Iconic Actress Somaya El Alfy Dies at 72

Veteran Egyptian actress Somaya El Alfy died on Saturday at the age of 72, leaving behind a rich legacy.

She suffered a sudden health crisis, after which she was transferred to a hospital in Mohandessin, but she passed away.

The funeral of the late actress is scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon at the Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque in Dokki.

Details regarding the consolation marquee have not been revealed yet.

The late actress was born on July 23, 1953, in the Sharqia Governorate. She obtained her BA from the Faculty of Arts, Department of Sociology, Cairo University. 

El Alfy started her acting career in the 1978 TV series “Afwah wa araneb," which was followed by many cinema, television, and theatrical roles.

Throughout her career, she starred in over 140 artistic works and was distinguished by her ability to switch between comedic and tragic roles. 

Among her notable works are "Ali Beh Mazhar and 40 Thieves,""El Raya El Bayda,"" Bawabet El Halawani," "Layali Al-Hilmiya" and “Al-Attar and the Seven Daughters,”.

In 1979, El Alfy married fellow actor Farouk El Fishawy and welcomed two sons, Ahmed and Omar Farouk El Fishawy. They separated in 1992 after 13 years of marriage.

In 2017, she stepped away from acting due to her battle with cancer.

The late actress underwent several surgeries in Egypt and abroad, including in Germany, the United States, and Switzerland, after being diagnosed with breast and lymphoma cancer. 

She also suffered from severe back pain that affected her movement, before tumors and cysts were discovered in various parts of her body.

In 2022, El Alfy announced that she had undergone tumor removal surgeries and was undergoing treatment, adding that she had a rare type of cancer.

She announced a year after that she had won against cancer, the improvement in her health, and the gradual return of her immune system.

Throughout her battle, El Alfy maintained her presence with appearances from time to time in television productions, affirming that she is a "Drama Icon" who does not disappear.

She made her last appearance in the 2010 star-studded film "Tilka Al Ayam".