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The Egyptian artist confirmed to Al Arabiya.net that the character of Hala Refaat, which she played in “Harem Karim,” is the reason for her return, as it is an important milestone in her artistic career.
Al Arabiya.net – Muhammad Hussein (photos from the artist’s Instagram account)
Published on: September 08, 2023: 07:48 AM GST Last updated: September 08, 2023: 09:21 AM GST
After the movie “The Line of Death” was shown to her in 2019, she completely disappeared from the art scene, so that the son of her town, Mustafa Qamar, returned her again to her fans after a 4-year absence from the cinema screen, but this time through the new part of the movie “Harem Karim”, to return Ola Ghanem through The character of Hala Refaat, but she returned with her daughters, confirming in her interview with Al-Arabiya.net that she has returned to Egypt and will remain there and will present many cinematic and dramatic works.
Ola Ghanem
* How did you react after you were offered to participate in the second part of the movie “Harem Karim”?
There was no opportunity for hesitation when Mostafa Qamar offered me the idea of continuing to present the character “Hala Refaat” again in the second part of the movie “Harem Karim”, because the film is one of my most successful films on the mass level, so Hala Refaat is an important milestone in my career. Specifically, it has a special place for me, and it achieved great success when it was shown almost 18 years ago, and it still enjoys a high viewership when it is shown on satellite channels, and it has become one of the films of holidays and happy occasions, because it is a cheerful and light family movie, and it brought me together with colleagues very close to me, and we have a friendship and relationship amazing.
* What is the difference in the personality of “Hala” and your enthusiasm to return to it?
Hala in this part is more mature than the first part of the movie, as it keeps pace with the change of events and the development that occurred with the passage of time, and the script is stronger than the scenario of the first part, and this is what excited me a lot, and I also consider the movie “Sons of Karim’s Harem” my opportunity to return to acting And the screen again, and the reason for my return from abroad, the script made me leave my work in America because it convinced me and I did not find anything or a reason to make me return to Egypt before it was shown to me.
* And how did you find work again with Mostafa Qamar after all those years?
Working with him is a pleasure, and I also love and respect him on a personal and artistic level, and I was very excited when he spoke to me about the second part of the film, due to the enthusiasm and splendor of the script.
Harem Karim’s children
* And what about the idea of the absence of Yasmine Abdelaziz and Talaat Zakaria from this part?
There are many who are not present in this part, not only Yasmine, so what can be said is that every person at a stage in his life is surrounded by different personalities, as for Talaat Zakaria, his place cannot be taken over by anyone, and even today there are “memes” for scenes from the first part We gather together and I laugh and say that no one will ever be able to fill the void he left.
* And did you feel that this was the right time to return and work in art again after an absence?
I feel that I have returned at the right time, as there is a state of artistic maturity. I believe that the audience will touch it during the coming period in my choices for the works and roles that I will present, and the audience that meets me anywhere tells me that my absence caused a great void, and the truth is that I was surprised by their love for me, which is What I felt from the audience’s turnout and welcome was as if I had not been absent from the arena for 7 full years, and the truth is that those years were difficult for me as they were difficult for the audience.
Ola Ghanem
* And what about your work in America, will you leave it permanently for the sake of art?
I will not do that. Thank God, I have my own business in America, and I divide my time between Egypt and America to pursue my business. I worked hard and hard because I needed money to support my family. And my two daughters were studying in the United States of America, and at the stage of education the expenses were onerous and many, and I assumed full responsibility for them, but now I will divide my time and focus very much on choosing to present what benefits me, adds to me, and affirms my position.
* Are you returning to the drama again after an absence of about 6 years?
Indeed, I have contracted to star in a new series called “Toha”, written by Ahmed Sobhi, directed by Muhammad Al-Naqli, and it belongs to the popular drama. Her life is due to the poverty of her family, and she has brothers and sisters who suffer hardship until radical transformations occur in her life and Toha becomes strong and dominant.
What drew you to the series? Is there a link between him and the movie Hind Rostom?
What I was most excited about was the return of working with director Muhammad Al-Naqli, whose last work with him was the series “The Seven Girls”. It is also the fifth collaboration that brings us together after we presented together the series “Brothers’ Enemies” with Salah Al-Saadani, Ahmed Rizk, Yasser Jalal, Fathi Abdel-Wahhab in 2012. And “Crown Prince” starring Hamada Helal and Lucy in 2015, and “The Seven Girls” starring Iman Al-Assi, Mirhan Hussein, Reem Al-Baroudi, Ferial Youssef, Tara Imad in 2016, and “Misk Al-Layl” starring Izzat Al-Alayli and Nada Bassiouni in 2008.
Indeed, there is a connection between the series and the movie, as “Toha” is the same, but in the second stage of events, after it becomes strong, dominant and controlling everyone around it.
What is new that you are preparing for now?
I am currently working on three artistic projects, which are a movie and two series, in the upcoming Ramadan season, and I will not disclose the details of these works until after filming is completed.