The American University in Cairo (AUC) recently commemorated the 90th birthday of the iconic actress, Al-Ahram Weekly columnist, and former Miss AUC, Lubna Abdel-Aziz, with a special event held at the Ewart Memorial Hall on 8 August. Organised in partnership with the cultural series Arwah Fil Madina (Souls in the City), the talk was open to the public and offered a heartfelt tribute to Abdel-Aziz’s personal and artistic journey.
Arwah Fil Madina was launched over two years ago by Mahmoud Al-Tamimi through the cultural initiative “Cairo Is My Address,” in collaboration with several cultural institutions, and is dedicated to preserving Egypt’s national memory through storytelling and cultural heritage. Al-Tamimi, who presented the talk, explored the most significant phases of Abdel-Aziz’s life and career, drawing connections between her films and the historical events that shaped Egyptian society during her era.
The celebration also features a week-long photo exhibition at AUC’s Legacy Gallery, showcasing posters from Abdel-Aziz’s most celebrated films. A highlight was the unveiling of a statue by sculptor Hani Gamaleddin, portraying Hamis, the Pharaonic character Abdel-Aziz famously played in the film Bride of the Nile.
With genuine humility, Abdel-Aziz expressed her joy and gratitude to her guests, saying, “I am happy I turned 90.” Among those attending were close friends, art lovers and notable figures such as art critic Tarek Al-Shennawi, who praised Abdel-Aziz’s spontaneous acting during the golden age of Egyptian cinema. Former health minister Amr Helmi also travelled from the North Coast to attend the event. Visual artist Farid Fadel, whose portrait of Abdel-Aziz was on display at the AUC exhibition, performed a Mexican song on stage called A Heavenly Sweetheart as an expression of his love for her.
Al-Tamimi shared personal anecdotes, inviting Abdel-Aziz’s brother, Ihab Abdel-Aziz, to recall their childhood memories, including the summer tradition of their father bringing home a collection of books that fostered her lifelong love of reading. Sculptor Gamaleddin spoke about how Abdel-Aziz’s distinctive Pharaonic features, which inspired his creation of the Bride of the Nile bust.
Film director Ali Idris, who worked closely with Abdel-Aziz on her film Geddo Habibi (My Beloved Grandpa) in 2012, reflected on their close professional and personal relationship. In 2021, Abdel-Aziz published her autobiography, Lubna: Story of a Free Woman, named after one of her most famous films, Ana Horra (I Am Free), co-written with Rose Al-Youssef journalist Heba Mohamed Ali, who was also present at the celebration.
The evening concluded with remarks from Nadine, a longtime colleague at Abdel-Aziz’s radio programme The Children’s Corner with Aunt Lulu, which she has hosted for over 60 years. Nadine highlighted Abdel-Aziz’s continued dedication to the show, inspired by children’s literature and her late husband Ismail Barada, a musician who played piano alongside her on the programme before moving to the United States to complete his studies.
Abdel-Aziz has been writing the weekly column Limelight for Al-Ahram Weekly since 2007, following her return to Egypt after many years in the US. Her earlier journalism career began while studying there, writing for Al-Ahram initially in English, with her articles translated into Arabic by her father, Hamed Abdel-Aziz, himself an Al-Ahram staff member. Al-Tamimi announced plans to publish a compilation of her Limelight translated into Arabic for the benefit of a wider Egyptian readership.
Born in Cairo in 1935, Abdel-Aziz was educated at St Mary’s School for Girls and later at the American University in Cairo. She earned a Fulbright scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in drama at UCLA. Her artistic journey began at the age of ten, performing on the radio programme Children’s Corner in Cairo. During her studies in the US, she worked as a correspondent for Al-Ahram and, on returning to Cairo, became a writer and editor for the newspaper. Her film debut came with The Empty Pillow, starring alongside Abdel-Halim Hafez, after which she starred in 15 Egyptian films. In addition to her film career, Abdel-Aziz enriched Egyptian radio with several programmes.
She was married to producer Ramses Naguib then to Barada, with whom she had two daughters. Barada passed away after over 40 years of marriage. Abdel-Aziz’s life and career continue to inspire generations.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 21 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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