EMAN SAMIR ALI

Egypt — Young Maryam Safwat, a first-year student at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut National University, has managed to carve a distinctive path that combines academic excellence and passion for art, becoming a model for young women who succeed in achieving their ambitions despite societal and academic challenges.

Maryam Safwat's journey with theatre began in her early childhood years through school activities, where she participated in plays, poetry recitations, and speeches. Her talent quickly caught attention, especially after receiving support from her family, foremost her mother, who encouraged her to develop her artistic talent.

Her hobby turned into a serious artistic career when she joined the Culture Palace at an early age, after her talent was discovered during a school performance. Since then, she has participated in numerous theatrical works that qualified her to win several awards, the most recent of which was winning first place in the Best Actress award for the play "Night of the Killers" as part of the Theatre Clubs Festival.

Maryam Safwat affirmed that the biggest challenge she faced was balancing university studies with the demands of theatrical work, especially as rehearsals and performances coincided with exam periods. Despite this, she managed to organize her time and continue in both fields, considering that theatre was an additional incentive for academic success rather than an obstacle.

Regarding her experience as a young woman practicing acting in Upper Egyptian society, she explained that she faced some opposing views, but she held firmly to her conviction that art is a meaningful human and cultural message, affirming that women have the right to engage in various artistic and creative activities.

Her participation was not limited to theatre but extended to short films and advertisements. She recently participated in a short film titled "Olive Oil," which is expected to be featured in several international festivals.

She has also received several awards throughout her artistic career, including an award for her participation in the play "Na'ima" as part of the Amateur Theatre Festival, in addition to an award at the National Theatre Festival for her role as "Malika" in the play "Sunset Oasis"—an award she considers a significant turning point in her artistic journey.

Regarding her future ambitions, she affirms that she strives to continue presenting diverse and varied roles and to maintain her passion for theatre despite the pressures of her studies, noting that theatre represents an essential part of her life and identity.

Maryam Safwat concludes by emphasizing the importance of supporting young talent, especially girls, and providing opportunities for them to express their abilities and creativity in various fields, contributing to building a more open society that appreciates the role of women in cultural and artistic life.