Aziza Amir

Aziza Amir (Arabic: عزيزة أمير; 17 December 1901 – 28 February 1952) was an Egyptian actress, producer, and screenwriter. She is well-regarded in Egyptian film, often referred to as "the godmother of Egyptian cinema." Aziza Amir was born Mofida Mohamed Ghoneim in Alexandria on 17 December 1901, to a family originally from Damietta. Her father died while Mofida was still an infant, after which point the family relocated to Cairo. Following the revolution of 1919, Egyptian women sought more active roles in public life. Nevertheless, a stigma against actresses persisted, and Mofida adopted the stage name Aziza Amir in order to avoid negatively impacting her family's reputation. It was under this name that she began her career in theater. In 1925, Amir joined the "Ramsis" acting troupe. That same year, her starring role in Al-Jah al-Muzayyaf (The Fake Status) launched her to success in the theater world. Shortly after, Amir starred in a stage production of Napoleonette, through which she met her first husband Ahmed El Sheirei, the then-mayor of Samalout. Laila (1927), commonly considered the first Egyptian film ever made, marked Aziza's debut into film stardom. The film was released on 16 November 1927, following a strung of conflicts with director Wadad Orfi and German producers. Orfi was eventually replaced as director by Stephane Rosti, though some of Orfi's originally shots remained in the film's final cut. Both the media and Amir husband's family at the time of Laila's release opposed her participation in the film; Laila went on to be a success. In 1933, she wrote, directed, and starred in Pay for your Sins (1933). It was around this time that Amir and her first husband would divorce. Egypt's film industry began to thrive in the 1940s; Amir began to write more screenplays as a result. She would eventually have seventeen writing credits to her name. Amir had an adopted daughter Amira who acted alongside her in the film My Daughter (1944). She would star and produce a total of twenty five films in her lifetime. Amir also starred in the silent film Fattah min Istanbul (1928) and played the role of Brezka in the film Ahl El Kahf. Amir continued to participate in the film industry in various roles, starring in, directing, and producing films throughout the rest of her life. Amir owned and operated her own production company, Isis Films, which would prove hugely influential to the creation and development of Egyptian cinema.