Nisreen Imam conquers the world of comedy

Nesreen Imam Cairo – Marwa Yehya Nisreen Imam was not afraid of entering the world of comedy, even though she would be working with huge comedy star, Mohamed Hindi. In an exclusive interview with Arabstoday, Imam spoke

of how Hindi comforted her during and after filming and explained her character “Naima” in the drama “Monsieur Ramadan Mabrook.” Imam says that Hindi “gives the actor playing a role alongside him confidence, and does not make them feel as if he’s a huge star in comparison to them.”

“I’m very happy to have done this and have worked with Hindi. It is very exciting because it was the first time that I played a comedic role.”

Mastering the countryside accent was a challenge, even though she is from an Eastern Province. She went to great lengths to ensure authenticity. In the lead-up to filming, she travelled to the eastern province, paying careful attention to local accents. The writer of the drama, Yusuf Moati, also asked her to watch the film “The Second Wife” and focus on the character played by Souad Hosni as she is similar to the character Imam is playing. Imam watched several other films with the same accent, and sought assistance from her porter’s wife to perfect the accent. The porter's wife eventually became her “source of inspiration.”

On top of mastering the accent, Hindi also asked her to put on 6kg to look more like a countryside woman, which she did, weighing 70kg within a month.

She is currently keeping her distance from cinema as she finds the current climate difficult as not many producers are willing to take financial risks. She will however play a lead role in Synergy’s upcoming film project.

Imam says that she would prefer to do only one drama/film a year as she would rather give her full attention to one thing and excel at it, and make the character she is playing a part of herself.

As political events unfold in Egypt, she said: “I feel that our vision has not been fully completed as things keep taking place every day, but I pray that Egypt will get better.”

Although she did not take part in the revolution, her brother did and forbade her and her sisters from participating. She believes that while those who stood by to protect their homes are just as courageous as those who fought in Tahrir Square.