Moroccan singer Samira Said has for the fifth time turned an offer she had received to star in a film, saying that she will not jeopardize her singing career by involving herself in acting. Egyptian production official Mamdooh Al Laithi had previously announced that the Egyptian production company is currently trying to produce a number of new films that hold musical themes with the hope of having major singers from the Arab world take major roles in.
According to the UAE based daily, Al Bayan, Mahmood had revealed that on top of the singers list was Samira, who was strongly nominated for a leading role in one of the films. But to his disappointment the singer had apologized for not being able to accept the role saying that she is currently wrapped up with her musical career that she does not want to involve herself in anything else as to not loose hold.
Samira admitted that she fears the idea of acting saying she is a singer and lacks the talent of acting. She added that she is not willing to take on a new challenge that she knows she will fail in, in turn hurting her successful career path.
The singer revealed that she is currently placing the final touches on her upcoming album along with preparing for a duet with famous international French singer Charles Aznavour. Samira is hopeful that her agreement with Charles will repeat a similar success to the one she received from her duet with Cheb Mami
Samira Said received an award from the BBC International Music Award after the huge success of her last album "Youm Wara Youm" (Day After Day) found in the Arab world and around Europe. After receiving the award, the singer was scheduled to hold a performance but apologized saying that she would not feel right singing while Iraq is being attacked and its people are dying in masses everyday and the country has turned into a complete wreck.
Samira gave a speech at the ceremony in which she expressed her gratitude to the committee that nominated her for the award and despite the joy and pride she felt, sadness over the Iraqi people clouded over her making it hard for her to sing or be a part of any form of entertainment. She ended by thanking the committee and asked that they forgive her for not being able to perform and hoped that they understood her position.
She and the Algerian Rai singer Cheb Mami collaborated for the first time in the duet "Yaom Wara Yaom" which was released in Europe and the US in addition to the Arab world. Although Samira was scheduled to sing the song alone for her album, she decided it would be more suitable to be sung as a duet. The duet was shot in Cairo and directed by Sherif Sabri, who brought an English dancing trainer who worked with the Spice Girls troupe to teach them a few chorography steps.
Born and raised in Rabat, Morocco, Said now lives her life between Egypt, Morocco and the US. She began singing at an early age in the TV program Mawaheb (Talents), dedicated to children's talents. But it wasn't until "Alemnah Al Hob" (Teach Us Love), in 1983, that the doors of fame had opened for her. – Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
