Dorra Zarrouk

"I’ve always taken an interest in theatre. Taking part in school plays was a passion that continued to grow in me and made me realise how strongly I felt about acting. Growing up, my mother used to take me to see plays all the time and I remember telling myself that I was going to do this one day. In fact, I actually started my acting career in theatre."

"At first it was very difficult to gain their support. My parents were very concerned about me entering this industry, especially my father, and they were quite skeptical about me succeeding. This was one of the main motivating factors in pursuing this career path, because it became a challenge for me to prove to them that I was capable of doing it. They were eventually extremely supportive and were truly my biggest fans"

"Law was my father’s dream. I never really saw myself practicing it because I knew what I wanted to do. He was a lawyer himself so I felt like I could at least give it a try."

"I believe very short films represent the future of cinema. Digital platforms have propelled this genre forward, matching the fast-paced nature of today’s world. While they won’t replace feature-length films, they offer a refreshing addition that brings diversity and a new dimension to the industry."

"The Palestinian cause is one of the most urgent humanitarian issues globally. With my background in political science, I feel a deep connection to the plight of Palestinian refugees. It was important for me to create a film that represents their struggles in an honest and compassionate light."

"The role was challenging because it required me to portray a character undergoing significant internal conflict. It’s about a person torn between societal expectations and personal desires, caught in a whirlwind of love, friendship, and sacrifice. This character’s inner turmoil mirrors the external challenges they face, and I hope this depth resonates with the audience."

"After that, I came here to Egypt, but told them I’d just try and get one role, not that I was planning to stay here. Then I did my first movie and I told them that I had another proposal for another one."

"If you never take risks, you will never have an interesting life. To have a successful career, you should take risks – but, yes, it wasn’t an easy decision."

"It was a difficult decision to make, but I was young and I had big dreams, so I followed them. I did well in Tunis, but my acting wasn’t really being seen in other countries."

"Egypt is where I needed to be as an Arabic actress."