In an interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm, actress Samiha Ayoub said she returned to acting after she found a role that was different from the typical roles of recent years, adding that screening her film “The Big Night” at the Cairo Film Festival was an award in itself because it proves that the management deemed it worthy of the competition.
She also said that she has suspended the activities of the Board of Trustees of the National Theater, which she chairs, because the Culture Ministry ignores its recommendations.
“Only if the government is keen on culture and art will there be a real renaissance,” she said. “This was the case in the 1960s.”
Q: Why did you return to acting?
A: I liked my role in “The Big Night”. It is different from the typical roles played in the cinema in recent years. Also, it is a film by Sameh Abdel Aziz.
I have been away for long, declining many roles because the ideas were stereotypical. Today, there are young artists with new ideas. I said to myself I should be part of this new trend.
Q: Why did the film not win any awards?
A: It doesn’t matter. Choosing it for the festival was an award in itself because it proves that the management deemed it worthy of the competition.
Q: What did you think of the festival?
A: It was great.
Q: Have you worked with Abdel Aziz before?
A: Yes. He is a great director.
Q: How about the producer Ahmed Sobky?
A: He is a very respectable man.
Q: Why is he always criticized?
A: He produces good films and commercial films, but people like to talk about the bad things and exaggerate them.
Q: What is your role in “The Big Night”?
A: I play a janitor at a mausoleum.
Q: What do you think of the cinema of today?
A: Films are too violent. The violence in the real world is more than enough.
We should concentrate on family issues rather than knives and pistols.
Q: You produced one film before. Why did you not repeat this experience? Was it because the film incurred losses?
A: It is not my line of business. I am an actress.
Q: Why did you suspend the activities of the Board of Trustees of the National Theater?
A: The Culture Ministry ignores our recommendations.
Q: What does the Board of Trustees do exactly?
A: Everything, including the budget, the selection of plays, the actors, the directors … etc.
Q: What should the National Theater show?
A: The great classics, but with a modern vision.
Q: Is the theater endangered?
A: No, but we need to give a chance to new faces and stop relying solely on stars. This was the case in the 1960s. Today, however, culture has become the last priority in our lives.
Q: Do you mean to say that Nasser was the last president keen on culture?
A: Of course.
Q: When will we see you again on the stage?
A: When I find a good play.
Q: What do you think of the “Egypt Theater” group?
A: It is excellent.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: A TV series to be screened during Ramadan 2016.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
