Yousra Reveals Ilham Shaheen’s Sacrifice for Art: “She Mortgaged Her Home”

Al-Taj News – Egyptian actress Yousra praised her friend, actress Ilham Shaheen, commending her courage in making difficult and pivotal decisions in her life to continue her artistic career and support the film industry.

Yousra made these remarks during a seminar on female-led films at the box office, held as part of the ninth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival.

Yousra emphasized that Ilham Shaheen represents a unique artistic presence, driven by her love and passion for art and cinema. She noted that Shaheen had previously mortgaged her home to complete one of her films.

Yousra described her friend as “strong and courageous,” stressing that her relationship with art goes beyond acting. Shaheen also ventured into film production despite the difficulties she faced, earning appreciation and respect for her contributions throughout her artistic career.

Yousra concluded by reaffirming Ilham Shaheen’s artistic standing, describing her as one of the best actresses in the history of cinema in recognition of the love, passion, and sacrifices she has demonstrated to sustain her artistic work and support women’s cinema.

A Friendship Spanning Nearly Half a Century

The friendship between Yousra and Ilham Shaheen dates back to the early 1980s, when they worked together professionally in the film The Blood Dress. Their relationship evolved from professional colleagues into a close personal and family friendship that has lasted nearly half a century.

The 1998 film Dantella, directed by Inas El-Degheidy, is considered one of the most prominent productions in which they co-starred, alongside actor Mahmoud Hemeida.