Yousra
Egyptian actress and singer (born 1955)
title: "Yousra" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["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", "arabic-language-egyptian-singers"] description: "Egyptian actress and singer (born 1955)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yousra" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Egyptian actress and singer (born 1955) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Yousra |
| native_name | يسرا |
| native_name_lang | ar |
| image | Youssra (cropped).jpg |
| caption | Yousra in 2009 |
| birth_name | Sivin Hafez Nessim |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Cairo, Egypt |
| occupation | Actress |
| years_active | 1977–present |
| spouse | Khaled Selim |
| :: |
| name = Yousra | native_name = يسرا | native_name_lang = ar | image = Youssra (cropped).jpg | caption = Yousra in 2009 | birth_name = Sivin Hafez Nessim | birth_date = | birth_place = Cairo, Egypt | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1977–present | spouse = Khaled Selim Yousra (; ; , ; born Sivin Nesim (, )) is an Egyptian actress. She is regarded as a prominent figure in the Middle East entertainment industry and has been described as an influential cultural icon in the region.
Career
Yousra has appeared in nearly 81 films, about 20 television dramas, and three stage productions. She made her film debut in 1980 with Athkiya' Laken Aghbiya (Smart Yet Stupid). Over the years, she has taken on a wide range of roles, including comedic, dramatic, and romantic characters. Her early work included Kasr Fi El Hawaa (Castle in the Air) by Abdel Halim Nasr (1980), Fatah Tabhath Ann Alhob (A Girl Looking for Love) by Nader Galal (1977), Alf Bossa Wa Bossa (A Thousand and One Kisses) by Mohamed Abdel Aziz (1977), and Ebtessama Waheda Takfi (One Smile Is Enough) by Mohamed Bassiyouni (1978).
She later starred in a series of successful films with Adel Emam, including Shabab Yarkoss Fawk Alnar (Youth Dancing on Fire) by Yehiya Al Alamy (1978), Al Ensan Yaeesh Mara Waheda (Man Only Lives Once) by Simone Saleh (1981), Ala Bab Al Wazeer (At the Door of the Minister) by Mohamed Abdel Aziz (1982), Al Avocato (The Lawyer) by Raafat Al Mihi (1984), Al Ins Wa Algen by Mohamed Radi (1985), and Karakoun Fi El Shareih. Their collaborations were known for combining humour with social and political commentary. The duo also appeared together in Al Mansi (The Forgotten), Al Irhab Wal Kabab (Terrorism and Kebab), and Toyour Al Zalam (Birds of Darkness), all of which used comedy to explore political themes and received both critical and popular acclaim. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/الفنانة_يسرا.jpg" caption="Yousra in 2013"] ::
A significant milestone in Yousra's career was her collaboration with Egyptian director Youssef Chahine. She appeared in his films Hadduta Masreya (Egyptian Story, 1982), Iskanderiya Kaman we Kaman (Alexandria Again and Again, 1990), and Al Mohager (The Emigrant, 1994). Yousra has stated that Chahine had a profound influence on her personally and professionally, describing him as "a school for anyone who works with him."
Yousra also appeared in several television dramas that aired during Ramadan, including the 2005 series Ahlam 'Adiya (Ordinary Dreams). In the show, she portrayed a con artist, a role described by Al-Ahram as "a major departure from the star's usual Ramadan screen persona, which has consistently verged on the romantic and the demure."
In 2006, Yousra played a supporting role in The Yacoubian Building, an adaptation of the novel of the same name. The film reportedly had one of the highest budgets in Egyptian cinema at the time. Playing an entertainer in a restaurant, Yousra, according to Variety, "effortlessly stirs old emotional waters when she sings 'La Vie en rose.'"
Yousra released her first vocal album in 2002. In 2017, she appeared in Abu's hit single 3 Daqat. In 2018, she starred in Ladayna Akwalon Okhra (We Have Another Statement). In 2019, Yousra and Saba Mubarak appeared in a Harper’s Bazaar Arabia photo shoot, both wearing evening gowns. In 2020, she starred in Saheb Al Maqam, her first film in eight years.
