Everyone loves a list, right? We thought our Entertainment Issue would be a good opportunity to highlight some of the fantastic Arab talent currently working both in the Middle East and in the diaspora who have helped put the region on the film world’s global radar.
The list mainly includes actors, producers, directors—which means it is in no way comprehensive. It takes a village, as they say, and nowhere is that truer than in film and television, where it often takes hundreds of people to bring a project together—from grips and craft services to screenwriters and composers. This is a list of noteworthy talent who are on our radar, and deserve to be on yours too…
Razane Jammal
Actor, British-Lebanese
The British-Lebanese actress has been hustling in the industry for over a decade. After some success with Ramadan megahit series Embratoriyet Meen in 2014, she finally caught her big international break with Paranormal on Netflix in 2020, a successful adaptation of Ahmed Khaled Tawfik’s supernatural book series. Jammal followed that up by entering the DC Comics universe as Lyta Hall in the Neil Gaiman adaptation The Sandman and has now cemented her place in the global industry.
May Calamawy
Actor, Egyptian-Palestinian
To say Calamawy has had a big year would be the understatement of, well, the year. While the Egyptian-Palestinian actress has been working for a decade and got her big break internationally as Dena Hassan on Ramy, in 2022 she went stratospheric as Layla El-Faouly in Marvel’s Moon Knight, starring across from Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke. People even dressed as her character for Halloween.
Now that’s iconic.
Ramy Youssef
Showrunner and Actor, Egyptian-American
Our January cover star needs no introduction. You’ve seen him clutching his 2019 Golden Globe for Best Actor and you’ve enjoyed his show Ramy, which just wrapped up its third season. Besides his series, his biggest contribution might be how many other Arab actors he has helped catapult into long-overdue visibility. About half a dozen of the people on this list first came to people’s attention on his show.
Dina Shihabi
Actor, Saudi Arabian
With Saudi, Norwegian, Palestinian, German, Haitian ancestry and having been raised in Riyadh, Beirut and Dubai, Shihabi can defy definition. What’s clear is that her career is going from strength to strength. She first came to global attention with her role in 2018’s Prime Video series Jack Ryan and a year later as Nour who goes on an eventful date with the titular Ramy. But it’s her Netflix shows that have garnered her fans around the world. First with cyberpunk series Altered Carbon and in 2022 in the surprise hit supernatural horror series Archive 81. We can’t wait to see what she does next.
Cherien Dabis
Director, American-Palestinian
If (like everyone else) you’ve been watching any of the excellent series Ramy, Ozark, Little Voice, and Only Murders in the Building, then you will likely already be a fan of Dabis’ work without even knowing it. It was for an episode in the latter that the Palestinian director was Emmy nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for the groundbreaking episode “The Boy From 6B”— which was told from the perspective of a deaf character and containted only a single line of spoken dialogue. Dabis is no stranger to accolades, considering that she has been often lauded for her work since her debut feature film Amreeka back in 2009.
Dina Amer
Director and Producer, Egyptian-American
When you count Spike Lee, Spike Jonze and Riz Ahmed as executive producers on your first feature, you know you’re doing something right. That’s the case for rising Arab filmmaker Dina Amer, whose poignant film You Resemble Me was a Film Festival darling, nominated in Venice and taking home the ‘Audience Award’ at Red Sea.
Mo Amer
Actor and Creator, Palestinian-American
Good things really do come to those who wait. Amer had been working in the comedy mines for a long time before he found global success in his late 30s. He made his network debut in the US on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2017. The following year was a big one: He joined the cast of Ramy and released his comedy special Mo Amer: The Vagabond on Netflix, which was an hilarious exploration of his Palestinian and Texan identities. He did more of that in his Netflix original Mo—co-created with Ramy Youssef—and he’s now become mates with The Rock since they made Black Adam together. Quite the glow up.
Sarah Taibah
Actor, Saudi Arabian
As one of Saudi’s most exciting film talents, Taibah first made a name for herself in 2015 as the lead in the short film Zaina’s Cake. The Jeddah native would then go on to star in Abdulelah Alqurashi’s drama Roll’em—the first Saudi feature film to be screened in theaters in the Kingdom. She has since expanded her skills to behind the camera as the creator, writer and lead of last year’s Shahid hit dark comedy series Jameel Jeddan.
Dali Benssalah
Actor, French-Algerian
The hype around this French-Algerian actor is real. Not only did he captivate audiences in the latest James Bond film No Time To Die, but as the lead role in the Netflix film Athena his cant-turn-away grittiness has everyone taking note, again. Bensallah is all set for the big time.
