Samia Gamal
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Zeinab Khalil (later to be named Samia Gamal) was a young countryside girl who moved to Cairo in the early 40's. Her first appearance was at the Badeia Masabny's famous nightclub which presented many of today's named stars of dance, cinema and theatre. Badeia recognized Zeinab's potential and handed her over to a very prominent dance teacher of that time named Jacque. Jacque trained Zeinab in the art of ballet, jazz, tap, and modern dance, as well as helped shape and develop her Egyptian Baladi style of dance. This prepared the young Zeinab Khalil for joining the Badeia troupe of dancers as one of the chorus line dancers. She was eventually given front line positions due to her perfect execution of the dance routines and ability to lead the rest of the dancers in rehearsals. She was given the stage name of "Samia Gamal".
During her work in Badeia's club, Samia struck a strong friendship with an up and coming young singer from Lebanon - Farid Al Atrash. Farid was given solo singing parts in the club, and soon became admired for his unique voice and compositions. A love story that still echoes today evolved between Samia and Farid. It was Samia's first and most important love that changed her life completely. Samia continued to dance exclusively in Badeia's club with additional performances at private, very high profile weddings and functions. |
Samia's first acting opportunity was in a film directed by Farid El Gendy. The film was called "Min Fat Adimo" (He who has no past has no Future). However, the film died a terrible death and was a box office flop. It was a political film about a particularly terrible and corrupt member of the parliament. By the time the film was finished, he came to be prime minister. This put Samia out of the film business for a few years until she was given a supporting role in some minor level films.
Dancing was Samia's main love and she searched for the top musicians and composer's to create music for her. She also sought out the top choreographers and costume designers of the time. She started to travel abroad to dance in Lebanon and Syria where she was well received. Her relationship with Farid continued to blossom.
While Samia was pursuing her career, Farid started working in cinema singing and acting. He decided to start producing his own films using Samia as the leading lady. His film "Habib El Omr" (The Love Of My Life) was a huge success and showered the two lovers with an avalanche of good luck.
In time, Samia asked Farid to be married and crown their relationship and love with the honest thing to do. He delivered a bomb that shattered not only her heart, but all her dreams and hopes. Farid, coming from a royal family from the Druz Mountain, told Samia it would be an unforgivable shame to his people if he married a dancer. Deeply affected, she closed her doors and became a recluse. Work offers kept coming, but were met with refusals until she was offered to work as a dancer in a European nightclub. She accepted hoping it would help her forget her tragic memories. She also accepted a film offer for a leading role with a Lebanese singer named Mohamed Mar-ie. He did not make it big in the music business except for one song "La Ya Helow La" (No, my beautiful one, No).
Samia eventually returned to Cairo to work in some of the clubs. She met an American gentleman by the name of Jack King who was a ranch owner. He fell madly in love with her and wanted to marry her and take her back to the United Sates. Jack King converted to Islam and married Samia. Samia traveled to the United States but returned one year later after asking for a divorce.
In 1958, Samia met Roshdy Abaza, an Egyptian film star. He was an extremely attractive man and broke all the hearts of the young women of Egypt by marrying Samia. They lived together happily raising his daughter. When the daughter was married off, Samia retired from the world of artistic performing. Samia made a short come back to the world of dancing and was very well received. A private party was thrown in her honor by the great composer of Mohammed Abdel Wahab, who had previously composed dance pieces especially for her. This artistic come back lasted only for a short period of time when she retired permanently and lived alone until her final day. Samia Gamal died on December 1, 1994, at 70 years of age in Cairo, Egypt.
Marriages
Rushdy Abaza 1958 - 1977 (divorced)
Shepard King 1952 - ? (divorced)
Measurements: 35-25-35 1/2 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Her mother died when she was only eight years old.
Date of birth: 22 February 1922 - Bani Swaif, Egypt
Date of death: 1 December 1994 - Cairo, Egypt. (cancer)
Dancing was Samia's main love and she searched for the top musicians and composer's to create music for her. She also sought out the top choreographers and costume designers of the time. She started to travel abroad to dance in Lebanon and Syria where she was well received. Her relationship with Farid continued to blossom.
While Samia was pursuing her career, Farid started working in cinema singing and acting. He decided to start producing his own films using Samia as the leading lady. His film "Habib El Omr" (The Love Of My Life) was a huge success and showered the two lovers with an avalanche of good luck.
In time, Samia asked Farid to be married and crown their relationship and love with the honest thing to do. He delivered a bomb that shattered not only her heart, but all her dreams and hopes. Farid, coming from a royal family from the Druz Mountain, told Samia it would be an unforgivable shame to his people if he married a dancer. Deeply affected, she closed her doors and became a recluse. Work offers kept coming, but were met with refusals until she was offered to work as a dancer in a European nightclub. She accepted hoping it would help her forget her tragic memories. She also accepted a film offer for a leading role with a Lebanese singer named Mohamed Mar-ie. He did not make it big in the music business except for one song "La Ya Helow La" (No, my beautiful one, No).
Samia eventually returned to Cairo to work in some of the clubs. She met an American gentleman by the name of Jack King who was a ranch owner. He fell madly in love with her and wanted to marry her and take her back to the United Sates. Jack King converted to Islam and married Samia. Samia traveled to the United States but returned one year later after asking for a divorce.
In 1958, Samia met Roshdy Abaza, an Egyptian film star. He was an extremely attractive man and broke all the hearts of the young women of Egypt by marrying Samia. They lived together happily raising his daughter. When the daughter was married off, Samia retired from the world of artistic performing. Samia made a short come back to the world of dancing and was very well received. A private party was thrown in her honor by the great composer of Mohammed Abdel Wahab, who had previously composed dance pieces especially for her. This artistic come back lasted only for a short period of time when she retired permanently and lived alone until her final day. Samia Gamal died on December 1, 1994, at 70 years of age in Cairo, Egypt.
Marriages
Rushdy Abaza 1958 - 1977 (divorced)
Shepard King 1952 - ? (divorced)
Measurements: 35-25-35 1/2 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Her mother died when she was only eight years old.
Date of birth: 22 February 1922 - Bani Swaif, Egypt
Date of death: 1 December 1994 - Cairo, Egypt. (cancer)
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