Istiqlal Ahmad (), is a Bahraini actress and media personality of Iraqi origin. She was born and raised in Kuwait, but moved to Bahrain following her marriage and stayed there since.
Biography Ahmad was born a few months after Kuwait gained its independence, the source of her first name (from the Arabic word for “independence”). Her brother is the actor Kazem Al-Zamil. She was interested in the arts from an early age, participating actively in school theatre productions. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the local Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, majoring in theatre, literature, and criticism.
Performing career Ahmad’s first public role was a 1975 teleplay entitled منى (“Mona”), which she starred in at the age of fourteen. However, her breakthrough role was in Darb al-Zalaq, a seminal 1977 satire in which she co-starred with Abdulhussain Abdulredha. This began a string of high-profile roles continuing through the 1988 serial الرجال لعبتهم النقود (“The Men Have Placed Their Bets”), her last role before she left for Bahrain.
Marriage and retirement After marrying a Bahraini broadcaster, she left for Bahrain and retired from acting. They had five children, including two sons and three daughters. She continued participating in media, however, and is a broadcaster and published poet.
In 1992, she began co-hosting "صباح الخير يا بحرين" (“Good Morning Bahrain”) with Aisha Abdul Latif. The show had a national reach, and Ahmad would remain an anchor there, save for a short withdrawal in 2012.
Career Television + Filmography Year Series or Teleplay 1975 منى (“Mona”), teleplay 1975 الوريث (“The Heir”) 1975 وذاب الجليد (“And the Ice Melted”), teleplay 1975 نورة (“Norah”) 1977 والدي العزيز (“My Dear Father”) 1977 الشمس فوق البطاح (“The Sun Shines on Filth”), teleplay 1977 Darb al-Zalaq 1977 دنيا المهابيل (“Dunya Al-Makhil”) 1977 ابن العطار (“Ibn Al-Attar”) 1977 إجازة أم (“Mother’s Leave”), teleplay 1978 Third Floor 1978 في منتصف الليل (“At Midnight”) 1978 بنت البادية (“Badia Girl”) 1979 الحظ والملايين (“Luck and Millions”) 1979 وعندما تحترق الشموع (“And When the Candles Burn”), teleplay 1980 Salamtak, special 1982 النساء لعبتهن الألوان (“Women Have Played Colors”) 1983 Khalti Gmasha 1983 غدا تبدأ الحياة (“Life Begins Tomorrow”) 1983 ألبوم صور (“Photo Album”) 1985 حكاية خلف الجدران (“Story Behind the Walls”) 1988 الرجال لعبتهم النقود (“The Men Have Placed Their Bets”) 2019 Ana Andi Nuss
Theatre + Acting career Year Play Dramatist 1976 The Victim of Prosperity Saad Al Faraj and Abdulhussain Abdulredha 1976 عالم غريب غريب غريب (“Strange, Strange World”) Tariq Abdul Latif 1978 Sinbad the Sailor Mahfouz Abdel Rahman 1978 Groom to the Sultan’s Daughter Mahfouz Abdel Rahman 1983 توم وجيري عفوا جسوم ومشيري (“Yassim and Mishar Pardon Tom and Jerry”) Fahd Al-Sultan 1983 أفراح والشجعان الثلاثة (“Afrah and the Three Heroes”) Khalifa Al-Rabiah 1983 Fursan Al Manakh Abdulhussain Abdulredha 1984 فرحة الأمة (“The Nation’s Joy”) Abdulhussain Abdulredha 1984 الشاطر حسن (“Good Boy”) El-Sayed Hafez and Mohamed Gaber 1985 Ali Baba’s Trial El-Sayed Hafez and Mohamed Gaber 1985 حديث الديرة (“Hadith Deira”) 1987 Antarah ibn Shaddad El-Sayed Hafez and Sami Al-Faraj 1987 برشامة (“Rivet”) Abdelaziz El Moslem
Radio + Broadcasting career Year Show 1992—Present صباح الخير يا بحرين (“Good Morning, Bahrain”) 2008 الجيران (“Neighbors”)
Film + Filmography Year Film 1982 القرار (“Decision”)
Awards She won the 2008 Best Actress in a Radio Drama award in Cairo for her role in الجيران.
External links El Cinema page
References