My favourite things

Although she's in the autumn of her life, superstar Yousra is always glamorous. Loving and caring with sympathetic eyes and a pleasant smile, she captured the hearts of Arab audiences and won the respect of critics who, other than the fundamentalists, rarely speak ill of her.

This is despite the fact that her career and personal life have always been controversial. She's now one of the most sought-after stars and her famous name guarantees marketing and distribution in the Arab world.

Worldwide fame

Yousra shot to fame in the early 1980s and caught the attention of moviegoers with her performance in Fatat Tabhas Ann Al Hob (A Girl Looking For Love), Ibtisamah Wahidah La-Takkfi (One Smile Isn't Enough) and Shabbab Yarkos Fawk Al Nar (Youths Dancing Over Fire).

She catapulted to worldwide fame after starring in Yousif Shaheen hits Iskandariya Kaman wa Kaman (Alexandria Once More and More) in 1990, 1994's Al Muhajir (The Emigrant), Al Massir (The Destiny) in 1997 and Iskandariya New York in 2006.

She followed these successes with controversial TV series, one each year for Ramadan, two plays and one music album Al Hob Kalam (Love Is Just A Word), released in 2000.

The power of the arts

Yousra is an activist for many humanitarian causes, notably illiteracy, women's rights and the abuse of children. Unesco in Egypt named her its National Goodwill Ambassador on November 8, 2006. She believes that arts have a sublime message and "can be used to tear down roadblocks and pave the way towards progress. The best way to get the message to the illiterate is through music and visual arts."

Hence her roles in cinema and TV address a wide range of social issues including poverty, the status of women and family relationships, drugs and deprived childhoods. In her latest TV series, A Case Of Public Opinion, screened during Ramadan, she focuses on rape, violence and sexual harassment in a society where fear of scandals keeps the victims silent and the offenders free.

I'm proud to be appointed by Unesco as Goodwill Ambassador. I'm so interested in public welfare and always ready to do things for the benefit of the people whose voice, I think, should reach the ears of the authorities by the person they love and trust.

I prefer to take my skin off and avoid being limited to a certain type of role. I've been fortunate to play different types of roles and I'm so glad that the audience has been able to accept me in whatever type of role I play.

Today romance is nearing its end. Life has changed a lot and time is running fast. People may forget love and romance in the rush of everyday life, but I can't. I can't live without romance, although I may experience pain and get a shock.

Adel Imam is my lifetime friend. I've acted with him in 13 films. If he hadn't been convinced of my potential, he wouldn't
have chosen me. Anyway he knows my demands and when he agrees, we'll start anew.

I'm not planning to take part in politics; making a transition from the screen to politics isn't my ambition. I'm not apt for
that, I can easily portray a woman working in politics, but I can't be that woman. I focus on social issues and always talk
to the press about reforming the laws of society and reducing the suffering of the innocent.

Arrogance is a weakness. Some artists think they are superior to the audience and keep away from their fans. I think it's a flaw in one's character. I love and respect the audience; without my fans I'm not a celebrity, I'm nothing.

Yousra has collaborated with legendary comedian Adel Imam and was paired with him in more than a dozen films:
Al Erhab And Kabab (Terrorism and Kabab)
Karakon Fil Sharayh (A Cell in the Street)
Al Mansi (The Forgotten)
Resalah Ila Al Wali (A Message to the Governor)
Omaret Yacobian (Yacobian Building) ruled at the box office at No 1 in the Arab world.