Ahmed Malek
Actor, Egyptian
It’s easy to forget that Esquire’s September 2022 cover star Ahmed Malek is only 27. He’s done so much over the course of his already long career. He is one of a crop of new stars from the Arab world who work in both the regional industry and on global projects—an interesting trend we expect to see continue as media professionals become agnostic about where they find projects. Known to millions for his roles in popular Ramadan series in the Middle East, he recently starred in the highest grossing Egyptian film of all time Kira & El Gin and in Netflix film The Swimmers, which premiered at Toronto.
Mahira Abdel Aziz
Actor, Emirati
Abdulaziz, famous across the Arab world for hosting a financial news show, is also making moves into the fictional side of the film and television industry. She plays Sheikha in The Platform, opposite Maxim Khalil and Samer Ismail, which debuted on Netflix in 2020 and starred in hit Emirati film The Ambush in 2021. From what we hear she’s keen on both action and comedy. We see her headlining an action comedy in no time.
Tahar Rahim
Actor, French-Algerian
With his Golden Globe-nominated role in The Mauritanian, followed up by his unnervingly compelling role as Charles Sobhraj in The Serpent, the world collectively took note of the talents of Tahar Rahim. However, those weren’t the former Esquire cover star’s ‘big break’, but more a refresher course in the talent and watchability that the actor possesses. His incredible performance in Jacques Audiard’s sensational French-language gangster saga, A Prophet, remains a must-watch, while his next film, Don Juan, showcases the little-seen lighter side of the star actor. He will also be the president of the 48th Cesar ceremony, the French equivalent of the Oscars–the first Arab in history to get that distinctio.
Amir El Masry
Actor, British-Egyptian
While many of us were sitting indoors contemplating the end of the world in 2020, El-Masry was a busy man. He won a Scottish BAFTA and was named BAFTA Breakthrough Brit for his turn in Limbo and starred in the HBO hit Industry. At the end of 2022, audiences loved him as the young Mohamed Al-Fayed in everyone’s favourite binge The Crown. The craziest part? It feels like El Masry is just getting started.
Tara Emad
Actor and model, Egyptian-Montenegrin
Last year Tara Emad became the first-ever Arab ambassador for the famed French fashion maison Chanel. For an Arab model, there are few more impressive trailblazing accolades than that. However, Emad is not merely a successful model —her acting credentials are equally as captivating. While the Egyptian started her acting career in the TV series Al Jamaa, she has gone on to feature in multiple features including two Marwan Hamed films, Diamond Dust and The Blue Elephant 2, and in this year’s Arab-language version of the popular TV series, Suits.
Mohamed Hefzy
Writer and Producer, Egyptian
A regular of every kind of list about Arab filmmaking, Hefzy is the power player when it comes to the Arab film and TV industry. He’s been the President of the Cairo International Film Festival and served as a jury member on various festivals, including Venice. He’s worked with pretty much most of the people on this list. He even wrote Suits Arabia. We’d name some of the films he’s been involved with, but it would likely need a page unto itself. Just head to his IMDb page, but, be warned, you’ll need an infinite scroll.
Alia Shawkat
Actor, American-Iraqi
As part of the genre-defining US comedy Arrested Development, it was already clear that a teenage Shawkat was a special talent. While she’s rarely been short of independent film roles over her already two-decade career, the American-Iraqi actress has had a recent small screen resurgence with key roles alongside Jeff Bridges in The Old Man, and in Apple TV’s hit show Severance.
Nadia Ahmad
Actor and Writer, Kuwaiti
One of the most anticipated Netflix shows of 2023 is the Kuwaiti production The Exchange. Set in the late 1980s, it revolves around two women trying to navigate their way through the boys club of the Kuwaiti Stock Exchange on the eve of Saddam Hussein’s invasion of the country. The series was created by Ahmad, who is a TV presenter, actor and activist.
Yagoub Al Farhan
Actor, Saudi Arabian
One of the new wave of Saudi cinema’s most exciting actors. Al Farhan first came to the public’s attention in the award-winning film, Scales, before being instrumental in recalibrating the boundaries of television in the Kingdom with MBC Studio’s big budget Rashash, followed by the popular The Fates Hotel. With his next performance in the artistic drama, Norah, already set for release, Al Farhan’s career is on a steep upward curve.
