Today marks the birth anniversary of Laila Murad, fondly known as “Egypt's Cinderella”.
Born in 1918 to a Jewish family in Al-Daher District in Cairo, Murad is regarded as one of the most acclaimed singers and actresses of all time and the famous diva of the film industry during the 40s and 50s.
Her mother was a constructive Jewish Egyptian of Polish origin. One of her brothers, Mounir Mourad, was an actor and composer.
The actress gained cinematic prominence with her popular song “Ana Qalbi Dalili” and her stint in the film “Bent El Akaber”.
The Bent El Akaber’s actress reigned supreme in her time, after she participated in five best-selling films with the prominent Jewish director Togo Mizrahi, becoming Egypt’s top actress.
The late legendary actress made her first stage appearance at 9 years old at Saalat Badi’a, one of Cairo’s most successful music halls. The theatre had been founded in 1926 by actress and dancer Badi’a Masabni, who became Mourad’s patron.
Further success came when renowned Egyptian composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab heard her singing and gave her a role in his film “Yahia el Hob” (Viva Love!) in 1938.
Throughout her long-standing career, she featured in a number of notable movies like ‘Ghazal Al Banat’, ‘Laila’, ‘Anbar’, (The Shores of Love), (Life and Love), (The Victims), and ‘Bent Al-Akaber’.
The late actor received many awards including Cairo Film Festival and
She breathed her last at a hospital in Cairo and is survived by her sons Zaki Fateen Abdel Wahab, and Ashraf Abaza.
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