Ahmed Malek has proven himself to be a capable and enigmatic rising star on the Egyptian cinema scene, all while remaining humble and dedicated to his craft. We were eager to speak with him and discuss his latest turn as Osama in this month’s socio-political thriller El Deif, and the star was willing to give us a glimpse into what it took to embody this complex soul.

CWM: In El Deif, you play the role of a man with personal beliefs that cause tension and conflict. What can you tell us about him?

AM: I found him to be an example of one of the members of my generation who is a bit lost in finding the meaning. In trying to find this meaning, there are some paths he takes that he believes are human, fair and righteous – but he isn’t looking at the big picture. Preparing for this film was different than any process I’ve gone through before, because I had to understand Osama’s ideology, philosophy, and acknowledge it intellectually, while also coming to grips with a human aspect. I found the script to be unique because it’s avant-garde and dialogue-based.

This was a very intimate set, closed and cozy, how did you find the experience on set with your fellow actors?

I acted in a similar intimate set on Crash, we were 20 people in a box basically, but this set was more compressed because we were only four actors and the tension is forward and clear rather than chaotic. The challenge was putting my own personal relationships with Shereen and Jamila aside and to separate this from our work on set in a healthy way. You don’t want to endanger intimacy if you go too far and make a boundary in an extreme way. Needless to say, Khaled El Sawy is a legend of contemporary cinema; we all look up to him.

What was the hardest obstacle to overcome while filming?

To find the freedom in being destroyed. Also, to find moments of lightness within this tension. I’m not sure how successful I was, but this is one of the more challenging aspects of acting. All this preparation and study lead to a moment where you switch off and “be” this person without overthinking every moment. Human beings just live, they don’t question every move.

What do you hope audiences take away from this challenging movie/subject?

As an actor, I just want to show the human condition through my own human condition so to speak. I can’t expect audiences will all react in the same way, but I do hope it will make them question more. I would be happy if people go out and ask more questions, create a discussion and challenge their perceptions.

What can audiences look forward to in 2019? Any personal goals or resolutions you wish you accomplish?

I’m hoping to do more stage work and explore work in the theatre. I am always trying to find the “life” in my characters and be able to successfully embody them, so I will continue working on that.

Quickfire Round

Favorite place to travel?

Asia.

Comfort food?

Indomie!

Music on repeat?

Radiohead.

What angers you the most?

Vinegar.

What makes you most happy?

I don’t know!

Favorite movie of all time?

Léon: The Professional.

Last book you read?

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.

The award-winning director of Hepta opened up about how his latest film is remarkably different from anything he has ever done before – including sharing insights on what the creative process was like working with famed author Ibrahim Eissa and a cast of superstars.

CWM: You’re an accomplished and award-winning director, celebrated for films like Hepta and mega-popular Etisalat TV commercial with Mohamed Ramadan, how does this film depart from your previous work?

Technically speaking, this movie was very challenging to shoot because the filming set is one apartment with all events taking place in a confined space. The other challenging aspect is the drama, so it presents a challenge in directing actors and getting the most out of their performance for dramatic effect. You want the audience to connect with the realness and authenticity of the characters.

Ibrahim Eissa is a famous author, and this is his first time writing a script, what was the experience like working with him?

He’s a very well-known and celebrated writer, but this is his first time handling a script, so I wasn’t sure in the beginning how flexible he would be with his vision for the film. However, I found him to be easy to work with, and he believed in my vision and point of view in how to adapt his writing to the screen.

The film’s plot deals with touchy subjects that are prevalent in Egyptian society – what were the biggest obstacles working with such sensitive material?

You have to believe in what you’re doing and in the message you’re sending. I found no obstacles in dealing with my actors; each one of them is a professional and brought a lot to their character. The whole film is challenging in terms of the subject, the relationship between different religious faiths and different segments of society, and for that reason, we faced a lot of issues with the censorship board.

What do you hope that audiences will take away from the film? 

What I care about is that audiences enjoy the film, and they will be able to relate to what the subject is all about. The film is all about two different points of view put together in one location and they have to deal with it. It’s a very simple story. This is what happens every day.

We sat down to find out how Shereen Reda capitalized on her versatility as an actress to tap into the role of Mimi in this month’s socio-political thriller El Deif, in addition to finding out what the star wishes to accomplish in 2019 on both the personal and professional front.

CWM: In El Deif, you play the role of a wife and mother placed in a tense situation – how did you prepare for such an intense role?

SR:At first, I started studying the character psychologically by placing myself in different situations she would face. I began to test how she would react in different scenarios and how she would interact with her daughter and husband, especially since this character goes through turbulent and challenging times in her life and within her family. All this leads up to a climatic moment when a man comes to ask for her daughter’s hand in marriage. In terms of achieving the character’s look, I had to wear colored lenses the whole time! At first, I wore a grey wig, but I felt it wasn’t realistic enough, so I decided to dye my hair grey in order to connect with the character more.

What was the hardest obstacle to overcome while filming?

Due to the film’s heavy emphasis on human connection, reactions to circumstances, and escalating tension; this caused a lot of stress on set and between us as actors as a byproduct. I found the most challenging part of the film was to separate whatever was happening between us as actors off-camera due to the nature of the film’s tension, and being able to switch back into whatever the scene demanded once the director called “action!”

What do you hope audiences take away from this challenging movie/subject?

El Deifcontains many elements, not just one idea. On one hand, there is a societal element that revolves around the life of a single family and all the situations this family is placed in and reacts to. The plot centers around the most important day a family can go through, the day a person arrives to enter that family by marriage. On the other hand, there is a lot of debate and conflict, with contrasting points of view, that create a lot of tension on several levels and this will lead the audience to be anticipating what comes next.

What can audiences look forward to in 2019? Any personal goals or resolutions you wish you accomplish?

2018 turned out to be a fantastic year for me, way more than I expected! Professionally, I acted in four films and one series, each was a success and received positive feedback from the audience. I won two awards for Best Actress, which was a pleasure! As for 2019, I wish it will be as good as 2018 or even better. I hope to continue taking on interesting and challenging roles. On the personal side, I will continue to dedicate time to animal charities that improve the living conditions and treatment of our furry friends.