Aida Riad

Biography

• Name: Aida Riad
• Profession: Egyptian actress; former folkloric show dancer
• Date of Birth: 23 January 1954
• Place of Birth: Cairo, Egypt
• Nationality: Egyptian
• Years Active: Early 1970s to present

Personal Details

• Training: Received early artistic training as a revue/folkloric dancer within the Reda Troupe (Egypt’s pioneering national folkloric dance company).

Career

• Began her career as a dancer in the Reda Troupe and quickly became one of its notable faces in popular folkloric performances.
• Transitioned to acting in cinema, theater, and television from the mid-1970s onward.
• In the 1980s, she became known for playing the “sha'abi” girl (a character from working-class neighborhoods), dancer roles, and light comedy, before moving on to more mature dramatic and socially themed characters—especially in television dramas.
• Distinguished by a direct stage presence and strong physical expressiveness rooted in her dance background, which enriched her character portrayals.

Selected Works

• Al-Kit Kat
• Playing with Adults (Al-La'b ma' al-Kibar)
• Insufficient Evidence (Li 'Adam Kifayat al-Adilla)
• Execution of a High School Student (I'adam Talib Thanawi)
• TV series: Layali al-Helmiya (Al-Layali al-Hilmiyya)
• TV series: The Family of Al-Hajj Metwally (A'ilet al-Hajj Metwally)

Additional Information

• Joining the Reda Troupe at a young age was her gateway into the performing arts and, later, into acting.
• She has performed in dozens of roles across film and television.