Muna Wassef
Encyclopedia
Muna Wassef (منى واصف) is a Syrian Stage, Film and Television actress. She was born on February 9, 1942, as (Muna Mustafa Wassef Jelmran ). She is also a United Nations
Goodwill ambassador
. Wassef is a legendary icon in the Arab world
and the Middle East.
Wassef had become the highest-paid actress in the Arab World since the end of the 1970s until the year of 2000; now she is one of the highest-paid actresses.
where she lived until the age of 7. Her mother was Egyptian and her father was Moroccan
.
When she was 15 she worked as a cotton candy (Ghazl Al Banat) seller in the streets of Damascus. By the age of 16, she worked as a women's clothes saleswoman for one of Syria's most famous fashion designers at that time, and when she turned 17 she was already working as a fashion model for the same designer, at the same time becoming a popular folk dancer in a group called Omaya.
, and reciting poetry.
She traveled to East Germany in 1973 where she took acting courses in the Breacht theater.
As part of her work with the Syrian Military Theater, she learned about symposia and dramatic art.
Muhammad Shahin, who was a film director as well.
She worked in the symposium of Art and Thought which was sponsored by Dr. (Rafeq Al Sabagh) in presenting Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
in 1963.
In 1964 she joined the Group for Dramatic Arts and starred in stage productions of the National Theater: productions such as Molière
's Don Juan. This signaled the beginning of a very important stage in her career.
In 1974, Syrian-American film director Moustapha Akkad
chose her to play the role of Hind
in the Arabic version of his movie Al Risalah Mohammad, Messenger of God,which helped her achieve international recognition, with Anthony Quinn
, and Irene Papas
in the English version.
Arbic صراع على الرمال or Wars on Sand. The television series also stars Syrian actors Taim Hasan
, Sabah Mubarak, Hasan Awaytti and Basil Khayat and is directed by Hatem Ali
and written by Hany El-Saady. The series is a major TV production. It was produced by Dubai Media Incorporated. It's estimated cost is over $6 million, So far it is the most expensive Arabic TV Production ever, and it was released in September 2008. The series, which is based on the vision and poetry of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
, is a beduin epic that takes place in the Persian Gulf beduin desert at the beginning of the 18th century.
ever, Bab Al Hara. She plays the role of a Christan woman who leads the female revolution in Damascus. The show is taking a new path, this season women are playing the main characters and Muna Wassef is playing the Main one.
In addition to so many poetic evenings and programs.
Muhammad Shahin, and together they formed one of the Arab world
's most popular celebrity couples. They have one son
Ammar Abdulhamid
, who lives in the United States, Washington, D.C.
, with his wife Khawla, daughter Oula (b. 1986) and son Mouhanad (1990).
Currently, Wassef divides her time between her artistic career and her interest in issues pertaining to the emancipation of women in the Arab world.
And many other awards received in Tunisia
, Libya
, Jordan
, Lebanon
and Syria
.
Muna is often invited to Arab
countries every year, to lecture and attend festivals, seminars, and conferences including:
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Goodwill ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...
. Wassef is a legendary icon in the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
and the Middle East.
Wassef had become the highest-paid actress in the Arab World since the end of the 1970s until the year of 2000; now she is one of the highest-paid actresses.
Background
Muna Wassef was born in 1942 on Al Abed Street in RabatRabat
Rabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
where she lived until the age of 7. Her mother was Egyptian and her father was Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
.
When she was 15 she worked as a cotton candy (Ghazl Al Banat) seller in the streets of Damascus. By the age of 16, she worked as a women's clothes saleswoman for one of Syria's most famous fashion designers at that time, and when she turned 17 she was already working as a fashion model for the same designer, at the same time becoming a popular folk dancer in a group called Omaya.
Education
Although Wassef did not finish high school, she educated herself and learned to present the majority of her works using the Standard Arabic Language by learning the masterpieces of world literature, educating herself on the Tajwid and Tartil of the Qur'anQur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
, and reciting poetry.
She traveled to East Germany in 1973 where she took acting courses in the Breacht theater.
As part of her work with the Syrian Military Theater, she learned about symposia and dramatic art.
Early career
In 1960, Wassef submitted herself for a contest in which they chose actresses for the Military theater, which was part of the Syrian Ministry of Defense. She worked and learned there for about 2 years. In 1963 she married the Army GeneralArmy General
For the army rank of General, as opposed to the specific rank of Army General, see General officer.Army General is a title used in many countries to denote the rank of General nominally commanding an army in the field...
Muhammad Shahin, who was a film director as well.
She worked in the symposium of Art and Thought which was sponsored by Dr. (Rafeq Al Sabagh) in presenting Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
in 1963.
In 1964 she joined the Group for Dramatic Arts and starred in stage productions of the National Theater: productions such as Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's Don Juan. This signaled the beginning of a very important stage in her career.
