By: Yomna Walid

Yasmeen Elhawary is a rising Egyptian actress and dancer. She shares her experiences of gaining international recognition, working with creative filmmakers and being true to herself on and off screen.

From performing as Cinderella on the Cairo Opera House stage to sharing a dance with Twitch on The Ellen Show, Yasmeen Elhawary’s path has been anything but ordinary. Now, she’s at the heart of Happy Birthday — the first Egyptian film to win three awards at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, including Best International Narrative Feature.

In this exclusive interview with Nile FM, Yasmeen reflects on the emotional power of her role, working alongside director Sarah Gohar and Mohamed Diab and how her ballet discipline continues to shape her screen presence. With elegance, authenticity and undeniable talent, she’s quickly becoming one of Egypt’s brightest stars on the international stage.

About Happy Birthday & the Tribeca Win

What was your reaction when you first heard the news?

We are all very happy and proud of our work in the film and the work that Sarah and Mohamed have put in the movie.

Your performance in the film was incredibly powerful — what was the most challenging part of playing this role, emotionally or physically?

I was delighted and excited when Sarah reached out to me personally to be a part of the film. And all I wanted to do was make sure her vision came through.

How was it working with Sarah Gohar as a first-time director and with Mohamed Diab as executive producer? What kind of energy did they bring to the project?

Sarah and Mohamed are a power couple and they both exude amazing energy. It was a blessing to be on set with both of them. They are incredibly kind, talented and collaborative visionaries.

Acting Journey & Ballet Background

From the Cairo Opera House and the Film Institute to the international spotlight at Tribeca — what has this journey been like for you personally?

It’s been a roller coaster of emotions. Especially after my Fulbright scholarship and acting MFA in the States, I feel like I have grown so much both as an artist and as a woman. I’ve learned how to stand up for myself and feel my feelings. I’ve also learned that rejection doesn’t determine my worth.

You have a strong ballet background — how has that shaped you as an actress? Do you feel it adds something unique to your screen or stage presence?

I am certain it does. I believe it shows in my body language and my overall sense of self and/or character in my body.

Not to mention that I learned commitment and discipline from classical dancing which are integral to the craft of Acting as well.

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A post shared by Yasmeen elhawaryياسمين الهواري (@yasmeenhawary)

International Spotlight

Your appearance on The Ellen Show was such a big moment! Can you tell us what happened behind the scenes and how that opportunity came about?

I had planned to attend a taping of the Ellen show as an audience member, but somehow the Ellen staff found out that I was a principal ballet dancer in the Cairo Opera House before coming to LA to study acting and they asked me if I would talk to Ellen about it and perhaps dance with Twitch as well. Of course, I was a huge fan and I was absolutely down for it! It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

Being possibly the first Egyptian woman to appear on Ellen must feel huge — do you feel a responsibility to represent Egyptian talent globally?

It does feel huge. But I try not to place that responsibility at the forefront of my career or creative choices because it could easily trap or block one’s creativity. My main focus is to be authentically myself, be the best artist I can be and tell stories that matter.

Generally, I put my all into my work because I care and ideally I hope the work affects someone’s world out there. If the above happens to be aligned with representing Egyptian talent globally then that would be a beautiful bonus.

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A post shared by Yasmeen elhawaryياسمين الهواري (@yasmeenhawary)

Recent Work & Upcoming Projects

You recently appeared in the series Athena and 80 Bako during Ramadan — what drew you to those roles and what was the experience like?

They were quite different from all of the other parts I have done before and that's always exciting for any actor. And luckily, the experience was wonderful on both sets with Yahya Ismail and Kawthar Younis. I was blessed with an awesome cast and crew in Athena and 80 Bako.

Are there any upcoming projects you’re working on — either in Egypt or internationally — that you’re excited to share with us?

Currently, I’m working on the Egyptian premiere for my one-act play with the iconic Sayed Ragab. We headline a one-act play together that had premiered in the UAE and will soon premiere here in Cairo.

I’m also waiting on the premiere of a very special project with my friend and colleague Sedky Sakhr. This one will be a huge surprise! I can’t wait for everyone to see it!

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A post shared by Yasmeen elhawaryياسمين الهواري (@yasmeenhawary)

Reflective & Personal

If you could go back to your younger self performing Cinderella on the Cairo Opera House stage, would you have ever imagined yourself one day being part of an award-winning film at Tribeca?

I want to say yes! I have always manifested this and dreamt of this and worked tirelessly towards it. I only hope I can take it further from here!

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A post shared by Yasmeen elhawaryياسمين الهواري (@yasmeenhawary)

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