March 2026
In the early 2000s, a young woman with a mind for psychology and an eye for storytelling quietly stepped into the media world. Injy El Mokkadem’s career began not on a film set but in front of the camera, first as a presenter on Orbit TV’s El Sellem We El Taaban (Snakes and Ladders) and later co-hosting Mesaa’k Sukr Ziyada (May Your Evening Have Extra Sugar) on OTV. Few could have predicted that this poised television host would soon move into acting, taking on roles full of emotion and complexity. In 2006, El Mokkadem made her acting debut in the series Ahmed Etgawez Mona (Ahmed Married Mona), revealing a performer with natural presence and a taste for layered characters. Over the years, she has sought roles that challenge expectations, earning a reputation as an actress drawn to emotionally rich stories and nuanced performances. For this issue, El Mokkadem lit up our cameras in a series of striking, glamorous looks, each reflecting her bold, magnetic presence. She then shared an intimate conversation with Enigma’s Farida Elserty, discussing her growth as an actress, the philosophy behind her craft, and the influence of motherhood on her life both on and off screen.
Amid the bustle of Ramadan, Injy El Mokkadem is once again in the spotlight. Fresh off her acclaimed role in El Set Monalisa (Lady Monalisa). It has been four years since Enigma last sat down with the Egyptian actress and TV host, and in that time, she has seamlessly cemented her place as one of the region’s leading stars.
We began our conversation by discussing her new role and how she chooses her characters. “It’s always about the writing, the complexity and the challenge,” she explains. “How the role is written, how rich it is, how different and demanding it is, even if it’s just one scene.”
Her latest character in El Set Monalisa (Lady Monalisa), Aliaa, represents a clear departure from anything she has done before. “As an actor, you don’t often get roles that are completely unlike yourself. Usually in Egypt, when an actor succeeds in a certain type of role, producers and directors continue offering similar parts. They don’t imagine them in something different. So when a role comes along that is entirely new for me, I hold on to it.”
To bring Aliaa to life, El Mokkadem began with the character’s background. “Aliaa belonged to a certain social class, then suddenly she lost everything financially in a very short time and moved into a much more difficult situation. She refuses the reality she is living in now. She refuses poverty, and the life she ended up with.”
Everything about Aliaa is deliberate, from the way she speaks to how she interacts with others. “She knows exactly what she wants. She always wants something, and she is never satisfied. ” And what she wants is simple. “Money. She does not care about anything else. That’s her main goal. She will get it by any means.”
Even the smallest details reflect that ambition. “When she goes out, she puts on colourful contact lenses to create a certain image for herself. She has a certain way that she speaks, so she could appear more presentable and catch a wealthy man’s attention, marry him in order to get the life she lost. The most important thing for her is that money comes into her house at the end of the day.”
For El Mokkadem, understanding a character from the inside is essential. “No matter if they are right or wrong, when an actor believes in the character’s motivations and convictions, playing the role becomes much easier.”
Some of the moments she enjoyed most were the quiet ones. “Honestly, I enjoyed all of her scenes. Even the silent moments. Sometimes the character is sitting with the family but not speaking, just watching everything around her. The looks, the small reactions, the subtle details. Every little thing was important.”
The audience, it seems, noticed it all.“I was very happy with the reactions. Some people told me they noticed small details in her behaviour like the way she walks. When I hear that, I feel fulfilled because it means the effort was worth it.”
Despite studying theatre, El Mokkadem says she does not follow a particular acting method. “I rely more on feelings,” she says. Her background in psychology helps shape that instinctive approach. “When I read a character, I feel like I absorb it quickly. When I understand the character, the details start appearing naturally. I think about every detail like how she would speak, walk or behave. Little by little, everything comes together on its own.”
Even as a child, her instinct to perform was hard to miss. “Maybe there were signs that I would be an actress, but I wasn’t aware of them at the time,” she recalls with a smile. “I used to love watching films, and I loved standing in front of the mirror, put on dresses and imitate characters.”
“My hair was short when I was young, so I would put my grandmother’s scarves on my head as if they were long hair and stand in front of the mirror dancing and performing.” As an only child, she assumed every child spent their time this way. Apparently, those private performances were the earliest hints of the path she would eventually follow.
Her journey, however, was anything but straightforward. At first, she imagined herself becoming a tour guide, a plan that eventually led her to the American University in Cairo, where she explored Egyptology and psychology. The reality proved more complicated. “I was interested in Egyptology so I took a course but it was very difficult. I felt like I was a complete failure. Also, at the time I wanted to live my life and go out and live my age. I was still young and didn’t really know what I wanted,” she admits.
The real turning point came when she majored in psychology and minored in theatre, and once she stepped onto the stage something shifted. “Once I would enter the theatre and the doors close, I would forget everything happening outside, and feel like I never want to leave the theatre.” She recalls. “At that moment, I realised that this is the only thing I wanted to do.”
