Biography

Name: Nahed Sherif (birth name: Samiha Zaki Al-Niyal)
- Born: January 1, 1942 — Cairo, Egypt
- Died: April 7, 1981 — Cairo, Egypt
- Age at death: 39
- Cause of death: complications from cancer

Early Life and Beginnings

• Her talent surfaced early. She entered Egyptian cinema in the late 1950s with small parts, swiftly moving to supporting roles and then to leading roles by the early 1960s.

Career

• A standout star of Egyptian cinema in the 1960s and 1970s, she was known for portraying both bold, modern women and tender romantics with equal ease.
• She appeared in dozens of Egyptian films and took part in several Arab productions shot outside Egypt throughout the 1970s.
• With a strong screen presence and clear dramatic instinct, she became one of the most recognizable faces during the heyday of commercial cinema (i.e., mainstream, box‑office‑oriented films popular with mass audiences).

Key Works

• Wolves Don't Eat Meat (1973) — Dhi'ab La Ta'kul Al-Lahm
• In Search of Trouble — Al-Bahth 'an Al-Mata'eb
• Don't Leave Me Alone — La Tatrukni Wahdi
• The Train of Life Has Passed — Wa Mada Qitar Al-'Umr
• Devilish Husbands — Al-Azwaj Al-Shayatin

Personal Life

• She married more than once and had one daughter.
• She lived abroad for periods due to work on films shot in other Arab capitals.

Illness and Passing

• Diagnosed with cancer in the late 1970s, she continued working for a time despite her illness before her condition worsened. She passed away in spring 1981.

Legacy

• Considered one of the prominent actresses of her generation, she left a notable body of film work. Her early passing added a layer of melancholy and nostalgia to her image among Egyptian cinema audiences.