Egyptian star Bassem Samra expressed his great happiness with the widespread positive feedback that accompanied the airing of the series “Magical Eye” during the current Ramadan marathon, praising the audience’s interaction with the character “Zaki Ghanem” that he portrays, and confirming that the popular success achieved by the work exceeded all his personal expectations.

A psychological drama, far removed from traditional action

In an exclusive interview with Okaz newspaper, Bassem Samra explained that the main factor that attracted him to participate in this project from the moment he first read the script was the originality and boldness of its concept. He pointed out that the work completely avoids themes of excessive violence or fast-paced, overused action, focusing instead on the psychological and social development of the characters. He emphasized that the script was very cleverly crafted and relies on meticulous details that reflect lived reality, making it relatable to the Arab viewer.

Zaki Ghanem... A legal chess match

Regarding the nature of his role, the veteran actor pointed out that the character of lawyer Zaki Ghanem, which he portrays, does not belong to the category of stereotypical lawyers who rely on a loud voice or fiery, impassioned speeches in courtrooms. On the contrary, he is a character who moves with remarkable composure and shrewdness, calculating every move with meticulous care. He described his performance as akin to a carefully planned "chess game," where the strength lies in strategy, not emotion.

Behind the scenes of preparation and field research

Samra added that this role required a special kind of preparation, different from his previous roles. He made sure to conduct field research that included observing real lawyers in their daily lives and within the courtrooms. His aim was to understand their true thought processes, their body language, and the timing of their interventions in cases. He emphasized his conviction that the strength of a dramatic character lies more in silence, focus, and deep inner conflict than in outward emotion or shouting.

Artistic context and diversity of roles

Bassem Samra's outstanding performance in this role is a continuation of his rich and diverse artistic career, as he is known for his exceptional ability to seamlessly transition between popular, tragic, and comedic roles. The series "Magical Eye" deserves credit for presenting Samra in a new light, showcasing his acting abilities in roles of intelligence and quiet cunning. This reflects the evolution of Egyptian drama in recent years, moving towards a focus on the psychological depth of characters rather than solely relying on visual spectacle.

Outstanding team

It's worth noting that the series "Magical Eye" boasts a strong cast, starring Bassem Samra, the young star Essam Omar, and the veteran actor Mohamed Alaa, in addition to Faten Saeed, Samaa Ibrahim, and Rabab Mumtaz. The series is written by Hisham Helal and directed by Al-Sadir Masoud, known for his distinctive visual style and his ability to guide actors to bring out their best performances.

In bold statements that brought renewed attention to one of the most serious societal issues, Egyptian artist Bushra revealed painful details about her personal experiences with harassment, stressing that this suffering was the main driving force behind her enthusiasm for producing and starring in the film “678”, which was produced in 2010 and caused a wide uproar at the time.

Details of the three harassment incidents

During her appearance on the "Secrets" program, which airs on Al-Nahar TV, Bushra bitterly recounted three instances of harassment she experienced at different ages. The story began in her childhood, specifically in elementary school, when she was harassed while riding a bus to a private lesson.

That wasn't the only incident in her childhood. Bushra recounted another that occurred while she was on her way to learn to play the piano. "I faced a terrifying situation in one of Cairo's streets," she said. "A man chased me and tried to catch me, but I managed to escape thanks to my speed." She described her escape by saying, "I slipped right through his legs.".

The third and most shocking incident occurred within her artistic work environment, where she revealed that she had been subjected to harassment attempts by some individuals in the industry, specifically a producer and a journalist. She described the seriousness of the situation, which once led her to take refuge in the bathroom and call a friend to rescue her from an attempted assault that nearly ended in disaster.

The film "678": Art confronts reality

Bushra emphasized that the film "678" was not merely a fleeting cinematic work, but rather a cry against societal silence regarding the issue of harassment. Written and directed by Mohamed Diab, the film is considered one of the first Egyptian cinematic works to address the phenomenon of sexual harassment directly and explicitly, portraying the suffering of women from different social classes.

Bushra revealed a strange incident that occurred during the filming of the movie, as the crew was subjected to actual harassment situations during the filming of scenes of gathering in the street, which prompted the intervention of the director, Mohamed Diab, personally to protect the actresses, in addition to using the police forces to control the situation, which proves the realism of the issue raised by the work.

The importance of work and its societal impact

Bushra's statement takes on particular significance given the historical context of the film "678." When it was released in 2010, discussing harassment was considered taboo in Egyptian society. The film played a major role in breaking the silence and encouraging women to report harassers, paving the way for societal and legal discussions that later led to stricter penalties for harassment in Egyptian law.

The film received widespread international acclaim and won awards at international festivals for its success in conveying a realistic picture of the suffering of Egyptian women, and for emphasizing the need to confront this phenomenon with awareness and firmness, a message that Bushra continues to emphasize to this day.

Saba Mubarak praised the exceptional artistic career of Tunisian star Hend Sabri , describing her as the best and most successful Arab actress in breaking into the Egyptian market and leaving an indelible mark on the public's conscience.

Certificate of appreciation in "Snakes and Ladders"

Saba Mubarak's remarks came during her guest appearance on the program "The Ladder and the Snake," where she emphasized that Hend Sabry's achievements in Egypt were not merely fleeting success, but rather the establishment of a unique artistic school. Saba stated, "Hend Sabry possesses an exceptionally rich experience and broad cultural background, and she has honed her talent by collaborating with leading directors in Egypt, enabling her to leave a clear and powerful mark on both Egyptian drama and cinema.".

Mubarak added, explaining the reasons for this excellence: “Hind’s success was not a coincidence, but rather the result of continuous effort and precise and intelligent artistic choices that contributed to establishing her position as one of the most important first-class stars in the Egyptian market,” considering that Hind Sabri’s experience is “the model that should be emulated” for any Arab artist who aspires to work and succeed in “the Hollywood of the East.”.

Hend Sabri: A journey of rise from Tunisia to the top of the Egyptian pyramid

Saba Mubarak's praise comes within a historical context that underscores Egypt's status as a nurturing ground for Arab talent. Hend Sabry, since her early days at the beginning of the new millennium, has been able to overcome the barrier of dialect and fully integrate into Egyptian society. Her bold journey began with renowned directors such as Inas El-Degheidy and Daoud Abdel Sayed, after which she seamlessly transitioned between serious cinema and comedy, eventually reaching television dramas that have become household names in Egypt.

Hend Sabri's success is a phenomenon worthy of study. She didn't simply rely on being a "beautiful face" from Tunisia; she boldly and realistically addressed deeply personal Egyptian social issues (such as spinsterhood and divorce), making the Egyptian public see her as "one of them." This complete integration is what Saba Mubarak pointed out as the true measure of success in the highly competitive Egyptian market.

Details of the series "220 Days"

On another note, regarding her latest artistic endeavors, Saba Mubarak continues to strengthen her presence in Egyptian drama through her new series, "220 Days ." The series is written by Mahmoud Zahran and directed by Karim El-Adl.

Saba Mubarak stars in this highly anticipated drama alongside Karim Fahmy, as well as a distinguished cast including Ali Tayeb, the veteran actress Hanan Suleiman, and the star Aida Riyad. Audiences eagerly await the series, which is expected to offer a unique social drama, adding to Saba Mubarak's impressive portfolio of successful projects in recent years.