It was the unexpected combination of psychology and theatre that brought clarity. Acting felt natural in a way nothing else had. “When I started acting, I realised I really enjoyed it and felt capable in it. I also appreciated the encouragement and rewards that came with it, which made the experience easier.” At that stage of her life, she was less concerned with long-term plans than with discovering what truly suited her. “I didn’t have a clear idea of wanting to become a psychologist, I was just trying to understand what I loved and what felt right to me. I am a very sensitive person and get affected easily, so I needed to find something that felt natural.”
Even her academic studies ended up feeding the performer she would become. Her focus on child psychology sharpened her awareness of human behaviour and emotion. “I felt that it would help me understand my children, understand the people around me, and benefit from that even if I worked with people in different fields,” she explains.
However, before committing fully to acting, she tried several different careers, from advertising and client service to graphic design and reporting. Yet no matter where she went, the pull of performance remained constant. “I used to work in television because I felt like I needed any opportunity to perform with any audience. I was ready,” she says.
Looking back, the pattern seems obvious. “I loved performing, I loved acting, and I loved theatre,” she reflects. “Everything else were just steps leading me to the thing I really loved.”
Her first step into professional acting came after turning down an earlier opportunity she felt unprepared for. At the time, she had been offered a leading role in a film but decided not to take it. “When I saw the film in cinema, I felt very distressed, because it got me thinking: ‘if I had done it, how would I have approached the role?’” she recalls.
Determined to prepare herself properly moving forward, she began attending acting workshops. Not long after, chance stepped in. “One day, while I was returning from a workshop, I met someone who told me they were working on a project with a main character who looked very much like me,” she says. The project was Ahmed Etgawez Mona (Ahmed Married Mona). “They asked me to audition. I was a bit doubtful, but I decided to give it a try. Thank God I succeeded and got the role.” Convincing her husband took some persistence. “I kept insisting until he agreed,” she adds with a laugh.
The experience confirmed what she had begun to suspect about herself. “I felt very happy. I could see how much the effort I put in made a difference, and how the details I focused on appeared in front of the audience.” She says. “Everything I was doing was enjoyable, and little by little it helped me trust myself more and feel my value as an actress.”
Since then, she has sought out roles that push her beyond her comfort zone. One of the most memorable was Layali Eugenie (Eugenie Nights), where she portrayed a chacter with an italian background despite not knowing the language beforehand. “What caught my eye the most in this project is that it had everything I love: strong writing, preparation for the character, precise details, and a real challenge like acting in Italian.” More importantly, it reaffirmed her risk appetite. “I like roles that challenge me and push me to my limit.”
That sense of exploration still drives her. “I feel there are many experiences that I haven’t had yet, and roles I want to try. The journey still feels long and full of possibilities.”
Her approach to success, however, remains grounded. “I believe everything comes at the right time. I’m not pushing to have a leading title or a certain position. What matters to me is having the space to work on different roles.” Whether large or small, each part offers something to learn. “Every role is an opportunity to develop myself and challenge my abilities. I see it like training before a big match. Each step prepares you for the next.”
The people she collaborates with are just as important as the role itself. “The project has to be with people I like and respect, whose work I can learn from. Even if the role is not very strong, working with good people is enough for me to say yes. It’s like a free lesson. Every experience adds something.”
Sometimes, curiosity alone is enough to convince her. “If there is a talented director or actor, even if the role itself isn’t great, I will still work with them so I can learn,” she says. Watching others closely has become part of her craft. “I observe every small movement and take something from it.”
Beyond the screen, she balances fame and family with grace. “Fame for me is enjoyable, especially when I see people’s reactions to my work. When someone writes a nice comment or says ‘bravo,’ it really makes me happy. Of course, there are moments when privacy feels a little intruded upon, especially when I’m out with family, but I appreciate people’s love. It’s a blessing from God,” she reflects.
At home, she finds her greatest fulfilment. A devoted mother of two, she says, “Honestly, the most beautiful thing in the world for me is my children, my home, and my husband. My job is very important as well, but for me it’s mostly a hobby. I feel like I have many other things in my life besides work. It is enjoyable and fulfilling, but family is always number one.”
Motherhood comes with its challenges. “You have to be a role model, be present with your children, and understand the details of their lives. That is very challenging, especially with the mix of daily responsibilities, and the demands of the profession. I try to handle it calmly, learn from my mistakes, and contain my own stress. The teenage years are very, very difficult,” she adds with a knowing smile.
She encourages her children’s curiosity without pressure. “Janna was a little interested in acting and might try it, she doesn’t mind. Ahmed has a natural talent, but he is still exploring. They might change their minds in the future, and who knows, maybe they will become stars later,” she muses.
When asked if she would choose the same path again, her answer is firm. “100%, without hesitation. Every experience and every role had its value, and I’m satisfied and happy with everything I’ve done,” she affirms.
Currently, her professional and personal worlds converge as she prepares for her latest project. “We started filming the series Qalb Shams (Heart of Shams). Right now, I am preparing. I am very excited and look forward to presenting it in the best possible way,” she says, eyes alight with anticipation.
Photography: Bilo Hussein
Styling: Maissa & Sahar Azab
Makeup: Ahmed El Khawaga
Hair: Mina Said
Assistant Stylist: Nora El Faransawy