Nadine Labaki
Actor and Director, Lebanese
As a director, Lebanon’s Nadine Labaki has only made three full-length features, including her 2007 debut Caramel. But each one of them has had an outsized impact in terms of critical acclaim, awards and even box office. Her 2018 film Capernaum about neglect and poverty in Lebanon was prescient, coming out a year before the country was plunged into a prolonged series of crises. As an actress, her latest coup was in the Netflix smash hit Perfect Strangers in 2022. Everything she touches turns to gold, so keep your eyes on her IMDb page.
Mohammed Al Turki
Producer, Saudi Arabian
While he would politely reject the title, ‘Mo’ Al Turki is what is known in the industry as a ‘star maker’. With a string of successful Hollywood films under his belt (Crisis (2021), 99 Homes (2014), Arbitrage (2012)), the former Esquire cover star has used his deep connections in the film industry to leverage and grow the potential of film in the Kingdom. At the end of last year, he oversaw the latest edition of the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah as the Foundation’s CEO, to great acclaim.
Mohamed Farrag
Actor, Egyptian
While Mohamed Farrag has been impressing audiences for years with his penchant for gritty character roles, he recently hit new career highs with his latest TV show, Room 207. The horror series based on the novel by Ahmed Khalid Tawfik, has not only been a success with the viewing public, but it has also been a showcase for Farrag’s talents to develop deeper characters.
Hend Sabry
Actor, Tunisian
Most-famous for playing Ola in the Egyptian drama Ayza Atgawaz—where she plays a character obsessed with getting married—she reprised the role in a 2022 reboot on Netflix, Finding Ola. It was a hit for the platform, named one of the best international shows of the year by Variety and cemented her as one of the most bankable stars in the region.
Salma Abu Deif
Actor, Egyptian
Before Abu Deif landed her breakout role in Amr Salama’s Sheikh Jackson (2017), she was a model. She’s still beloved by brands across the fashion and beauty industries, but it’s in film and television where she’s thriving. In 2022 alone, she starred in three of the biggest Ramadan hits, Ragyeen Ya Hawa, The Choice and the OSN adaptation of US hit Suits. She is currently staring in the acclaimed remake of the Danish hit The Killing on Shahid.
Dhafer L’Abidine
Actor and Director, Tunisian
L’Abidine was Esquire cover star in July 2021, and for good reason. The Tuinisian actor—and now director—with matinee idol looks came to acting late after his first career, as a professional footballer no less, came to an abrupt end. After he moved to the UK, he found early roles in British procedurals like The Bill, eventually landing a part in the iconic film Children of Men. Fast forward a decade and a half, and he’s a household name across the Arab world. His next act is as a director, with the acclaimed Ghodwa as his debut last year.
Farah Nabulsi
Director and Producer, British-Palestinian
Best-known for her 2020 film The Present—co-written with Hind Shoufani—about a father who sets out with his daughter in the West Bank to get a gift for his wife on their wedding anniversary. The poignant, heartbreaking 24-minute film won a BAFTA, was nominated for an Academy Award and announced Nabulsi as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
Ahmed Helmy
Actor, Egyptian
One of the most loved and recognizable faces in Arab cinema, the Egyptian actor has built a storied career not just as the gold standard in comedic roles, but also as a film producer, television presenter and—alongside his wife, actress Mona Zaki—as a force for good, using his profile to promote fantastic causes including the United Nations’ ‘Food for Education’ project. His latest film Another One shows that he remains in an elite group of leading men capable of pulling people away from their phones and into cinemas, a modern day miracle.
Maryam Touzani
Writer and Director, Moroccan
Best known as the writer and director of critically acclaimed film Adam (2019), the Moroccan journalist-turned-screenwriter has never been shy of shedding light on the Arab world’s more taboo topics. Her previous films and documentaries have covered topics including the exploitation of women and children, and the plight of single mothers, while her latest feature film, The Blue Caftan (2022), pushes the envelope even further.
Fahad Albutairi
Comedian, Saudi Arabian
Considered to be the first Saudi stand-up comedian to appear on stage professionally. Since his first public performance in October 2008 in Bahrain, he has shared the stage with many well-known stand-up comedians such as Gabriel Iglesias, Maz Jobrani, Tony Rock and Eddie Griffin. Albutairi was one of the founding members of the online entertainment network Telfaz11, who now have a multi-project deal with Netflix.
Mona Zaki
Actor, Egyptian
Brains, beauty and the God-given talent have all combined to make Mona Zaki one of the biggest screen stars in the Egyptian film industry. Despite being a veteran of more than 30 films and TV shows, the constantly in-demand actress seems to get better the brighter her star burns, following up her the acclaimed performance in TV show Newton’s Cradle (2020), with another excellent performance in last year’s most-anticipated Arabic movie Perfect Strangers. Action, comedy, drama. Zaki has it all.
