Pursuing your dreams, especially if you are a rising talent trying to break into cinema needs a lot of courage as well as a strong innate confidence. One such blooming talent is Mariam El Gendy, who has emerged as a gifted actress capable of mastering comedic and drama roles, captivating both critics and viewers over the past two years. eniGma magazine sat down with the rising star to find out more about her acting journey and her future aspirations.
The daughter of the famous actor Mahmoud El Gendy , Mariam El Gendy made her acting debut as a child actress in the 2003 series People in Kafr Askar (El Nas Fe Kafr Askar) which was followed by a role in the 2005 series Uncle Karim Abu Al-Mafawuk. After that she concentrated on her studies and eventually enrolled in the American University in Cairo where she graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism. However, she had caught the acting bug, and once she graduated, she decided to pursue a professional acting career. Impressed by her talent and passion for acting, theater director Khaled Galal, recruited her for several of his plays, including Cinema Masr (Egypt’s Cinema), Al Mahkama (The Court), and Al Waseya (The Will). Collaborating with the renowned Galal was pivotal for El Gendy’s acting career, which took off after these collaborations.
“This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone. I discovered what theatre is all about and how a cast works together to make a play successful,” she explains.
El Gendy’s debut on television came in 2020 with a role in the series, Al Anessa Farah (Miss Farah), which was followed by roles in the series Mawdoa Aali (A family Affair) and Al Harami (The Thief). However, her real breakthrough came in 2023 when young director Omar El Mohandes picked her for the important role of Hagar, in his debut television series Balto (Coat). Impressed by her natural acting techniques, El Mohandes chose her for the role of a dynamic, hardworking doctor who played a pivotal role in the plot. El Gendy did not disappoint and received high praise from both critics and viewers alike.
El Gendy felt comfortable and motivated to give the role of Hagar her all, especially as she was acting alongside a slew of young talents and some well-accomplished veterans, including Essam Omar, Arfa Abdel Rassoul, and Mahmoud El Bezzawy. “The cast was full of comedians, which was challenging because Hagar was more of a serious character; however, I learned a lot from my colleagues as they were never hesitant to help and share their experiences,” she recalls.
Next, El Gendy successfully participated in the TV series Al Atawla (The Heavyweights) in Ramadan 2024, alongside a star-studded cast that included Ahmed ElSakka, Tarek Lotfy, Bassem Samra, Mai Kassab, and Zeina. “It was a big challenge to be among such a rich assembly of performers, and in that context, I would like to express my gratitude to the iconic star ElSakka, who continuously supported me with valuable advice during the entire shooting period,” she says.
El Gendy’s successes have not dampened her craving to explore other genres, and she remains excited about testing her limits through continuous challenges. “Every role adds another dimension to my acting skill set and to my performance, making all my roles dear to my heart, especially when I get the freedom to add my own touches to the character,” she explains.
El Gendy is eager to work alongside different directors and actors and to learn from them. She is a great fan of the iconic Mona Zaki and considers her to be in a league of her own and a perfect role model. “Zaki’s realistic character portrayal has always amazed me. She smoothly transitions between scenes in a natural manner, making the audiences feel her honesty. I would love to get the chance to work with her someday,” she says excitedly.
Naturally, with more roles comes fan recognition and attention in public spaces, with requests for photos and autographs. El Gendy emphasises that, “fans do this out of love, which I take as a positive sign of being on the right track.” She also sees value in communicating with her fans through social media, by focusing on the constructive feedback she gets about her work and neglecting offensive comments.
While she is still new to the industry, her experience to date has helped El Gendy develop her own philosophy about the necessary qualities to achieving stardom in your acting career. While acknowledging the importance of workshops and hard work, she feels that it is critical to have pure and clear intentions towards yourself and others. “The key elements to becoming a top actor are to help others, provide guidance, and remain humble, which is what I call a star’s ethics,” she explains.
As for aspiring actors like herself, she is convinced that it is not helpful to compare oneself with others. She believes that success will come at the right moment with the maturing of one’s talents with every role performed.
Looking to the future, El Gendy concludes, “I don’t necessarily want to finish my career with a long list of projects; instead, I want to leave behind my own legacy, creating a distinct mark that honours my father’s name and remains forever itched in people’s memories.”
Photography: Khaled Fathi