via Instagram
Before launching her acting career, the Egyptian Russian star received recognition as a ballerina. And upon participating in numerous ballet shows and competitions worldwide, she was granted the Best Ballet Dancer Honorary Award by The International Ballet Competition in Japan, another honorary award from Russia, and the Best Ballerina Award in the first edition of the Egyptian Ballet Competition.
Then, the award-winning ballerina merged her love for dance and acting and participated in a Ramadan trivia programme in 1999. Her performance was so good that it landed her a role in Faten Hamama’s show, Wagh El Ammar. Nelly then changed her last name from Mohamed to Karim, the name of her eldest son.
As we wait for her upcoming Ramadan show, 3omla Nadra, and her lead role in the third season of Leih La2, here’s a rundown of Nelly’s most iconic roles in honour of the star’s birthday:
via Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Saba — 678 (2010)
This multi-award-winning movie told the touching stories of women’s daily plight of sexual harassment in the streets of Egypt. Nelly’s character, Saba, was sexually assaulted during festivities following a soccer match. And after her husband disregards her allegations, she decides to teach a women’s self-defence class. Nelly Karim got her fair share of international awards for this movie, including the Asia Pacific Screen Awards’ Jury Grand Prize alongside co-stars Nahed El Sebair and Bushra, and the Best Actress Award in the Arab Film Festival.
via Pu Eble Rino
Jamila – Le A3la Se3r (2017)
Jamila is a former ballerina who gives up her ballet dream to be a stay-at-home wife and finds out that her husband is cheating on her with her best friend. Nelly Karim outdid herself with this heartbreaking performance where her voice breaks and her hands shake just before she confronts her husband and slaps him across the face!
via Life in Cinema
Reham – Wahed Sefr (2009)
Reham is a simple nurse who lives life by the book, unlike her sister, who sold her purity for money and fame. Reham marked the first character created by one of the most talented trios: written by Mariam Naoum, acted by Nelly Karim, and directed by Kamla Abu Zekry. And although the movie had a star-studded ensemble, Nelly shined the brightest and went home from the Cairo International Film Festival with an award.
via Enigma Magazine
Ghalia – Segn El Nessa (2014)
Inspired by real-life people, Ghalia was brought to life by the same talented trio! Following her mother’s passing, Ghalia walks in her shoes as a warden stuck in a toxic relationship. Her manipulator husband flips her life upside down once he manages to get her behind bars. The transformation of a naive empathetic jailer into a cold-stone prisoner was applauded by many, including the late Faten Hamama herself!
via IMDb
Mariam – Taht El Saytara (2015)
Mariam Naoum created this masterpiece to give us Nelly Karim in the form of a recovering addict who loses everything upon relapsing. Nelly Karim’s scenes in which she underwent withdrawal symptoms were so effortlessly raw and honest!
via AlloCiné
Nagwa – Eshtebak (2016)
Imagine being locked up in a prisoner transport vehicle with a whole ensemble for 26 days! It must have been worth it for Nelly because the movie received numerous international awards and was officially selected as the opening film of the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section. It was also chosen as the Egyptian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, yet it was not nominated.
via IMDb
Zat – Bent Esmaha Zat (2013)
Ben Esmaha Zat marked Nelly Karim’s revival and the start of a streak of successful Ramadan shows. Also created by the talented triad Nelly Karim, Kamla Abu Zekry, and Mariam Naoum, the show walks us through 60 years of Zat’s life. We watch her grow with monumental political and economic changes happening in Egypt that influences her journey.
via El Adl Group
Sokar – Be 100 Wesh (2020)
After being associated with heart-wrenching characters for years, Kamla Abu Zekry rebirths Nelly Karim as a comedian. Sokar is a con artist who seeks payback over another con artist who plays her. Not so soon after, they join forces to con people together, and their love story buds from there!
