 1965, and also
presented in Cannes festival. In comedy we can't forget her astonishing
role in "Ustaza Fatma, El" (1952) as "lawyer Fatma" in first ture comedy
picture for director Fatin Abdelwahab.

Two other directors from this generation that Faten Hamama had strong bonds
and continuous understanding, they devoted most of their best pictures to
her. Thus more success was accomplished, director, Ezzel Dine Zulficar and
director Henry Barakat.

The Romantic Princess
On 1947, Faten married to director Ezzel Dine Zulficar during the making of
the movie "Abu Zeid el Hilali" (1947). Ezzel Dine was the king of Romantic
movies and Faten was his lead star promoting his vision, as in "Khulud"
(1948) aka "Immortality". They had a production company that produced the
movie "Moawad ma al hayat" (1954) aka "Appointment with Life", which was
movie of the year and knocked critics and audience dead. Critics named
Faten the "Lady of the Arabic Screen", the title that remained with her
until today. From that moment, Faten reached the highest salary for a
superstar, and remained the top paid star until the last feature picture,
"Ard el ahlam" (1993) aka "Land of Dreams" and TV series, "Wagh el qamar"
(2000) (mini) aka "Face of the Moon".

More successful romantic roles with Ezzel Dine such "Mawad ma al saada"
(1955) aka "Appointment with Happiness". Ezzel Dine's famous quote about
Faten was "the distance between Faten and the next runner up is like the
distance between 1 to 10". Although they were divorced in 1954, and Faten
got married to Omar Sharif in 1955, yet they continued to make such movies
that considered best classic romantic, as in "Bain el atlal" (1959) aka
"Among the Ruins" and their master piece, "Nahr el hub" (1961) aka "The
River of Love", the remake of the great story of Leo Tolstoy "Anna
Karenina", opposite Omar Sharif that created with Faten one of the best
romantic couples through special classic collection as, "Ayyamine el helwa"
(1955) aka "Our best days", "Sayedat el kasr" (1959) aka "Lady of the
Castle", "La anam" (1958) aka "Sleepless". "Siraa Fil-Wadi" (1954) aka
"Struggle in the Valley". Omar and Faten was divorced on 1974, and yet
Omar's famous quote about Faten was when he said "he only married once
because he only loved once", referring to his marriage with Faten

Best Couples
Director Henry Barakat had a focus on musical romantic movies, social
differences and women's right in the society. During the making of "Lahn al
khouloud" (1952) aka "Immortal Song" the harmony of understanding between
both, Barakat and Faten was set to ignite more success. Barakat used Faten
to explore all his talent and all his visions. The success of the romantic
music movie "Lahn al khouloud" (1952) that became the movie of the year
challenged both of them to make more successful musical romantic roles as
in, "Daiman maak" (1954) aka "With You Forever", "Mawad gharam" (1956) aka
"Appointment with Love".

Audiences and critics haven't yet seen best of them, the most classical
movie of all times and Faten's most famous role on screen as Ammna in "Doa
al karawan" (1959) aka "The Nightgale's Prayer", the movie that describes
differences between revenge and culture through a romantic story. It was
nominated in Berlin's International festival and almost made it to the
Oscar, this movie was chosen as one of best ten movies ever made in Egypt.
After this movie, Faten presented more movies that elevated women's right
in the society and created more of culture awareness, such in "Bab el
maftuh, El" (1964) aka "The Open Door", where she was awarded best actress
award from Jakarta International festival.

One year later they did it again in "Haram, El" (1965) aka "the Sin", the
movie that was welcomed by critics in Cannes festival in same year, and was
chosen as one of best five movies ever made in Egypt. Faten and Barakat
continued their journey together through decades for more outstanding roles
as "Kheit al rafeigh, -al" (1971) aka "The Thin Thread", "Afwah wa araneb"
(1977) aka "Mouths and Rabbits", not only that Faten won best actress
awards from two international festival on her role in this movie, but it
was the highest box office ever made until 1977.

Last picture between them was a remarkable hit, as usual "Leilet al quabd
al Fatma" (1984) aka "The Night of Fatma's Arrest". Their journey crowned
with a lifetime achievement for their collection together from Montpellier
international Festival on 1993. Barakat's famous quote on Faten was when he
said "if he could get Faten in his films, he will guarantee us the best
picture".

Relationship between the Soceity and their Legend
Faten moved out of Egypt between the periods of 1966-1971 because she
refused some political pressure applied on her. She lived between Lebanon
and London, UK. During this time, Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser
requested from some famous critics and writers to ask her to return to
Egypt labeling her, as "Faten Hamama is a national Treasure". Her return to
Egypt on 1971 was like a life come back to Egyptian cinema. And once again
she continued rising and shining amongst all stars from new generations.
She insisted that her films adds values and affect the society through the
family relationships. Her role in the movie "Emberatoriet meem" (1972) aka
"Empire M", as a mother (widow) for six kids and her struggle raising them
with a democratically vision was success and welcomed by both "Critics and
Publics", she earned a special award from the Soviet Union Women during
presenting the movie in Moscow International festival.

Her planning and arrangement to make "Orid hallan" (1975) aka "Need a
Solution" was her biggest strike ever that changed the marriage and divorce
law after facing the society of major problems that this law contains.
Needless to say that it was another box office hit and Faten won best
actress award form Cairo international Festival and a prize of recognition
from Tehran Festival.

Continued with her vision of touching the society through her pictures, she
made more remarkable roles in "Oghneyat elmoot" (1973) aka "The Song of
Death", "Ualla azae lel sayedat" (1979) aka "No Condolences for Ladies",
"Yom mor... yom helw" (1988) aka "Bitter days, sweet days", her last
feature picture of "Ard el ahlam" (1993) aka "Land of Dreams", and her TV
series, "Dameer abla Hekmat" (1994) (mini) aka "The Consciousness of
Teacher Hekmat" and "Wagh el qamar" (2000) (mini) aka "The face of the
Moon", where it was a special celebration in 23 countries in middle east to
get the right for broadcasting this show.

Faten Hamama, she is the fourth Pyramid in the Egyptian cinema, a legend in
her platinum anniversary, the diamond that remained shining and kept its
glowing over the decades on the silver screen.