Hind Rostom(1926-2011)
- Actress
Hind Rostom was one of Egypt's most iconic actresses and a symbol of beauty and glamour in Arab cinema. She was born in the Moharram Bek neighborhood of Alexandria. Her father was a police officer of Circassian descent and her mother was Egyptian from an aristocratic family. She attended St. Vincent de Paul School. Her parents separated when she was 14 years old, and she lived with her father. However, his harshness led her to leave her studies and move to Cairo in 1946, to live with her mother and her husband, whom she loved dearly.
She started her career with uncredited roles, gradually rising to fame in the 1950s and 1960s during the golden age of Egyptian cinema. With her striking blonde hair, sultry voice and charismatic screen presence, Hind captivated audiences and became known for her seductive roles. However, she was also praised for her versatility, proving her talent in dramatic, comedic, and complex characters beyond her femme fatale image. One of her most memorable performances was in Youssef Chahine's Gare centrale (1958), where she played Hannuma, a bold and spirited drinks vendor, earning critical acclaim for her raw and emotional performance.
Throughout her career, she starred in around 90 films, working with some of Egypt's greatest directors and actors. Films such as Ibn Hamido (1957), Nesaa Fi Hayati (1957), Sera fi el-Nil (1959), Une rumeur d'amour (1960) and El-Shumoo el-Sawda (1962) solidified her place as a legendary star. Despite her fame, Hind Rostom retired at the peak of her career in the early 1970s, choosing to live a private life away from the spotlight. She famously refused any comeback offers, stating she wanted to be remembered at her best
She started her career with uncredited roles, gradually rising to fame in the 1950s and 1960s during the golden age of Egyptian cinema. With her striking blonde hair, sultry voice and charismatic screen presence, Hind captivated audiences and became known for her seductive roles. However, she was also praised for her versatility, proving her talent in dramatic, comedic, and complex characters beyond her femme fatale image. One of her most memorable performances was in Youssef Chahine's Gare centrale (1958), where she played Hannuma, a bold and spirited drinks vendor, earning critical acclaim for her raw and emotional performance.
Throughout her career, she starred in around 90 films, working with some of Egypt's greatest directors and actors. Films such as Ibn Hamido (1957), Nesaa Fi Hayati (1957), Sera fi el-Nil (1959), Une rumeur d'amour (1960) and El-Shumoo el-Sawda (1962) solidified her place as a legendary star. Despite her fame, Hind Rostom retired at the peak of her career in the early 1970s, choosing to live a private life away from the spotlight. She famously refused any comeback offers, stating she wanted to be remembered at her best
