Mona Zaki
Mona Zaki | |
|---|---|
 Zaki in 2015 | |
| Born | Mona Ali Mohamed Zaki 18 November 1976 Cairo, Egypt |
| Education | Cairo University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Mona Ali Mohamed Zaki (Egyptian Arabic: منى على محمد زكى; born 18 November 1976) is an Egyptian actress and producer.[1][2]
Early life and Education
[edit]Mona Ali Mohamed Zaki was born in Cairo to her parents Ali Mohamed and Tahini Zaki on 18 November 1976. Her father was a university professor who held a number of international posts. After living in the United States, the UK and then Kuwait, Zaki returned to Cairo when she was thirteen. Since her Kuwaiti diploma was not accredited in Egypt and not accepted by any school, Zaki had some free time and auditioned on a whim for Bil 'Arabi Al-Fasih (In Formal Arabic), a play directed by Mohamed Sobhi. [3]She got the role and put her schooling on hold until the end of the play's year-and-half run, at which point Zaki returned to the United States to enroll in a two-year program at the Heritage Academy in Louisiana. Upon returning to Cairo in 1993 [4] she briefly attended the Institute of Dramatic Arts before enrolling at the Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University.[3]
Career
[edit]1990s
[edit]In 1989, when she was 13, Zaki landed her first acting role in Mohamed Sobhi's play Bel Araby El Faseeh (In Formal Arabic) after answering a casting call.[5] The production ran for a year-a-half. Her next role came in 1994 while a student at Cairo University, in her TV debut in El A'elah, (The Family), a Ramadan television series. She appeared in a succession of popular TV series in the 90s including Layali el Helmiyyah 5 (Al Helmeya Nights) in 1995; Zizinia (1997-2000); Ahalina (Our Kin) in 1997 and El Daw' El Sharid (The Stray Light) in 1998.[3]
Her first film role was in the 1998 crime drama El Katl ElLaziz (Sweet Killing), starring Mervat Amin, one of Egypt's most popular actresses at the time. Other films followed including Idhak El Soura Titla' Hilwa (Smile, the Photo Comes about Better) (1998); Sa'idi fil Gam'a Al-Amrikiya (Upper Egyptian in the American University) (1998); Omar 2000, El Hobb El Awal (The First Love), and Leih Khallitni Ahibbak all of which were box office hits.
During this period, Zaki continued to take to the stage in several plays, including Le'b Eyal (Child's Play), Ya Messafer Wahdak, (Lone Traveler), and Afrouto.[3]
The 2000s
[edit]The year 2000 was prolific for Zaki who starred in four movies including Mustafa Qamar in El Hobb El Awwal (First Love); Omar, opposite Khaled El Nabawy and her husband, Ahmed Helmy—the first of several films they would subsequently film together; Leh Khalletni Ahebbak (Why Did You Make Me Love You Too) again alongside Helmy and Karim Abdel Aziz.
In 2001 Zaki took on the role of Jehan Sadat in the biopic The Days of Sadat about Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, among that year's highest grossing films in Egypt. She was awarded the Egyptian Order of Cultural Merit for her portrayal.[6] That same year she starred in the comedy Africano which was a box office success, grossing 8 million EGP[7] and her second in a series of collaborations with co-star Ahmad Al-Sakka. They starred again in the action film Mafia (2002) which was another commercial hit bringing in about 13 million EGP at the box office [8] In 2003 Zaki appeared in Sleepless Nights (2003), a popular film that that pushed Egyptian social boundaries and taboos on issues such as sex, marital issues and parental interference, and that has since become a classic in contemporary Egyptian cinema.[9][10]
In 2007 she starred in the romantic comedy Taymour and Shafika (2007) once again opposite Al-Sakka, playing childhood sweethearts whose love is put to test when her character is appointed a minister and he is charged as her bodyguard. A comedy, the film intended to show the serious challenges faced by modern-Egyptian women in balancing career ambitions with love and marriage. [11]
The 2010s
[edit]In 2016, starred in the Ramadan TV series Afrah El-Qoba (The Ooba Weddings) adapted from a novel by Naguib Mahfouz which garnered Zaki the Best Actress Murex D'Or.[5]
In 2019, Zaki became the first female Egyptian actor to be honored with her own star at the Dubai Stars Walk of Fame in Dubai.[12]
2020s
