Cairo – Shima Mekkawi
Egyptian star Nabila Ebid Cairo – Shima Mekkawi Nablia Ebid, the great Egyptian artist who has starred in many movies, and who wears the mantle of the "First Star of Egypt", returns to the screens playing a very different role in the second series of the show "Kid El-Nessa" (Women’s Tricks) alongside actress Fifi Abdo. Arabstoday caught up with the star for an exclusive interview after she finished shooting. Nablia dismissed rumours suggesting there was a rift between herself and the artist Fifi Abdo: "I am very sad to hear this. On the contrary I am delighted to work with this actress for the first time, although I have had a relationship with Fifi over many years. Fifi once said in one of her interviews that the I was the best actress playing the role of a dancer. I thought that Fifi was very kind to say that and she is a pure spirit and bears no hatred towards anyone, therefore, I decided to strengthen our relationship as friends and sisters. When I decided to join her in the show, I was surprised at the number of rumours which said that there were differences between us." The rumours don't stop there. There is also gossip swirling about a rift between Nablia and Somaia el-Khasab, whose role Nablia inherited: “I don't know why the media, especially the press, likes to drive a wedge between artists. Somaia turned down the role and I decided to accept it, without any disagreements or grudges.” She added: “I don't like to clash with any of my colleagues at work. I respect and admire them all. I have no animosity towards anyone in the artistic community. On the contrary, my relationship with them is good and I always share their up times and down times. When the late Abu Bakr Ezzat won an award in 1996 as best actor at the Cairo Film Festival for his role in the movie “El-Mara’a We el-Satoor” (Bold Woman), which I starred in, I threw a party in his honour at my home. When asked about her title: "First Star of Egypt " she said it was an honour to be associated with Egypt in this way, but she said she would dispense with this title while starring in the movie "Al-Akhar"-(The Other) "because I am humbled in the presence of the global director Youssef Chahine." "I am writing my autobiography so that I am in control of what is said about me. I don't want others to distort my life. I am the only one who knows the truth." Speaking about her friendship with the late Algerian singer Warda, she said that Warda was "a rose in my life. The times I spent with her were moments of peace, light and purity as she was a very beautiful and spiritual soul. I was sad she left us, but she is still here in spirit.” Nablia's named her best friends in the artistic community as writer Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, actor Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, actress Elham Shaheen, TV presenter Mahmoud Saad and Fifi Abdo. As far as her upcoming plans are concerned she had one final response: “ I can't think of anything else but the presidential elections and who will lead Egypt towards stability and security”.