It is a late, sunny January morning at the lavish Villa Belle Époque in the quiet streets of Cairo’s Maadi district. As Egypt’s first boutique hotel, it suitably serves as our fashion headquarters for the day, not to mention its ripeness as an editorial backdrop with its colonial displays garnished with forest-green French window panels, patterned tiles, and white marble-coated steps.
Salma Abu Deif appears in plaid pyjama bottoms and an oversized black and beige tie-dyed shirt – stylish but cozy. “Hi,” she says simply, with sincerity and a smile. As the native Egyptian actress and model makes her way to the designated makeshift makeup corner we have set up, I catch a glimpse of her ‘faith’ tattoo (which she later tells me was inked by a tattoo artist coincidentally named Jesus). We will revisit the topic of faith later because there is much to be said. Interviewing a fellow Egyptian is akin to childhood family friends meeting to ‘spill the tea’ over tea – a feeling that Salma’s down-to-earth demeanour effortlessly creates.
Words by Sandy Aziz. Photographed by Edwin S Freyer.
Styled by Alton Hetariki. Makeup by Diana Harby. Hair by Mina Mounir.
Local production by Mohamed Hamza. MUA assisted by Rana Amr.
Hair Stylist assisted by Fady Maged. Salma appears courtesy of The Society New York.
Special thanks to Rami R.A., UNN Models, Abu Bakr at Egypt Explorer and Abdul Bakr Basyouni.
As befits someone of ancient Egyptian ancestry, Salma is undeniably a paragon of beauty, with almond-shaped eyes, high cheekbones, full lips and a narrow nose. Truth be told, she does not actually require any makeup, but it is inside Villa Belle’s intimate hotel room that Egyptian makeup artist, Diana Harby, begins spraying her makeup brushes in anticipation of lightly enhancing Salma’s already charming characteristics. As she paints, Salma turns to me for her cue.
So, take us back to the beginning, I say. Salma flashes a smirk and launches straight in: “I wanted to be a TV presenter.” Unexpected. But she reassures us that this ambition was short-lived because she hated her one-day shadowing experience at a TV station. “I thought the TV presenter was the one collecting all the information, but then I realized that they are just the anchor that communicates it.” And that was the end of that. There is a quick intermission in our conversation, which features Egyptian Hairstylist Mina Mounir with a large curl brush and blow dryer combo, hairspray fumes, and Salma’s beautiful, natural curls.
Cut to 2014, Salma was studying mass communications at university when a friend approached her about modelling. After giving it a try, she fell in love with it, and two years later, Salma appeared in a music video that sparked the attention of directors. By 2017, she had made her debut film appearance in the critically-acclaimed Egyptian film Sheikh Jackson. That same year, she also starred in two of the biggest Ramadan TV dramas , Halawet El Donia and La Totfe’ Al Shams. Yet, she declares, “I didn’t know I was going to act.” We half-believe it, as there is a spark in her eyes that suggests otherwise.
A quick detour in our conversation reveals that my first-generation immigrant Egyptian parents binge-watched Salma’s aforementioned TV series all the way from Texas. To this, Salma replies, “Send my love to your parents,” as though she knows them personally before asking for their names with care. Naturally, we laugh because it is these authentic exchanges that convey the borderless and boundless nature of Egyptian hospitality. This is where we witness more of Salma’s offscreen side – the one not everyone gets the pleasure of seeing. We learn that not only does she love sleep, travel, and spending time with loved ones, but she also prioritizes protecting her energy. “I hate being on my phone,” she confesses. We both acknowledge how rare this luxury is in the technology-driven world we live in. Slightly tilting her head, Salma pauses before remarking, “I think I am a person who doesn’t filter too much.” She means offline, but we also know she means online too, which, needless to say, is admirable. Cheekily, Salma adds, “[The lack of a filter] comes from my mom.” Most importantly, Salma shares, “I’m just trying to learn acceptance for now – how to accept myself and how to accept others.”
Discover the rest of the interview inside the Egypt Chapter at The Silk Road Issue 12
Purchase your copy here.
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