Egyptian actress Zebeida Tharwat, a symbol of the golden era of Egypt’s cinema, died late Tuesday in a Cairo hospital, state media reported Wednesday. She was 76.

Born in June 1940 in the Egyptian Mediterranean city of Alexandria, Tharwat was famed for her beauty.

As a teenager, she claimed a local beauty contest in her hometown, a win that drew filmmakers’ attention to her.

At 16, she made her debut in the 1956 film “Dalila” starring legendary singers Abdul Halim Hafez and Shadia.

Soon, Tharwat starred in a series of films that earned her the nickname “The cat of the Egyptian cinema” due to her captivating eyes.

A milestone in her career came in 1961 when she co-starred with Hafez in the romantic film “A Day in My Life”—an Egyptian classic. That year also saw her starring along with internationally renowned Egyptian actor Omar Sharif in the political thriller “A Man in Our House”.

Tharwat starred in other well-remembered romances co-starring leading actors of the time, including Rushdy Abaza, Ahmad Ramzy, Yehia Shaheen and Kamal Al Shenawi.

She also teamed up with celebrated singer-actor Farid Al Atrash in the 1973 musical “Love of the Past”.

Her last film was “An Appointment There” released for public showing in 1976.

She was also known as “The queen of romance” because most her roles in the 27 films in which she appeared were romantic.

After a brief retirement, Tharwat made a comeback to in 1985 when she acted in the stage comedy “A Very Happy Family”. She has since stayed away out from the limelight.

Egyptian Minister of Culture Helmy Al Namnam praised Tharwat in a tribute.

“She was able during her short artistic career to etch a name for herself that still has its sparkle in the Egyptian and Arab cinema,” the minister said, according to Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency.

Tharwat is survived by four children. She was to be buried later on Wednesday.

source: GULF NEWS