Personal life
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Carolina_Karam_Youssra_Samih_Sawiris.jpg" caption="Yousra in 2021"] ::
Yousra is married to Khaled Selim and is the sister-in-law of actor Hesham Selim, the son of Egyptian footballer, actor, and former Al Ahly president Saleh Selim.
Political views
Following the 2009 Egypt–Algeria World Cup dispute, Yousra expressed support for the Algeria national football team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, despite tensions between Egypt and Algeria at the time. Earlier, she and Omar Sharif had participated in a protest against Algeria following accusations of misconduct against Egypt during a qualifying match between the two countries.
Filmography
::data[format=table]
| Year | Film | Translation / English Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Fatah Tabhath Aan Al-Hob | A Girl Searching for Love |
| 1978 | Ebtesama | Smile |
| 1978 | Shabab Yarkos Fawqa An-Nar | Youths Dancing on Fire |
| 1979 | Ushaq Al-Eshreen | Lovers under 20 |
| 1980 | Amal Eh El-Hob Fi Baba | What Did Love Do for Dad? |
| 1980 | Qasr fi Al-Hawaa | A Mansion on Air |
| 1981 | Leilat Shitaa Dafeia | A Warm Winter Night |
| 1981 | El Insaan Yaeesh Mara Waheda | A Man Lives Only Once |
| 1981 | Karakoon Fi El Sharea | A Prison in the Street |
| 1982 | Shitan Al-Gazeera | The Island's Devil |
| 1982 | Ala bab Al-Wazeer | At the Minister's Door |
| 1982 | Hadoota Masriyyia | An Egyptian Story |
| 1984 | Al-Tha'r | Revenge |
| 1984 | Al Avocato | The Lawyer |
| 1984 | La Tasalny Man Ana | Don't Ask Me Who I Am |
| 1985 | Al Ins Wal Gen | Humans and Jinn |
| 1985 | As-Saaleeq | The Vagabonds |
| 1985 | Shaqat Al Ostaz Hasan | Mr. Hasan's Apartment |
| 1986 | Al Bedaya | The Beginning |
| 1986 | Al Galsa Al Serriya | The Secret Meeting |
| 1986 | Abl El Waddaa | Before Goodbye |
| 1986 | Wasmet Aar | Stigma |
| 1987 | At-Taweeza | Taweeza |
| 1987 | Al Laeeba | The Game |
| 1987 | Sekket En-Nadama | The Path of Remorse |
| 1987 | Asfoor Laho Aneyaab | A Bird with Teeth |
| 1987 | Li Adam Kefayet El Adellah | For Lack of Evidence |
| 1987 | Darb el Hawa | — |
| 1988 | Sarkhet Nadam | Cry of Remorse |
| 1988 | Emra'a Lel Asaf | Unfortunately, a Woman |
| 1989 | Iskendria Kaman Wi Kaman | Alexandria Again and Forever |
| 1989 | Kaboos | Nightmare |
| 1990 | El Moolid | The Mawlid |
| 1990 | Gizeeret El Shaitan | The Devil's Island |
| 1991 | Al-Ra'i wal Nisaa | The Shepherd and the Women |
| 1991 | Sayedat Al-Qahira | The Lady of Cairo |
| 1992 | Al-Shares | The Fierce |
| 1992 | Emra'a Ayela Lel Soqoot | A Woman Liable to Fall |
| 1993 | Al-Mansi | The Forgotten |
| 1993 | Mercedes | Mercedes |
| 1993 | Al Erhab Wi El-Kabab | Terrorism and Kebab |
| 1993 | Dehk Wa Le'b Wa Gad Wa Hob | Laughter, Play, Seriousness, and Love |
| 1994 | Al-Mohager | The Emigrant |
| 1996 | Teyoor Ez-Zalaam | Birds of Darkness |
| 1996 | Nazwa | Lust |
| 1997 | Eish el-Ghorab | The Mushroom |
| 1998 | Dantilla | — |
| 1998 | Risala Ela Al-Wali | A Message to the Wāli |
| 1999 | Kalam El Leil | Night Talk |
| 2001 | Al-Asefa | The Tempest |
| 2001 | Al-Warda Al-Hamra | The Red Rose |
