Real talk: Egyptian actress Asmaa Galal has been the talk of the town ever since her rise to prominence for playing some of the most groundbreaking roles in the Arab film industry. With the new year just in, we sat down with Asmaa Galal to know all about her future projects, female inspirations, her decision to switch to a pescatarian lifestyle and many more.
Big projects aka our binge-watch sesh incoming
We’ve got a list of 2022 projects lined up for us and we seriously couldn’t be more excited. First things first, we’ve got a Suits spin-off that’ll be hitting our screens in 2022 with a stellar cast that includes Asser Yassin as Harvey, Ahmed Dawoud as Mike, Saba Mubarak as Jessica, Reem Mostafa as Donna, Tara Emad as Rachel, and Mohamed Shahin as Louis.
But that’s not it. “After Ramadan, I’ve got a horror series The Room 207, based on the novel written by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik,” Yup, we’re getting a redo for spooky szn and it has 10 *whole* episodes.
Speaking of Ramadan, Asmaa’s new show Waraq El Toot is another release that needs to be on your radar. “It’s about circumcision and getting married at a very young age,” said the Egyptian star.
Asmaa Galal’s advocacy for Pescetarianism
Asmaa has been living as a pescatarian for quite some time now (a year and a half, to be precise) and like everyone, we’ve always wondered about how the decision came about.
“I’ve always loved animals and treated them as my friends. I wanted to help them as much as I can because they are never treated well. I couldn’t stand the idea of eating them anymore but I never judge anyone who eats meat or make them feel uncomfortable,” said Asmaa.
She continued, “This is just my way of telling the animals that I love them, and whenever I feel that I miss eating burgers or something, I order a vegan burger or opt for seafood options.”
Credit: Red Pepper Films
Gender inequality in the industry
The need for gender equality in every workplace cannot be stressed enough. Asmaa highlighted the importance of having more female-centric roles in the film industry:
“We as Arab women face difficulties and stresses in the workplace compared to our male counterparts. Fewer women getting lead roles, most of the time we only support the man in the show, what I really want to prove to the industry is that I have so much more than just supporting the guy in the show!”
Battling online hate and trolls
Being in the limelight with over a million eyes on you can never be easy. Asmaa opens up on her battle to overcome the negativity and social media pressure, “At first, I couldn’t handle online trolls or hate, but now I wouldn’t mind just blocking what crosses my page. I mean, let’s be honest it’s as simple as if you don’t like an actress, just hold your remote control and change the channel,” said Asmaa. “I’m not asking anyone to love me, but I’ll be glad if you don’t love me and don’t bully me.”
Advice to aspiring actors and actresses
Asmaa said, “My advice to the aspiring actors is that if it’s really your dream, even if nobody supports or believes in you, don’t wait on anybody else to give you permission to do it. It’s only your dream so just do it as long as ur passionate about it. Stop waiting for the perfect moment to start your dream.”
She asserts the importance of practising and putting yourself out there. “Watch plays, movies, tv shows, read a lot of acting books and different methods look for acting classes/workshops, and go to auditions.”
Credit: Red Pepper Films
The female actress that she looks up to is…
Asmaa Galal has been a key inspiration for so many of us so it leaves us with a question on who is her favourite actress.
“An actress that inspires me is Audrey Hepburn, Not only because of her beautiful movies but also because of her ability to remain a respected icon. Her dedication to UNICEF. She is an amazingly talented actress with a big heart,” said Asmaa.
“Also, one of the closest actresses to my heart is Anne Hathaway knowing that she is one of the most highly paid female actors in the world is something really inspiring. She has won awards at the Oscar, Emmy Award, and the Golden Globe for her role and is also involved in writing, and producing movies. She is a social activist, She is always vocal about a low-plastic lifestyle, women’s rights, and promoting practices for a cleaner and better environment. ” We stan an Anne Hathaway fan, always.