Theater career
In theater, Muna Wassef, has starred in more than 25 plays by Arab and international playwrights. Her first play was Al Etr Al Akhdar wics. After that, she performed several plays in the Military Theatre inside the military units including:- The Merchant of Venice
- Al Khajool Fe Al Kasr
- Al Aamaqby (Makseem Agorky)
- Donjuan
- Mawta Bela Goubour
- Tartouf.
- Al Zeer Salem
- Al Madnasa
- Hekayat Hob
- Al Masa Al Mutafaela
- Oedipus
- Al Mufatish Al Am
- Haram Mali Al Wazeer
Film career
In film, Wassef has done more than 30 films, including:- Another Face of Love (1973)
- al-Yazirli (1974)
- The AdventureAl-MughamaraAl-Mughamara is a Syrian movie which was released in 1974. It was directed by the Syrian film Director Muhammad Shahin. The movie is 100 minutes long.-Plot:...
(1974) - The Opposite Direction (1975)
- The MessageMohammad, Messenger of God (film)Mohammad, Messenger of God is a 1976 film directed by Moustapha Akkad chronicling the life and times of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam...
(1976) - The Red, The White and the Black (1976)
- Heroes are Born Twice (1977)
- Photo Relics (1979)
- Fragments - UN RESTE D'IMAGES (1980)
- Sun on a Hazy DaySun on a Hazy DayAl-Shams Fi Yawm Gha'em is a Syrian film released in 1986. It was directed by the Syrian film Director Muhammad Shahin. The movie is 90 minutes long.- Plot :This film is set in Syria's pre-independence days, the 1930s....
' (1986) - Something is Burning (1993)
- The Sea (1994)
- Al Sadeqan
- Al Les Al Zareef
- Maqlab Men Al Makseek
- Emrah Taskn Whdaha
- Zekra Laylit Hob
- Al Ahmar Wa Al Abyad wa Al Aswad
- Al Etejah al Moakes
- Al Taleb
- Al Bazerki
- Baqaya Swar
- Al Shams Fe Yawm Ghaem
- Ah Ya Bahr
- Shaya Ma Yahtareq
- The Shadows of Silence (2007)
- Menahi (2008)
In 1974, Syrian-American film director Moustapha Akkad
Moustapha Akkad
Moustapha Akkad was a Syrian American film producer and director, best known for producing the series of Halloween films and directing Mohammad, Messenger of God and Lion of the Desert. He was killed along with his daughter Rima Akkad Monla in 2005 in Amman, Jordan by a suicide bomber.-Early life...
chose her to play the role of Hind
Hind bint Utbah
Hind bint ‘Utbah was an Arab woman who lived in the late 6th and early 7th centuries CE; she was the wife of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, a powerful man of Mecca, in western Arabia. Both Abu Sufyan and Hind originally opposed the Islamic prophet Muhammad...
in the Arabic version of his movie Al Risalah Mohammad, Messenger of God,which helped her achieve international recognition, with Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
, and Irene Papas
Irene Papas
Irene Papas is a Greek actress and occasional singer, who has starred in over seventy films in a career spanning more than fifty years.-Life:...
in the English version.
Television career
Every year Wassef stars in at least two or three TV series. She has done more than 200 series including:- Hejrat Al qoulob Ela Al qoulob
- Ez Eddin Al Qassam
- Asad Al Warraq
- Al Zeer Salem
- Dalila Wa Al zaibaq
- Al Khansaa
- Saray
- Beomm Ayni
- Zaman Al Hob
- Arhal Wahidan
- Asiy Al Dama
- Hekayat Shahrazad Al Akhera
- Aqba Ben Nafea
- Al tareq
- Jawaher
- Layali Al Salhia
- Bukra Ahla
- The End of a Brave man
- The Sun Rises Again (2004)
- Salheaya Nights (2004)
- Mothers (2005)
- Hard Tears (2005)
- Tomorrow will be Better (2005)
- Speaking Border (2005)
- Al-Zahir Baibars (2005)
- The Best Days (2006)
- Little Projects (2006)
- People of love (2006)
- A Yard (2006)
- The story of love (2007)
- The neighborhood's GateBab al-HaraBab al-Hara was one of the most popular television series in the Arab world, watched by tens of millions of people from "poverty-stricken Gaza to the opulent cities of the Persian Gulf." The series chronicles the daily happenings and family dramas in a neighborhood in Damascus, Syria in the...
(2007) - Seraa Ala El RemalSeraa Ala El RemalSeraa Ala El Remal is a Syrian Arab soap opera/telenovela first aired on Dubai TV during Ramadan 2008...
- Wars on Sand (2008) - Alhoot- The Whale(2008)
- The neighborhood's GateBab al-HaraBab al-Hara was one of the most popular television series in the Arab world, watched by tens of millions of people from "poverty-stricken Gaza to the opulent cities of the Persian Gulf." The series chronicles the daily happenings and family dramas in a neighborhood in Damascus, Syria in the...
