Arab actress Hend Sabry was recently named one of the BBC’s 100 most influential women in the world for 2024. The choice highlights Sabry’s talent and commitment to the Arab film industry, as well as her impact on the representation of women and social issues through her roles and positions.
Hend Sabry began her career with a bang in the 1994 film “The Silences of the Palace,” a feature film that addressed the sexual oppression of women in Tunisia at the time. Since then, she has established herself as one of the most celebrated actresses in Arab cinema, highlighting the pressures faced by women in the region through notable roles such as those in “The Yacoubian Building” (2006) and “Banat wist al-Balad” (2005).
In 2019, Hend Sabry made history by becoming the first Arab woman to sit as a judge at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival. Her involvement in humanitarian causes has also made a mark, including her resignation from the United Nations World Food Programme in protest of the use of starvation as a weapon against the Palestinian people.
Reflecting her passion for cinema and commitment to social justice, Sabry has won numerous prestigious awards throughout her career, including the “Best Actress in Arab Cinema” award at the Murex d’Or in 2012 and the “Faten Hamama Excellence Award” at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2017.
In conclusion, Hend Sabry’s words resonate powerfully: “It’s not just about surviving, but rebuilding, finding purpose through struggle, and transforming pain into action.” Her exceptional career and impact on the Arab film industry make her an iconic figure, fully deserving her place among the 100 most influential women in the world in 2024.