Egyptian Actress Somaya Al-Alfy Dies at 72 After a Long Battle With Illness

Acclaimed Egyptian actress Somaya Al-Alfy passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 72 after a long battle with illness. Her last public appearance was behind the scenes of the film Safah El Tagamoa, where she showed her support for her son Ahmed El Fishawy, who stars in the film.

Somaya Al-Alfy was born on July 23, 1953, in Sharqia Governorate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Arts, majoring in Sociology, before embarking on her artistic career through the television series Afwah wa Aranib (1978). This marked the beginning of a demanding journey that eventually led her to the height of fame.

Al-Alfy excelled in portraying a wide range of characters, seamlessly moving between comedy and drama. She appeared in dozens of works that remain etched in the audience’s memory, including Ali Bey Mazhar and the 40 Thieves (1985), Layali El Helmeya (TV series), Bawabet El Halawany (four parts), El Raya El Beida (1988), and Blood After Midnight (1995).

She was married to actor Farouk El Fishawy, with whom she had two sons: actor Ahmed El Fishawy and Omar El Fishawy.

Throughout her career, Al-Alfy appeared in more than 100 works across cinema, theater, and television. She was distinguished by her remarkable ability to transition effortlessly between comedic and tragic roles and also starred in successful Ramadan series such as El Attar and the Seven Daughters (2002) and Layali El Helmeya.