Photo of Zahrat Al-Ola
Acting

Zahrat Al-Ola

Profession
Acting
Born
June 10, 1934 · Alexandria, Egypt
Died
December 18, 2013

Biography

Zahra al-‘Oula Bakir was born in the district of Muharram Bey in Alexandia to a family originally from al-Mahala. Her talents for acting and imitation were apparent when she was in secondary school. Her father was a friend of Youssif Wahbi and so he presented her to him and she enrolled at the Acting Institute with the help of Zaki Tuleiman. Zahra acted in several plays including “Hourriyah men al-Mareekh”, “al-Bakheel” (“The Miser”), Mareed bi al-Wahm” (“Illusory Illness”), “Fattish ‘an al-Maraa” (“Look for the Woman”), “al-Ghabi wa Anna” (“The Idiot and Myself”) and “Sab’a Farkhat wa Deek” (“Seven Hens and a Rooster”). Thereafter she was assigned major cinema roles. Zahra enjoyed a romantic aura and she received a diploma from the Higher Institute for Cinema in 1954. Zahra was the first in her class and she continued her stage career on modern theater. Zahra married Salah Zu al-Faqqar and later director Hassan al-Saifi. Among the television series which she has acted in are “Waffiyat Nas Tayebeen”. Zahra was honored at the Feature Films Festival. While a youth, Zahra represented the model of the innocent and suppressed girl. She has not portrayed any evil characters as her appearance does not lend itself to such roles. Zahra also acted in “Radd Qalbi”, “Du’aa al-Karwan” and “Tareeq al-Amal”. Despite the fact that she has acted in some comedies her roles were generally not comedic.

Known for

The Nightingale's Prayer poster
The Nightingale's Prayer
Film · 1959 · ★ 7.8
A Man in Our House poster
A Man in Our House
Film · 1961 · ★ 6.8
Our Best Days poster
Our Best Days
Film · 1955 · ★ 7.4
The Bus Driver poster
The Bus Driver
Film · 1982 · ★ 7.7
Return My Heart poster
Return My Heart
Film · 1957
Jamila, the Algerian poster
Jamila, the Algerian
Film · 1958
The Secret of the Magic Hat poster
The Secret of the Magic Hat
Film · 1959
Ismail Yassine In the Navy poster
Ismail Yassine In the Navy
Film · 1957
I'm Not Lying, I'm Sugar Coating poster
I'm Not Lying, I'm Sugar Coating
Film · 1981
Appointment with Love poster
Appointment with Love
Film · 1956
The Empty Pillow poster
The Empty Pillow
Film · 1957
Ismail Yassine in the Air Force poster
Ismail Yassine in the Air Force
Film · 1959

Filmography