Muna Wassef
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| Muna Wassef
منى واصف |
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 The legendary Movie Star |
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| Born | Muna Mustafa Wassef Jelmran February 1, 1942 Damascus city, |
| Spouse(s) | Muhammad Shahin |
Muna Wassef (Mona Wassef) (منى واصف), The legendary Movie Star, is a well known Syrian actress. She was born on February 1, 1942 , as (Muna Mustafa Wassef Jelmran ). She is also a United Nations Goodwill ambassador. Wassef is a legendary Movie star icon in the Arab world and the Middle East. Wassef had become the highest-paid actress in the Arab World since the end of the 1970s until the year of 2000; now she is one of the highest-paid actresses.
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[edit] Background
Muna Wassef was born in 1942 in Damascus city in (Al Abed Street) in which she lived until the age of 7 years. Her Mother was Christian and her father was a Kurd. When she was 15 she worked as a cotton candy (Ghazl Al Banat) seller in the streets of Damascus. By the age of 16, she worked for one of Syria’s most famous fashion designers at that time as a women’s clothes seller, and when she turned 17 she was already working as a fashion model for the same designer, at the same time she was able to become a popular folk dancer in Omaya group.
[edit] Education
Even though she did not finish High School Muna Wassef, educated herself and achieved the ability to present the majority of her works using the Standard Arabic Language. By learning the masterpieces of the world literature, training on Al Tajwed & Al Tarteel of the Holy Quran and reciting poetry.
She traveled to Eastern Germany in 1973 where she took acting courses, in the Breacht theater. Also as part of her work with the Syrian Military Theater she learned about Symposiums and dramatic Art.
[edit] Early Career
In 1960, Muna Wassef, submitted herself for a contest in which they chose actress for the Military theater which was part of the Syrian Ministry of Defense, she worked and learned there for about 2 years. In 1963 she married her manager the Army General Muhammad Shahin, who was a film director as well. She worked in the symposium of Art and Thought which was sponsored by Dr. (Rafeq Al Sabagh) in presenting Shakespeare’s (The Merchant of Venice) in 1963. In 1964 she joined the Group for Dramatic Arts and starred in stage productions of the National Theater: productions such as Moliere’s Don Juan. This signaled the beginning of a very important stage in her career.
[edit] Theater Career
In theater, Muna Wassef, has starred in more than 25 plays, by Arab and international playwrights. Her first play was Al Etr Al Akhdar wics.
After that, she preformed several plays in the Military Theatre inside the military units as:
- The Merchant of Venice.
- Al Khajool Fe Al Kasr.
- Al Aamaqby (Makseem Agorky)
- Donjuan.
- Mawta Bela Goubour.
- Tartouf.
- Al Zeer Salem.
- Al Madnasa.
- Hekayat Hob.
- Al Masa Al Mutafaela.
- Oedipus.
- Al Mufatish Al Am.
- Haram Mali Al Wazeer.
[edit] Film Career
In film, Muna Wassef, has done more than 30 movies. some of her most enduring films are:
- Another Face of Love (1973)
- al-Yazirli (1974)
- The Adventure (1974)
- The Message (1974)
- The Opposite Direction (1975)
- The Red, The White and the Black (1976)
- Heroes are Born Twice (1977)
- Photo Relics (1979)
- Fragments - UN RESTE D'IMAGES (1980)
- The Sun on a Cloudy Day (1985)
- Something is Burning (1993)
- The Sea (1994)
- Al Sadeqan.
- Al Les Al Zareef.
- Maqlab Men Al Makseek.
- Emrah Taskn Whdaha.
- Zekra Laylit Hob.
- Al Ahmar Wa Al Abyad wa Al Aswad.
- Al Etejah al Moakes.
- Al Taleb.
- Al Bazerki.
- Baqaya Swar.
- Al Shams Fe Yawm Ghaem.
- Ah Ya Bahr.
- Shaya Ma Yahtareq.
- Al Nahey (2008)
In 1974, Syrian-American film director Moustapha Akkad chose her to play the role of Hind in the Arabic version of his movie Al Risalah Mohammad, Messenger of God,which helped her achieve international recognition, with Anthony Quinn, and Irene Papas in the English version.
[edit] Television Career
Every year Muna Wassef stares in at least two or three TV series. So fare she has don more than Two Hundred series as:
- Hejrat Al qoulob Ela Al qoulob.
- Ez Eddin Al Qassam.
- Asad Al Warraq.
- Al Zeer SAlem.
- Dalila Wa Al zaibaq.
- Al Khansaa
- Saray.
- Beomm Ayni.
- Zaman Al Hob.
- Arhal Wahidan.
- Asiy Al Dama.
- Hekayat Shahrazad Al Akhera
- Aqba Ben Nafea.
- Al tareq.
- Jawaher.
- Layali Al Salhia
- Bukra Ahla.
- The End of a Brave man.
- The Sun rise’s Again (2004)
- Salheaya Nights (2004)
- Mothers (2005)
- Hard Tears (2005)
- Tomorrow will be Better (2005)
- Speaking Border (2005)
- Al-Zahir Baibars (2005)
- The Best Days (2006)
- Little Projects (2006)
- People of love (2006)
- A Yard (2006)
- The story of love (2007)
- The neighborhood’s door (2007)
- Wars on Sand (2008)
Muna is currently filming a major television series in Morocco and Syria titled 'Seraa Ala El Remal Arbic صراع على الرمال or Wars on Sand. The television series also stars Syrian actors Taim Hasan, Sabah Mubarak, Hasan Awaytti and Basil Khayat and is directed by Hatem Ali and written by Hany El-Saady. The series is expected to be a major TV production. It is being produced by Dubai Media Incorporated. It's estimated cost is over $6 million, So far it is the most expensive Arabic TV Production ever, and it is scheduled for worldwide release by September, 2008. The series, which is based on the vision and poetry of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is a beduin epic that takes place in the Gulf beduin desert at the beginning of the 18th century.
[edit] Radio Career
Muna Wassef presented some works in Radio as :
- Demashq Ya Nasmat Hozn.
- Rohy Hayati.
- Jazerat Al Marah.
- Muna and the short story program which was aired weekly.
In addition to so many poetic evenings and programs.
[edit] Personal Life
 Muna Wassef, presiding over the opening ceremonies marking Damascus as the capital of Arab Culture of 2008. |
 Muna Wassef, and her late husband Film Director Muhammad Shahin, and their son Ammar Abdulhamid and his wife Khawla. |
 Muna Wassef and the Students of GSU. |
Muna Wassef is married to the late Syrian film Director Muhammad Shahin, and together they formed one of the Arab world most popular celebrity couples. They have one son Ammar Abdulhamid, who lives in the United States, Washington DC, with his wife Khawla and daughter Oula 1986 and son Mouhanad 1990.
Currently, Muna divides her time between her artistic career and her interest in issues pertaining to the emancipation of women in the Arab world.
[edit] Awards
Among the many honors and awards that Muna Wassef has received:
Al-Fatih Medal
The Ghassan al-Kanafani Medallion
Al- Ataa Award. [[1]]
And many other awards received in Tunisia, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Mouna is often invited to Arab countries every year, to lecture and attend seminars and conferences, including:
Damascus International Film Festival.[[2]]
Dubai International Film Festival.[[3]]
Cairo International Film Festival. [[4]]
The Theater Festival in Syria.
The Sharja Theater Festival.
The Arab TV Festival in Bahrain.
Carthage Cinema Days the Tunisian film festival.
and many more.