[edit]In April 2021, Zaki appeared in the mega hit Ramadan drama series Newton's Cradle playing a pregnant woman whose plans go awry when she travels to the United States to have her child born on American soil. Egypt's most watched television series of the year, it became a global hit after it was picked up by Netflix and released in January of 2022. [13] [14]
In 2022, Zaki appeared in Netflix's first ever Arabic language film Perfect Strangers, a huge hit in North Africa and Middle East. A remake of the 2016 Italian film, the film proved controversial with many Egyptians in light of its depictions of sexuality, including homosexuality, and cursing. Particularly strong criticism was directed at Zaki, the sole Egyptian cast member and with the long-held image of "the girl next door."[15]
In February 2023, Zaki appeared in the Ramadan series Taht El Wesaya (Under Guardianship), in the role of a widow with two children whose struggles after her husband’s death are amplified by the Egyptian Guardianship Law that privileges the parental grandfather or guardian rights over those of the mother. The popular series prompted calls for reforming Egyptian family law.[16]
In January 2024 Flight 404 was released in Egyptian theaters with Zaki in the starring role. The film was a regional box office hit and broke Egyptian box office records for a female-led film.[17] In October of that year the film was selected as the Egyptian submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
In January 2024 Zaki co-founded with publishing entrepreneur May Abdel-Azim an incubator program called HerStory aimed at supporting female Egyptian filmmakers. Its inaugural program funded 20 short films, and in late 2024, they established a sister chapter in Bahrain with the support of the Bahrain Ministry of Information and the Bahrain Film Festival.[18]
Upcoming projects include El-Set (The Lady), a biopic of the iconic Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum with Zaki in the title role. The film is to be directed by Marwan Hamed with a screenplay by Ahmed Mourad.[19]
Personal life
[edit]Mona is married to Egyptian actor Ahmed Helmy. They have three children: Lilly (2003), Selim (2014), and Younis (2016).
Philanthropy
[edit]Zaki has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2009 and in that capacity has appealed for donations surrounding regional events impacting children such as the 2020 Port of Beirut explosion or in, 2023, the conflict in Gaza. [20] [21] In 2010 she was a spokesperson for the Egyptian Springs of Life blood donation campaign conducted in cooperation with the World Health Organization. [22] [23]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Original Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Delicious Killing | El Atl el Laziz | Sherin | ||
| 1998 | Upper Egyptian in the American University | Se'idi fi el Gam'a el Amrikiyya | Syadah | ||
| Laugh, Picture Be Sweet | Edhak El Sura Tetla Helwa | Tahani | |||
| 2000 | The First Love | El Hobb El Awwal | Ranya | ||
| Horseback Knight | Fares Zahr el Khel | Zin | |||
| Why You Let Me Love You | Leh Khalletni Ahebbak | Dalya | |||
| Omar 2000 | Omar 2000 | Bibo | |||
| 2001 | The Days of Sadat | Ayyam Elsadat | Jehan Sadat | ||
| Africano | Africano | Gamilah | |||
| 2002 | Mafia | Mafia | Maryam | ||
| 2003 | From Look Of Eye | Men Nazret En | Sarah | ||
| Sleepless Nights | Sahar el Layali | Berihan | |||
| 2004 | My Aunt France | Khalti Faransa | Battah | ||
| 2005 | Abu Ali | Abu Ali | Salma | ||
| Dreams Of Our Life | Ahlam Omrena | Nada | |||
| 2006 | Blood Of Gazelle | Dam el Ghazal | Hanan | ||
| About Longing and Love | 'An el sho' w el Hawa | Alya | |||
| Halim | Halim | Nawal | |||
| 2007 | Taymur and Shafi'ah | Taymur w Shafi'ah | Shafi'ah | ||
| 2009 | Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story | Ehki Ya Shahrzad | Hebah | ||
| Escaping Tel Aviv | Welad El Am | Salwa | |||
| 2011 | 18 Days | 18 Yom | Mona | ||
| 2016 | 30 Years Ago | Men 30 Sanah | Hanan | ||
| 2020 | Black Box | El Sandu' el Eswed | Yasmin | [24][25] | |
| 2022 | Perfect Strangers | Ashab, Wala Aaz | Mariam | Netflix film | [26] |
| 2022 | The Spider | El Ankabout | Laila | ||
| 2024 | Flight 404 | Rehla 404 | Ghada | ||
Series
[edit]| Year | Title | Original Title | Role | Platform/Network | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Family | El 'Elah | Awatef | ||
| 1995 | Nights of the Helmiyyah 5 | Layali el Helmiyyah 5 | Sonia | ||
| 1997–2000 | Zizinia | Zizinia | |||
| 1997 | Our Kins | Ahalina | |||
| 1998 | The Stray Light | El Du el Shared | |||
| 2002–2003 | Egyptian Goha | Goha el Masri | |||