Rosaline Elbay
Actor, Egyptian
Another Ramy alumnus, Elbay looks on the cusp of her big break as one of the leads on the Netflix series Kaleidoscope which comes to the streamer this month. Unafraid to explore options, she’s also starring in the off-Broadway show Dodi & Diana, opposite her Kaleidoscope co-star Peter Mark Kendall. Elbay uses her platform and voice to bring attention to women’s rights in Egypt and beyond. We hope that platform keeps growing.
Marwan Hamed
Director, Egyptian
The 45-year-old Egyptian filmmaker has been on an unparalleled winning streak since his feature film debut in 2006, seemingly setting box office records for the sole purpose of breaking them again with his next one. With Kira & El Gin, the renowned director has done what many once thought impossible—crafting a sweeping period epic that brought post-pandemic audiences back in droves, turning the film into the biggest financial success in Egypt’s storied cinematic history.
Dania Bdeir
Director, Lebanese
Bdeir’s Warsha, about a Beirut crane operator who lives out his secret passion high up in the sky, has been tearing through international film festivals like it’s no one’s business. It took home the Jury Award at Sundance Film Festival and has been shortlisted for an Academy Award. It’s a welcome bit of attention for a filmmaker who shows a lot of promise.
Tima Shomali
Comedian and Showrunner, Jordanian
She’s been called the “Tina Fey of the Arab world” for her work in comedy and has never shied away from tackling sensitive issues in her native Jordan, in her own creative and impactful way. She hit the mega big-time with her Netflix series AlRawabi School for Girls in 2021—which won her fans far beyond the Middle East thanks to the issues it addressed and its approachable high school setting.
Waleed Zuaiter
Actor, Palestinian-American
The critically-acclaimed actor and Academy Award-nominated producer’s international profile has been on the rise in recent years – from his role as a colonel in 2019’s The Spy on Netflix to that of Muhsin in Baghdad Central (2020). More recently he starred in a scene-stealing performance as peroxide-blonde baddy Koba on sleeper fan-favourite hit Gangs of London.
Saleh Abuamrh
Actor, Saudi Arabian
Internationally, Ricky Gervais and Steve Carrell are both bonafide A-listers largely thanks to their lead roles in the UK and US versions of The Office. If that is the case, expect a similar career trajectory for Saleh Abuamrh, who stars in the Saudi remake of the classic TV show, Al Maktab. Having established himself as one of the breakout stars of the MBC Ramadan smash Road Trip, Abuamrh stars as Malik Al-Tuwaifi, the bumbling boss of a courier services company in the Kingdom.
Bassel Khaiat
Actor, Syrian
The prolific actor is known for taking on daunting, challenging roles. He’s a mainstay of the all-important Ramadan series season every year and is part of a kind of Syrian Rat Pack of handsome talented actors including Kosai Khauli, Taim Hasan and Maxim Khalil—with a lot of them having been classmates at the dramatic arts academy in Damascus. His breakout role was in the iconic Ahlam Kabira (2004). More recently he’s gained plaudits for The Al Rehla (2018), The Writer (2019), and The Sculptor (2020).
Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji
Director, Iraqi
Al Daradji’s 2022 film Hanging Gardens, about a young Iraqi rubbish picker who rescues an American sex doll from the Baghdad dumps, won him the Best Film award at the Red Sea Film Festival. He’s part of a new generation reinventing what Iraqi cinema can be—watch out for exciting things.
Ali Suliman
Actor, Palestinian
After starting his career in theatre, he broke through to international attention with his lead role in Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now (2005), which won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award. Since then Suleiman has become a mainstay of Arab cinema. You can catch him in two films streaming on Netflix right now, Farha and The Swimmers.
Bassel Ghandour
Writer and Director, Jordanian
While Ghandour rocketed into the film industry’s collective conscious following 2016’s ‘Best Foreign-Language Film’ Oscar nomination for Theeb, this was merely an early indicator of Ghandour’s talent. His ability to weave compelling regional storytelling into global relevancy was again on show with 2021’s crime caper The Alleys being fated at several international film festivals.
Asser Yassin
Actor, Egyptian
“After recently tearing it up in the Arabic-version of Suits, a red-hot Asser Yassin is at the peak of his powers. But to truly cement legendary status in the cutthroat world of Egyptian cinema it will take time, work-ethic and family” is how we introduced Esquire’s cover star back in June 2022. With six projects on the verge of being released, we have no doubt Yassin will remain red-hot.
