The actor Mohamed Riyadh posted a heartfelt obituary on his official Facebook page for the great actress Samihah Ayoub, who passed away this morning at the age of 93. He wrote:
“God’s permanence and eternity, we have lost the lady of Arab theater, the compassionate mother and the great professor who respected her art and earned the love and appreciation of everyone in the Arab world. Please pray for her mercy and forgiveness.”

A Long and Distinguished Artistic Career
Samihah Ayoub was born in the Shubra district of Cairo and graduated from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in 1953, where she studied under the supervision of the theater artist Zaki Tulaimat, who had a great influence on her artistic career. Over her years of work, she presented many successful plays, TV roles, and films that made her an icon in the world of art.

Her Marriage Story with Writer and Critic Saad Eddin Wahba
In her memoirs published by the Egyptian General Book Organization, Samihah Ayoub revealed details about her marriage to the great writer Saad Eddin Wahba. She said she met him while working together on the play “Al-Sabnasa,” where he admired her performance on stage, despite her previous separation from the actor Mahmoud Morsi.

After the show, the director invited Saad Eddin Wahba to dinner in Al-Hussein, and then he suddenly proposed to her while they were going to buy the “Al-Gomhuria” newspaper that talked about the success of the play. Despite her initial hesitation and fear of remarriage, his insistence and seriousness convinced her to agree.

Overcoming Difficulties and Focusing on Artistic Work
Her mother initially opposed the idea, fearing rumors that might harm her reputation due to her previous separation. But she decided to challenge everyone and told Saad Eddin Wahba she agreed to marry him suddenly, saying: “Come now to marry you.”

After marriage, the couple agreed not to have children, as each had children from previous marriages, and they devoted their lives to artistic work, presenting together some of the most important plays such as “Mosquito Bridge,” “Under the Stairs,” “Nightmares Behind the Scenes,” and “The Nails.”

Samihah Ayoub expressed her great love for Saad Eddin Wahba, describing him as the greatest man she had ever met and praising the long companionship they shared.