Yousra ( ; ar, يسرا, ; born Seveen Nessim, ) is an Egyptian actress and singer. She is considered as a glamorous icon for the Middle East and is an influential voice in the region.

Career

Yousra participated as a main Role actress in almost 81 Cinema Movies, 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 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. Then she had the chance to act alongside Salah Zulfikar in ''Imra’a Lil Asaf (Unfortunately Woman)'' in 1988. Later, Adel Emam 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. 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 A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust. Confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, confidence, irresponsibility, and greed. Researchers have def ...

in what the English version of Egyptian newspaper ''

Al-Ahram ''Al-Ahram'' ( ar, الأهرام; ''The Pyramids''), founded on 5 August 1875, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second oldest after '' al-Waqa'i`al-Masriya'' (''The Egyptian Events'', founded 1828). It is majori ...

'' 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'' ( ar, عمارة يعقوبيان ''‘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 Arabi ...

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

La vie en rose "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 US in 1950, when seven versions reached the ''Billboard ...

.'" 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 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, Al, Ål or al may stand for: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Al (''Aladdin'') or Aladdin, the main character in Disney's ''Aladdin'' media * Al (''EastEnders''), a minor character in the British soap opera * Al (''Fullmetal ...

Saleh Selim Saleh Selim ( ar, صالح سليم) (11 September 1930 - 6 May 2002) was the 10th president of the Egyptian Al Ahly Sporting Club. He also was a famous Egyptian football player and actor. He was nicknamed El Maestro because of his way of lea ...

, and the wife of Khaled Selim. She has no children.

Political views

Despite all the troubles and the tension between Algeria and Egypt after

2009 Egypt–Algeria World Cup dispute There were disturbances before and after two international association football matches between Egypt and Algeria in November 2009, leading to diplomatic tensions between Egypt, Algeria, and Sudan. The matches were in Group C in the CAF section ...

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

Omar Sharif Omar Sharif ( ar, عمر الشريف ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub , 10 April 193210 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 ...

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

Yousra's Facebook page
{{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