Remembering Zizi El-Badrawy on Her 9th Death Anniversary

Today marks the 9th death anniversary of the stunning Egyptian actress Zizi El-Badrawy.

Despite staying away from the screen, she remains the most acclaimed star in the Arab audience’s mind.

El-Badrawy, hailed as one of the most beautiful beauties ever to grace the Egyptian silver and golden screens, was born as Fadwa Gamil.

She is known for appearing in over 140 films and acting in over 200 series. The actress was also awarded at the Cairo Arab Media Festival and the Alexandria International Film Festival several times. She also won Dubai International Film Festival Award during her career, which spanned over four decades.

Elbadrawy, also called “The Blonde of Egyptian cinema,” was born in Cairo on June 9, 1944,to an Egyptian mid-class family.

Elbadrawy began her acting career as a fourteen-year-old in “Port Said movie” in 1957, directed by Ezz El-Din Zolfaka. Later on, director Hassan Al-Imam offered her a lead in his film “Aawatef”.

When Al-Imam suggested that she should pick a stage name that was both simpler and easier than Fadwa Gamil, it was an easy choice.

Indeed, “Aawatef” was her first major break in the field, for which she received her first good salary. She has appeared in a number of successful films, including Al-Qeshra Al-Zahabiya, Forgiveness, Foundling, and A Widow with Three Daughters.

Elbadrawy’s memorable roles were always in the Egyptian high-class milieu, where she used to portray classy ladies and elegant female characters, such as Qadiat Maeali Alwazira, Bial’amr Almubashir, The Emperor, and Hulm Abn Alsabil.

The late actress was also well-known for her seminal works, such as Hobi Fel Kahera (my Love in Cairo), Shafiqa Al-Qebteya, Seven Girls, and I’m Being Charged.

She married twice. The first to the maven Egyptian director Adel Sadeq, whom she met during the shoot of “Hobi Fel Kahera” (my Love in Cairo). They got married in 1966. Then to Tawfiq Abdel Guelil, a lawyer that she loved very much as she said to the press.

She died of lung cancer at a hospital in Mohandiseen district on December 25, 2013. She was 69 years old at the time.