Cosmo ME spoke exclusively to recent BAFTA-breakthrough star, and award-winning British-Egyptian actor Amir El Masry at the 2020 Cairo Film Festival. Amir, who has recently starred in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, went from a teen actor in Egypt to a major International celeb, and opened up about his thoughts on female representation in the film industry…

Cosmo ME: Do you think women are well represented in the movie industry?

Amir: I think it needs to improve. There’s still a disparity between men and women. It’s harder for women to be in leading positions, behind the camera and in the front of the camera. It is still male dominated. Outside I’m working a lot with MENA group campaigns and we’re doing our best to equalize and trying to make everything 50-50. But it is still very hard when people in power are mostly men.

There are many layers to the disparity. People still undermine women’s opinions in the workplace. It’s all down to the old way of thinking, basically toxic masculinity. It all comes down to that.

I would like to see more women in positions of power, more female directors, more writers. There is a movement happening and I hope it is not just a movement but a proper conversation. With the help of streaming platforms, there are a lot more opportunities for women.

C: Have you ever witnessed a woman being treated differently in the workplace?

A: Yes I have. I was working on a show last year where we had two assistant directors, one was a man, and one was a woman. The female assistant director made a very valid point on set about a technical issue and she was not heard at all despite stating a valid point. But the second the male assistant director made the exact same point, people turned and listened. I think it’s a subconscious thing of where the level of respect is coming from, but that point was noted in a de-brief where everyone was made aware of the situation.

C: You have worked abroad in international shows and movies. Can you compare how women are treated there vs in the Arab industry?

A: They do face the same issues and there are so many levels to it. There is also race involved. Women of color face a lot more disparity. There is a bit of hierarchy there too. The thing is racism or discrimination is not always face on. Those micro-aggressions happen in the subtext of the language they use. It’s never face on, because if it was, people would be exposed. The disparity is not at the same extent as it is in the Arab world I suppose, but it is definitely there.

C: In your opinion, what should male actors do to combat this disparity?

A: It is just as much our responsibility as it is a woman’s. We need to speak up if there is inequality on set or behind the scenes. We need to call people out. People have become used to a way of working that they can’t unwire that thread of thinking. The first step is to speak up if you do notice anything. Also, if someone is telling you something that they’ve experienced, take their word for it and don’t question it by asking ‘are you sure you didn’t take it the wrong way?’ Take their word for it and then go with them and speak to the person. Find a way to prevent that.

Click here to read our exclusive interview with Mohamed Hadid from the Cairo Film Festival, and make sure you’re following us on social media so you don’t miss any of the action. 

Location – Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
Shot on: Nikon Z6
Styling: Hommes Du Roi: Cairo Chapter (Maria Fathy & Nour Ibrahim)
Instagram: @hommesduroicairochapter
Fine Jewelry: Nour Ibrahim
Instagram: @nouribrahimm
PR: Marwa ElSawy