‘I Chose to Stay Away from Cinema,’ Dalia el-Behery Tells Asharq Al-Awsat

The jury of the Casablanca Arab Film Festival
The jury of the Casablanca Arab Film Festival
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‘I Chose to Stay Away from Cinema,’ Dalia el-Behery Tells Asharq Al-Awsat

The jury of the Casablanca Arab Film Festival
The jury of the Casablanca Arab Film Festival

Egyptian actress Dalia el-Behery said the “My Very Beautiful Lady” play, which she is set to perform at the National theater during the winter season, has been her dream since she read the original novel in her childhood. During an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Behery explained that the new show differs from the play starred by the couple Fouad el-Mohandes and Shwikar. She also expressed her joy for partaking in the jury of the Feature Film Competition at the Casablanca Arab Film Festival, and noted that she looks forward to the 5th season of the comic series “Diaries of a Very Angry Wife”.

· How do you assess your recent participation in the jury of the Feature Film Competition at the Casablanca Arab Film Festival?

This is the first time I attend this festival upon the invitation of its director Fatima al-Nawali, a very respectful person who’s passionate of her work. I love the Moroccan cinema, and was thrilled with this participation, which was not my first experience as a juror, it’s the tenth maybe. I already partook in juries of the Cairo International Film Festival twice, in Damascus festival before it suspends, in Morocco’s Salé festival, and Aswan International Women's Film Festival.
· As an actress, how did you benefit from these participations?

They were beneficial on all levels. They allowed me to watch non-commercial movies that are screened only in festivals, meet young talents in all fields and cinema figures that I can only see in such events. In Casablanca, I met Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, and Mohammad Kiblawi, director of Malmo Arab film Festival. These festivals are also beneficial on the artistic and human levels and can open new horizons.

· In your opinion, does a good movie has specific features?

A good movie gets everybody’s applaud. As a jury, we all agreed on the winning movies, mainly the Jordanian film “Farha”, which won the best film award for highlighting a humanitarian cause that touched us all with great acting and amazing cinematography. A good movie should be presented with an esteemed cinematic language that focuses on the image and performance more than the script, and this is why the film should be coherent and attract the spectators from the beginning until the end.

· You had many successful leading roles on the big screen including “The Embassy Next Door”, “Mohami Khulaa”, and “Harim Karim”. Why did you step away from cinema?

Because I respect the audience, myself, and my short journey during which I presented 12 movies. I don’t plan to partake in works that underestimate me, or make the audience respect me less. Recently, I was offered roles that don’t resemble me. I am not used to act just for appearances, or to make money. My roles should be valuable additions to my careers, and make me more proud of my work. Some don’t care about these things, and some have to accept such roles for living, but I am grateful I can say no.
· You started the rehearsals for “My Very Beautiful Lady” which you will perform on the national theater…what does this show represent to you?

I am thrilled to stand on the stage of the national theater, it will be a huge moment for me as an actress. As for the play, I loved it since I was a kid, we had the playscript of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion in my father’s library, and I always dreamed of performing it after I became an actress. Director Hassan Rizk offered me this role in his new play, and I always wished I could work with him because I am sure he can bring new energies in me as an actress.

· Does this mean that we will be watching another version of “Sodfa Baadeshi”?

No, “My Very Beautiful Lady” is not related to “Sodfa Baadeshi”, but it involves the same theme because they are both inspired by Shaw’s Pygmalion. A group of amazing actors will be performing the play alongside me in a comic, musical frame composed by musician Mahmoud Talaat. Luckily, I met Shwikar once, in the premiere of “First Year of Scam”. I sat next to her, and when she watched the movie, she told me that I have a Spanish style and hailed my performance.

· You made four seasons of the series “Diaries of a Very Angry Wife”. What about the fifth?

I heard of a fifth season, and I look forward to it. This series is one of the dearest works to my heart. It could continue for more seasons because it involves non-stop developments. The audience loved it, and it helped me gain more fans, especially among the younger generations who watched it.

· You started your journey as a TV personality, and many actors and actresses have worked as TV presenters after acting. Do you consider returning to TV?

I don’t mind the idea if it would bring me an added value. I presented all kinds of programs (politics, entertainment, and children content…). The most important thing is to make something new. I was recently offered to present a program, but it was aimed at making profit, and meant nothing to me.

· As a former Miss Egypt, how do you see beauty?

Beauty is a combination of factors including the physical features, classiness, culture, and intelligence. I partook many times as a juror in Miss Egypt, but I don’t understand why we call it “Beauty Queen”. The winner is “the lady of Egypt”, which means she’s the one with the perfect Egyptian characteristics, including the Egyptian look, fitness, respect of traditions, and culture. The good look is not everything. There are so many beautiful women who lose their beauty once they speak, or beautiful but lack intelligence.



Tom Cruise Pays Tribute to Val Kilmer

Tom Cruise led a moment of silence in honor of Val Kilmer at CinemaCon, the official convention of theater owners in the United States. Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Tom Cruise led a moment of silence in honor of Val Kilmer at CinemaCon, the official convention of theater owners in the United States. Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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Tom Cruise Pays Tribute to Val Kilmer

Tom Cruise led a moment of silence in honor of Val Kilmer at CinemaCon, the official convention of theater owners in the United States. Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Tom Cruise led a moment of silence in honor of Val Kilmer at CinemaCon, the official convention of theater owners in the United States. Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Tom Cruise paid tribute to late "Top Gun" co-star Val Kilmer on Thursday, leading movie theater owners in a moment's silence at the CinemaCon event before unveiling new footage from his latest "Mission: Impossible" movie.

"I'd like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer," said Cruise, at the start of his hotly anticipated appearance at the annual industry summit in Las Vegas.

"I really can't tell you how much I admired his work, how much I thought of him as a human being, and how grateful and honored I was when he joined 'Top Gun' and then came back for 'Top Gun: Maverick," said Cruise.

Kilmer, one of the biggest Hollywood actors of the 1990s, who shot to fame playing Iceman in the original 1986 "Top Gun", died aged 65, his family announced this week.

The cause of death was pneumonia. Kilmer had battled throat cancer after being diagnosed in 2014, and made his final appearance in the "Top Gun" 2022 sequel "Maverick," physically diminished and with a raspy voice.

Cruise on Thursday led the audience at Caesars Palace casino in a lengthy silence, asking attendees to "take a moment and just think about all the wonderful times that we had" watching Kilmer on the big screen.

"I wish you well on your next journey," said Cruise, to Kilmer.

He added to the attendees: "Thank you all for doing that. I know he appreciates it."

"Top Gun" was Kilmer's breakout role. Starring opposite Cruise, he played the cocky, square-jawed and mostly silent fighter pilot in training Tom "Iceman" Kazansky.

When he reprised his role as "Iceman" in the long-awaited sequel "Top Gun: Maverick," Kilmer's real-life health issues were written into the character.

Cruise on Thursday also introduced a new trailer for "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," out May 23.

Footage shows Cruise's ageless hero Ethan Hunt clinging to the wheels of a small biplane as it soars down a narrow canyon and barrel rolls through the skies.

The trailer contained extensive flashbacks to famous scenes from earlier in the eight-film blockbuster franchise, such as Cruise dangling between lasers and climbing the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai.

"I need you to trust me one last time," says Cruise's character, in what Paramount is marketing as supposedly the final movie of the franchise.