| 2002 | Ma'ali al Wazir | His Excellency the Minister |
| 2004 | Iskendria New York | Alexandria... New York |
| 2005 | Kalam Fil Hob | Words on Love |
| 2005 | Dam El Ghazaal | The Gazelle's Blood |
| 2006 | Emaret Yaccobian | The Yacoubian Building |
| 2006 | Mateegy Nor'os | Let's Dance |
| 2009 | Bobbos | — |
| 2012 | Game Over | — |
| 2020 | Saheb Al Maqam | The Dignitary |
| :: |
Television
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Translation / English Title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Anf we Thalathat Eyoun | A Nose and Three Eyes | Amina |
| 1994 | Rafat Al-Haggan | Rafat Al-Haggan | Helen Samhoon |
| 1996 | Hayat El-Gohari | Al-Gohari's Life | Hayat |
| 2000 | Awan El Ward | The Time of Roses | Amal |
| 2002 | Ayna Qalbi | Where Is My Heart | Faten |
| 2003 | Malak Rohi | Angel of My Soul | Malak |
| 2004 | Leqa Ala El-Hawa | A Meeting on Air | Leqa |
| 2005 | Ahlam El-Adeya | Ordinary Dreams | Nadia Anzaha |
| 2006 | Lahazat Harega | Critical Moments | Sarah |
| 2007 | Adiyyet Ra'y Aam | A Matter of Public Opinion | Abla |
| 2008 | Fi Aydee Amina | In Safe Hands | Amina |
| 2009 | Khas Giddan | Up Close and Personal | Dr. Sherifa |
| 2010 | El Arabi Ma'a Yousra | The Arab with Yousra | Herself |
| 2010 | Bel Shamaa Al-Ahmar | In Red Wax | Dr. Fatma |
| 2012 | Sharbat Louz | Almond Sherbet | Sharbat |
| 2014 | Saraya Abdeen | Abdeen Palace | Khoshyar Hanim / El Walda Pasha |
| 2016 | Foq Mostawa El-Shobohat | Above Suspicion | Dr. Rahma |
| 2017 | El Hesab Yegma | A Score to Settle | Na'eema |
| 2018 | Awalem Khafeya | Hidden Worlds | Herself (guest) |
| 2018 | Ladayna Akwalon Okhra | We Have Further Comments | Amira Mansour |
| 2020 | Kheyanet Ahd | Betrayal of a Covenant | Ahed |
| 2021 | Harab Ahelya | Civil War | Mariam |
| 2022 | Ahlam Saeda | Sweet Dreams | Farida |
| :: |
References
References
- "The proper way of writing Yousra in English".
- "Yousra".
- Laila Marei. (January 2003). "Yousra". Enigma Magazine.
- (October 21, 2010). "Yousra: Positivity Opens Doors".
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20051020213910/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/765/cu6.htm ''Al-Ahram Weekly''] (archived October 20, 2005)
- (February 12, 2006). "The Yacoubian Building".
- "Yousra & Saba Mubarak Ooze Classic Glamour for Harper's Bazaar Arabia Photo Session".
- (July 30, 2020). "Streaming-first release of Yousra and Asser Yassin’s new film ‘Saheb Al Maqam’ is a historic moment for Arab cinema".
- (March 10, 2020). "For Almost 50 Years, Egyptian Star Yousra Keeps Reinventing Herself".
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100322232641/http://newsider.in/story/egyptian-actress-yousra-will-cheer-for-algeria-in-the-2010-world-cup Egyptian actress Yousra will cheer for Algeria in the 2010 World Cup] (archived March 22, 2010).
- "Khas Jidan, Pictures Khas Jidan, News Khas Jidan, Discussion Khas Jidan".
- "Five Million Dollars For Yousra This Ramadan".
- "يسرا وفاروق الفيشاوي ضيوف الحلقة الأخيرة من عوالم خفية".
- "Kheyanet Ahd (TV Series 2020)".
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