Remembering beauty of Egypt golden age cinema Nadia Lutfi

Ahram Online , Tuesday 4 Feb 2025

Tuesday, 4 February, marks the fifth death anniversary of beloved actress Nadia Lutfi, whose beauty, spirit, and acting skills have been highly admired over decades.

Nadia Lutfi

 

Lutfi was born on 3 January 1937 as Paula Mohamed Mostafa Shafiq to a Polish mother and an Egyptian father. 

She started acting when she was young and quickly starred in many Egyptian films. 

Renowned director Ramsis Naguib discovered her talent, and she played her first role in the film Sultan (1958).

Then, she got another small role in the big hit Bab El-Hadid (Cairo Station, 1958), directed by Youssef Chahine.

After that, Lutfi acted alongside the greatest talents of her day, pilling up a rich artistic legacy.

Her best works include Hobi Al-Wahid (My Only Love, 1960), Al-Khataya (Sins, 1962), Al-Nadara Al-Sawda (Dark Glasses,1963), Al-Mustahil (The Impossible, 1966), Qasr El-Shouk (El-Shouk Palace, 1967), Ayyam Al-Hob (Days of Love, 1968), and Abi Fouq Al-Shagara (My Dad Atop a Tree, 1969).

Although her career started to slow down in the 1970s, she continued to participate in well-known titles, including Regal Bila Malameh (Featureless Men, 1972), El-Okhwa El-A'daa (Enemy Brothers, 1974), and Badiaa Masabni (1975).

"Suddenly, in the aftermath of the 1973 war, she disappeared from the silver screen and became a recluse of sorts, embroiled in the human sufferings that are usually left behind after any war. She got locked up in helping, supporting, sheltering, and trying to cope with the immense suffering and pain left behind," late filmmaker Mohamed Shebl wrote in 1994, profiling Lutfi for Al-Ahram Weekly.

"Nadia Lutfi was then equally involved with the Palestinian freedom fighters and flew to Beirut, camera in hand, to witness the mass exodus of the PLO. For years, she was in hospitals, refugee camps, or rehabilitation centres," he added.

Later, the actress reappeared in a few titles, hardly comparable to the 50 films she made during the first 11 years of her career.

She retired from acting in the 1980s.

Lutfi passed away on 4 February 2020 at the age of 83, after a long battle with illness.

In 2014, the 36th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival honoured Nadia Lutfi by featuring her photo on the festival's official poster.

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