4 (2009) - Zaman Al3ar (2009)
Ramadan 2008
Muna stars in Seraa Ala El RemalSeraa Ala El Remal
Seraa Ala El Remal is a Syrian Arab soap opera/telenovela first aired on Dubai TV during Ramadan 2008...
Arbic صراع على الرمال or Wars on Sand. The television series also stars Syrian actors Taim Hasan
Taim Hasan
Taim Hassan is a prominent Syrian actor, known for his distinct dramatic roles in Syria and the Arab world. Hassan achieved fame in Syria through a number of highly acclaimed and extremely successful Syrian series most notably Saladin, Taifas and Nizar Qabbani...
, Sabah Mubarak, Hasan Awaytti and Basil Khayat and is directed by Hatem Ali
Hatem Ali
Hatem Ali is a Syrian actor as well as a television and cinema director.In the year 1986, Ali gained acceptance in theater arts, and worked as a teacher for Acting in the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts.- Cinema :...
and written by Hany El-Saady. The series is a major TV production. It was produced by Dubai Media Incorporated. It's estimated cost is over $6 million, So far it is the most expensive Arabic TV Production ever, and it was released in September 2008. The series, which is based on the vision and poetry of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
, is a beduin epic that takes place in the Persian Gulf beduin desert at the beginning of the 18th century.
Ramadan 2009
In Ramadan 2009 Muna Wassef takes over the Arab television. She stars in 4 huge productions. The main one is the most watched TV show in the Arab WorldArab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
ever, Bab Al Hara. She plays the role of a Christan woman who leads the female revolution in Damascus. The show is taking a new path, this season women are playing the main characters and Muna Wassef is playing the Main one.
Radio career
Muna Wassef presented some works in Radio as :- Demashq Ya Nasmat Hozn.
- Rohy Hayati.
- Jazerat Al Marah.
- Muna and the short story program which was aired weekly.
In addition to so many poetic evenings and programs.
Personal life
Wassef was married to the late Syrian film DirectorFilm director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Muhammad Shahin, and together they formed one of the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
's most popular celebrity couples. They have one son
Ammar Abdulhamid
Ammar Abdulhamid
Ammar Abdulhamid is a Syrian-born human rights activist, dissident, and founder of the Tharwa Foundation.-Early life:...
, who lives in the United States, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, with his wife Khawla, daughter Oula (b. 1986) and son Mouhanad (1990).
Currently, Wassef divides her time between her artistic career and her interest in issues pertaining to the emancipation of women in the Arab world.
Awards
Among the many honors and awards that Wassef has received:- The Syrian Order of MeritOrder of MeritThe Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
-Excellent Degree 2009 http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2009/11/25/258173.htm - The Achievement Award ASMA Foundation represented by Ban Ki Moon 2010.
- Al-Fatih Medal
- The Ghassan al-Kanafani Medallion
- Life Achievement Al- Ataa Award 1999. http://www.al-ataaaward.com/1999.html
- Life Achievement Award: Alexandria International Film Festival 2008 http://alexfilmfestival.com/
- Life Achievement Award: International Arab Film Festival in Oran 2008 http://cinearabfestival.org/FIFAO2008/galerie/thumbnails.php?album=7
And many other awards received in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
Muna is often invited to Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
countries every year, to lecture and attend festivals, seminars, and conferences including:
- Damascus International Film FestivalDamascus International Film FestivalThe Damascus International Film Festival is a biannual November film festival hosted by the government of Syria since 1979. The festival was established by the late Syrian film director Muhammad Shahin. It alternates with the Carthage Film Festival. Up to 1999, the festival's competition focused...
.http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Damascus_Film_Festival/ - Dubai International Film FestivalDubai International Film FestivalThe Dubai International Film Festival is an international film festival based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Launched in 2004, it aims to foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world.-Overview:...
.http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/ - Cairo International Film FestivalCairo International Film FestivalThe Cairo International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cairo, Egypt. It was established in 1976 and was the first international film festival held in the Arab world...
. http://www.cairofilmfest.org/ - Festival International du Film Arab Oran, (International Arab Film Festival in Oran). http://cinearabfestival.org/FIFAO2008/AR/index_ar.php
- Middle East International Film FestivalMiddle East International Film FestivalAbu Dhabi Film Festival is an international film festival. Created in 2007, the ceremony is held annually in October in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage , under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the ADACH...
- Doha Tribeca Film FestivalDoha Tribeca Film FestivalThe Doha Tribeca Film Festival is an annual five-day film festival founded in 2009 to promote Arab and international film, and to develop a sustainable film industry in Qatar. The Festival is one of Qatar's largest entertainment events attracting over 50,000 guests in 2010.DTFF is the annual film...
. http://www.dohatribecafilm.com/
- The Theater Festival in Syria.
- The Sharja Theater Festival.
- The Arab TV Festival in BahrainBahrain' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. - Carthage Cinema Days the Tunisian film festival.