Flair Magazine Fresh off her marvelous performance as the beautiful Sophia in the Ramadan series Eugenie Nights, Ingy El Mokadem is someone we’ve had our eyes on for quite some time. She is also known for her previous successful roles in Al Me’adeya, Underground and 30 Youm. We sat down with Ingy and got the scoop on the star’s personal and professional life.
Tell us about Ingy as a person.
I’m a mother of two – a boy and a girl. I’m a wife. I’m a very lazy person in general. I like sleep, food and travel. I love the simple life. I actually like staying home and watching movies and maybe sometimes cook, when I’m in the mood. I’m also very spontaneous. I enjoy good company and a sense of humor.
Given your long experience as an actress, how would you say you’ve developed over time?
I’ve developed a lot. At the beginning, I loved acting but I was very uninhibited in my acting. After ten years in the industry, I definitely learned more techniques and gained more control over my acting, for example, to make a scene come out looking a very specific way. At least, this is what I strive to achieve.
After your hit role in Eugenie Nights, how do you plan to maintain that level of success?
Right now, I don’t have a plan. I’m scared of taking the next step because I have to plan it well and I don’t want to lose what I achieved this year by making the wrong move. I know that my focus will be on picking the right producer, the right role and the right script.
Who is the one director or scriptwriter you wish to collaborate with?
I have a few names I’ve had my eye on. I’m thankful to have already worked with two of them – Hany Khalifa and Mohamed Shaker. In the future, I want to work with Tamer Mohsen, Mohamed Yassin and Kamla Abu Zekri. Of course there’s more but these are the names that come to mind right now.
Is there are an actress you aspire to be like?
Meryl Streep. She’s my idol.
Which character you’ve played has meant the most to you?
Of course, Sophia. I loved her character from the very beginning. I really wanted her to look the way the writers saw her because they wrote her perfectly. Hany Khalifa (the director) was worried about the way Sophia would turn out because she’s Italian but I did my homework and he gave me a list of movies to watch and be inspired by. I studied the character and I learned the Italian lines in my scenes well, and I hope I did it justice.
What’s best and worst thing about being an actress?
The best thing is to create the character and bring it to life by delivering everything you studied including the emotions and personality of your character. I love people’s comments that show that they really know my character and notice all her little details, because they confirm to me that I performed her well. This is my favorite part. The worst thing for me is the waiting phase and the searching process for a good role in a good project.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future as an actress?
Firstly, I want to sustain the level of success that came with Sophia’s role. I want more roles that challenge me. I want to make important, inspiring films.
What are you known as among your close friends and family?
They know that I’m very spontaneous and the fact I wear my heart on a sleeve. Whatever’s in my heart, I say it. I don’t hide things or pretend. On a personal level, that’s a good thing but when it comes to work, you should be collected – which honestly is something I don’t live by anyway.
By Sarah Guirguis
