Souhir Ben Amara ( ar, سهير بن عمارة; born 27 November 1985) is a Tunisian actress.

Biography

The daughter of a diplomat, she lived in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

until the age of six before moving to Tunisia. Passionate about art from her youth, it was at the age of sixteen that she decided to really make it her profession. Ben Amara's father was sick during high school, but she obtained her baccalaureate with honors. She took a gap year, then studied at the Higher Institute of Multimedia Arts in La Manouba, where she received an audiovisual diploma. Though she is a director by training, Ben Amara has focused on acting since her senior project. Her career began on television with the ''Maktoub'' and ''Choufli Hal'' series in 2008. She starred as Maliha in ''Min Ayam Mliha'' in 2010. Ben Amara made her film debut in ''

Always Brando ''Always Brando'' is a 2011 film directed by Tunisian director Ridha Behi. Originally titled ''Brando and Brando'', it was set to star Marlon Brando and Christian Erickson until Brando's death. The film premiered at 2011 Toronto International Film ...

'' (2011), directed by Ridha Béhi. She played the symbolic role of Zena and was cast last minute when the director did not like the actress chosen for the role. In 2012, Ben Amara played Aicha in ''Millefeuille'', directed by

Nouri Bouzid Nouri Bouzid (born 1945) is a Tunisian film director and screenwriter. He has directed seven films between 1986 and 2006. His film ''Man of Ashes'' was screened in the Un Certain Regard section the 1986 Cannes Film Festival. Three years later, ...

, dealing with issues with the

hijab In modern usage, hijab ( ar, حجاب, translit=ḥijāb, ) generally refers to headcoverings worn by Muslim women. Many Muslims believe it is obligatory for every female Muslim who has reached the age of puberty to wear a head covering. While ...

. In 2013, she played the role of Donia in the miniseries ''Yawmiyat Imraa''. In 2019, Ben Amara starred in the historical soap opera ''

Kingdoms of Fire ''Kingdoms of Fire'' ( ar, ممالك النار, Mamalik Al-Nar) is an Arabic historical drama television series about the reign of Ottoman Empire's Selim I and Mamluk Sultanate's Tuman bay II, created by Muhammed Abdulmalik and directed by Brit ...

''. She had a principal role in ''Sortilège'' (2019), directed by

Ala Eddine Slim Ala, ALA, Alaa or Alae may refer to: Places * Ala, Hiiu County, Estonia, a village * Ala, Valga County, Estonia, a village * Ala, Alappuzha, Kerala, India, a village * Ala, Iran, a village in Semnan Province * Ala, Gotland, Sweden * Alad, Seydun ...

. She was attracted by its script, and her character meets the soldier after moving from a forest. The film premiered at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

, and she called the film the cinema of perception. Ben Amara supported the

Arab Spring The Arab Spring ( ar, الربيع العربي) was a series of Nonviolent resistance, anti-government protests, Rebellion, uprisings and Insurgency, armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s. It began in T ...

and participated in the events, but feels bitter that politicians stole the popular will. She has said that her ideal role would be that of a tomboy character.

Filmography

;Films *2011 : ''

'' : Zena *2012 : ''Millefeuille'' : Aïcha *2014 : ''Tafkik'' *2017 : ''El Jaida'' *2018 : ''The Crow's Siesta'' *2019 : ''Sortilège'' *2020 : '' Tlamess'' ;Television *2008 : ''Maktoub'' : Lili *2008 : ''Choufli Hal'' *2009 : ''Achek Assarab'' : Fatma *2010 : ''Min Ayam Mliha'' : Maliha *2012 : ''Dipanini'' *2013 : ''Yawmiyat Imraa'' : Donia Ben Amor *2014 : ''Dragunov'' *2015 : ''Anna e Yusuf'' *2015 : ''Lilet Chak'' : Linda *2015 : ''Histoires tunisiennes'' : Sandra *2016 : ''Le Président'' *2016-2017 : ''Flashback'' *2016 : ''Bolice 2.0'' *2017 : ''La Coiffeuse'' *2019 : ''

'' : Hafsa Sultan

References

External links

Souhir Ben Amara
at the

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Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ben Amara, Souhir 1985 births Living people Actors from Tunis 21st-century Tunisian actresses Tunisian film actresses Tunisian television actresses Tunisian stage actresses Tunisian expatriates in France