| 2006 | Cindrella | Cindrella | |||
| 2007 | Critical Moments | Lahazat Haregah | |||
| 2013 | Asia | Asia | Asia | ||
| 2014 | Equal 100 Man | Be 100 Ragel | |||
| 2016 | Saturday Night Live | Letet el Sabt mobasher | Guest | ||
| Wedding of El'obbah | Afrah El'bbah | Tahiat Abdeh | |||
| 2021 | Newton’s Game | Le’bet Newton | |||
| 2023 | Under Guardianship | Hanan | [27] |
Theatre
[edit]| Title | Original Title |
|---|---|
| By Fluent Arabic | B el 'Arabi el Fasih |
| O Traveling Alone | Ya Msafer Wahdak |
| So Ok | Kedah OK |
| Demon | Afrotto |
Awards and Distinctios
[edit]- 2017 Murex D’Or Best Actress (for the 2016 TV series Afrah El Qoba )
- 2020 Faten Hamama Award of Excellence, Cairo International Film Festival
- 2023 Best Actress Award (for Tahet El Wesaya series), Cairo Drama Festival
References
[edit]- ^ "منى زكى تثير الجدل بصورة "المحجبة" فى "تحت الوصاية"". BBC News عربي (in Arabic). Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "بعد الهجوم عليها.. سر عدم عرض مسلسل "تحت الوصاية" لـ منى زكي - المصريون". almesryoon.com (in Arabic). 26 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d Shahine, Gihan (29 November 2001). "Expressions of Sympathy". Al Arham Weekly. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Mona tells a story". The National. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Mona Zaki to be honored in 2nd Aswan Women Film Festival". EgyptToday. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Expressions of sympathy". Masress. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ https://www.albayan.ae/five-senses/2001-09-19-1.1127286
- ^ https://www.filfan.com/news/70024
- ^ https://www.madamasr.com/en/2017/07/14/feature/culture/egypts-cinematic-gems-sleepless-nights/
- ^ Koehler, Robert (20 January 2004). "Sleepless Nights". Variety. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Saleh, Yasmine (1 July 2007). "Taymour and Shafika, a modern-day Egyptian couple". Dailynewsegypt. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Abouchala, Nour (18 November 2021). "8 of Egyptian Actor Mona Zaki's Best Career Moments". Vogue Arabia. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Mullally, William (20 March 2023). "The 45 most popular Ramadan series of all time". Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ MaFt.co.uk. "Leaving Netflix USA Soon: The drama series 'Newton's Cradle' (2021) :". New On Netflix USA. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Levitt1 Shapiro2 Bior 3, Michael1 Ari2 Ayen3 (3 February 2022). "How a new Netflix film exposed a simmering tension in Egyptian society". NPR. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Bower, Edmund (21 April 2023). "Hit TV drama sparks calls for reform of Egyptian family law". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick (28 February 2024). "Egyptian Women Empowerment Thriller 'Flight 404' Gets U.S., Europe Release After Scoring at MENA Box Office (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "HerStory Films Launches First Female-Focused Film Incubator in Bahrain". CairoScene. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Umm Kulthum Biopic: Mona Zaki To Star in The Film". 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Independent, Egypt (18 August 2020). "Egyptian star Mona Zaki launches charity campaign for Lebanese children". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "UNICEF Egypt's Ambassador Mona Zaki Invites People To Donate To Children In Gaza". EgyptToday. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/message_2010_nov_13772.pdf
- ^ "Muna Zaki ambassador for the "Fountains of Life" | Al Bawaba". www.albawaba.com. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Hamza, Mohamed Nasser; Kamel, Mahmoud (28 October 2020), The Black Box (Crime, Thriller), retrieved 28 December 2022
- ^ Al-Youm, Al-Masry (19 October 2020). "Mona Zaki reurns to the big screen with 'The Black Box' after a four-year hiatus". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Al-Youm, Al-Masry (14 January 2022). "Netflix to present its first Arab production film 'Ashab, Wala Aaz' in January". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Media, Local (28 February 2023). "Mona Zaki Advocates Women's Social Empowerment in New Ramadan Series "Under Guardianship"". Top 50 Women Forum. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
External links
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| National | |
| Other | |