On November 16, we celebrate the birthday of the late actress and producer Marie Queni (1913 – 2003), one of the most influential pioneers of cinema in Egypt and the Arab world 🎬🌟.

Born in Tanourine, Lebanon to an agricultural family, she moved to Egypt with her mother and sister "Hind" after her father’s death, to live with her aunt, the actress and producer Asia Dagger, and her uncle, journalist Asaad Dagger 🏡🇱🇧➡️🇪🇬.

She entered the world of cinema in 1929 with the film "Ghaddat Al-Sahra", recommended by director Wedad Arfi, appearing alongside her aunt Asia at the age of twelve. She later worked in film editing in 1933 before moving to acting and production with the "Lotus" company, and eventually became independent in 1942 🎥✂️.

On a personal level, Queni met actor Ahmed Galal during the filming of "Wakhz Al-Damir" in 1931. Their relationship developed into marriage in 1940, and they established an independent production company, creating films like "Rabab" (1942) and "Om Al-Saad" (1946) ❤️💍.

Queni was a pioneer in film production, being the first to bring a color lab to the Middle East in 1957, producing numerous successful films including:

• "Prince of Dreams"

• "Return of the Absentee"

• "Son of the Nile"

• "Ismail Yassin in the Animal Garden"

• "Badour"

• "Love Will Return" (1972) – her son Nader Galal’s first film

• "Arzaq Ya Donia" (1982) – her last production 🎬🌈

She also starred in 22 films, most notably:

• "Ghaddat Al-Sahra" (1929)

• "Shajarat Al-Durr" (1935)

• "Wife by Proxy" (1936)

• "Rabab" (1942)

• "Om Al-Saad" (1946)

• "Women Without Men" (1953)

• "Mercy from Heaven" (1958)

Her work earned several awards, including the State Encouragement Prize for "Love from Fire" (1958), a certificate of appreciation at the International India Film Festival for "Son of the Nile", and the Catholic Center for Cinema award for "Badour" (1974) 🏆🌟.

Marie Queni passed away on November 25, 2003, leaving behind a legacy of over 40 years in cinema, remembered as a cornerstone of Egyptian and Arab film 🇪🇬💔.

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