Samiha Ayoub (1932 – 2025) Iconic actress dies
'Her works will remain beacons lighting the path for future generations, and her memory will remain eternal in the hearts of her admirers.' With these words Egypt's Minister of Culture, Ahmed Fouad Hanno, mourned Ms Ayoub who died in her home in the Cairo upscale district of Zamalek on 3 June 2025 at the age of 93. She was a prolific actress who has to her credit the longest artistic career of a female actor in the history of Arab theatre and cinema. Her career spanned over 450 works, including 44 films, 220 TV series, and some 115 radio dramas. Her works varied from the classic to the modern, and from the tragic to the comic, each role played with legendary mastery. Throughout her life, she richly enhanced the cultural and artistic scene in Egypt and the Arab World.
'The late actress,' Mr Hanno read, 'was a dedicated, creative national artist who devoted her life to art and gifted her audience an exceptional journey of creativity and uniqueness.'
Mr Hanno offered his sincere condolences to her family, friends, and fans, praying that God grants her His mercy.
Samiha Ayoub was born in the middle-class Shubra district of Cairo in 1932 She studied at a Catholic girls' school in Cairo. Her first acting role came when she was only 15; she played Mary Magdalene in the 1938 Egyptian production ++The Life and Passion of the Lord Christ++.
Ms Ayoub became a member of the Zaky Tulaimat Theatre Group whose founder Tulaimat became pivotal in her acting career. Tulaimat was an Egyptian actor and director, and famously a pioneer of Egyptian theatre. He founded the School of Theatre and the Institute of Dramatic Arts in Cairo.
In 1947, Ms Ayoub played a role in Mohamed Abdel-Gawad's film ++al-Mutasharrida (The Homeless++ which marked an early breakthrough in her career.
Encouraged by Tulaimat, Ms Ayoub joined the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in 1949, where he continued to mentor her alongside other renowned Egyptian artists.
From 1972 to 1975, Ms Ayoub managed The Modern Theatre, and from 1975 to 1985, she was the director of Egypt's iconic al-Qawmy Theatre (The National Theatre).
In 2015, she received the Nile Award in the Arts, and in the same year, the large hall in the National Theater was named after her, in honour of her outstanding acting career and her contributions to the theatrical arts in Egypt. She continued to be active until her final years. Her name drew crowds of spectators to theatres, her acting moved hearts and her strong, warm voice carried faithful expression.
In 2021, Ms Ayoub was honoured at the Sharm al-Sheikh Theatre Festival for Youth, and remained honorary president throughout the following years.
'Deep inside me is this very humble person who feels she has not done much. When standing on stage, I find my strength; it is in front of the audience that I am alive; the presence of the audience allows me to create the true character that I portray,' she said during one of the symposiums in 2021.
Samiha Ayoub was married four timesShe leaves behind two sons: Alaa Mahmoud Mursi and Mahmoud Mohsen Sarhan, and one grandson Youssef Alaa Mursi.
Watani International
3 June 2025 Comments
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