Leila Mourad

Layla Murad, 1947
Layla Murad converting to Islam in 1946

Leila Mourad also Layla Murad or in Arabic: ليلى مراد (12 February 1918 – 21 November 1995), was a famous Egyptian singer and actress who was also nicknamed the 'Cinderella of Egyptian cinema'. Born as Lilian Zaki Mordechai in a Jewish family in Cairo, she was the eldest daughter of Gamila Ibrahim Rushi and Zaki Murad Mordechai. Layla grew up in a musical family. Her father, Zaki Murad, and her brothers, Munir Murad and Ibrahim Murad, were all working in the film and music industry. Layla married three times and gave birth to two children. In 1946 she converted to Islam due to her marriage to Anwar Wagdi, a Muslim.

Life

Education

Growing up in a middle-class family, Layla attended different Catholic schools founded by French missionaries. Due to the luxurious lifestyle of Layla's father, Zaki Murad, and the cuts in the Egyptian cultural sector during the Great Depression, the Murad family had a hard time financially. As a result, Layla had to take on the role of breadwinner in the family and never finished her education.

Marriage

Layla Murad and Anwar Wagdi

Layla married and divorced movie actor and director Anwar Wagdi three times in 1945, 1949 and 1950. After her final divorce from Wagdi in 1953, Layla had a secret marriage with Free Officer Wagih Abaza from 1953 until 1954. During this relationship she gave birth to her first son Ashraf Abaza. Her final marriage was with movie director Fatin 'Abd al-Wahab which lasted from 1954 until 1969 and in which she gave birth to her second son Zaki Fatin 'Abd al-Wahab in 1955.

Career

Music career

At nine years old, Layla started her musical career by recording songs with the help of well-known composer Dawud Husni. In 1932 she filled the Ramsis theater in downtown Cairo for her first solo concert, where reviewers are said to have been amazed by her voice.

Acting career

Her first ever appearance on-screen was as a singer in the film al-Dahaya. Layla was offered a supporting role, but due to disagreements with the director she only appeared in one scene and performed only one song. Although she had a small role, the filmmakers used her voice and pictures for promoting the movie, which shows that she was already a popular figure by this time. Her career accelerated when she starred in a film together with Muhammad Abd al-Wahab. He recognized her vocal talent and convinced director Muhammad Karim to give her a leading role in the film. The filming process was difficult for Layla due to the expectations and behavior of Karim, but the film was received with enthusiasm by the public. After filming Layla received a payment of 350 Egyptian pounds. She wanted to sign a contract for two more films under the same director but he refused to meet Layla's request to receive double the payment: 700 Egyptian pounds.

For her next films Layla started working with Togo Mizrahi, he coached Layla to become one of the most successful actress-singers in the Arab world. Following their first release Laylah Mumtira, they made four films which all had Layla's name in the title. These titles helped Layla become a unique cinematic persona, which continued even when she started working with other filmmakers. The fourth movie she starred in with Mizrahi as director earned her a contract worth of 7000 Egyptian pounds.

Political engagement

After the Egyptian military coup of 1952, Layla showed her support for the Free Officers and during her secret marriage with the Free Officer Wagih Abaza, she increasingly started to lend her voice in order to support the new regime. In addition she starred in movies like al-Hayat al-Hub to show her commitment to Egyptian and Arab politics.

Retirement

Layla retired in 1955 without providing any explanation. However, one of the contributing factors of her retirement was a report which circulated in Arab and Egyptian press accusing her of visiting Israel and sponsoring the Israeli government with a large sum of money. Because of this accusation, her work was banned in Syria. These accusations were later said to be false by the Egyptian government. During the time of these rumors she still remained popular in Egypt. Another factor that contributed to Layla's retirement was the social blow she received upon giving birth to the child of Free Officer Abaza, whom she was secretly married to. Abaza refused to recognize the child as legitimate. A third contributing factor to her retirement was her last movie being a box-office flop.

Movies

Year Title Role Director
1932 El dahaya Singer Bahija Hafez
1938 Yahya el hub Nadia Mohammed Karim
1939 Fi Layla momtera Saniya Hashem Togo Mizrahi
1941 Layla bint al reef Layla Togo Mizrahi
1942 Layla Layla Togo Mizrahi
1942 Layla bint madares Layla Togo Mizrahi
1944 Shuhaddaa al gharam Wafaa Muhamed Abdel gawad and Kamal Selim
1944 Layla fil zalam Layla Togo Mizrahi
1945 Layla bint al foqara'a Laila Darwish Anwar Wagdi
1946 El madi el maghool Nadyah Ahmed Salem
1945 Shadia al wadi Layla Youssef Wahbi
1946 Layla bint el agnia Layla Anwar Wagdi
1947 Dharbat el qadr Layla Youssef Wahbi
1947 Qalbi dalili Layla Anwar Wagdi
1947 Khatem Suleiman Layla Hasan Ramzi
1948 El hawae wa el chabab Misbah Niazi Mostafa
1948 Anbar Anbar Anwar Wagdi
1949 Ghazal el banat Pasha's daughter Layla Anwar Wagdi
1949 El majnuna Layla Helmy Rafla
1950 Shate el-Gharam Layla Henry Barakat
1951 Adam wa Hawwa Fatmah Hussein Sidqi
1951 Habib el-rooh Layla Anwar Wagdi
1952 Sayedat al-Qitar Nadia Youssef Chahine
1952 Min el kalb al kalb Huda Henry Barakat
1953 Bint el akaber Layla Anwar Wagdi
1954 Al hayat... al hub Layla Saifuddin Shawkat
1955 El habib el Maghul Layla Hasan El-Saifi

References

  1. ↑ "Laila Murad".
  2. 1 2 3 Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates, Henry Louis, eds. (2012). Dictionary of African biography. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
  3. 1 2 3 Armbrust, Walter, ed. (2010). Mass mediations: new approaches to popular culture in the Middle East and beyond. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 98. ISBN 978-0-520-21925-0.
  4. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  5. ↑ Shafik, Viola (2007). Popular Egyptian cinema: gender, class, and nation (International version ed.). Cairo, Egypt New York: American University in Cairo Press. pp. 37. ISBN 978-1-61797-010-8.
  6. ↑ Beinin, Joel (1998). The dispersion of Egyptian Jewry: culture, politics, and the formation of a modern diaspora. Contraversions. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-520-21175-9.
  7. ↑ "Navigating societal norms and upheaval: The life of Egyptian star Layla Murad". en.majalla.com. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  8. ↑ Armbrust, Walter (2009). "Long Live Patriarchy: Love in the Time of 'Abd al-Wahhab". History Compass. 7 (1): 276. doi:10.1111/j.1478-0542.2008.00575.x. ISSN 1478-0542.
  9. 1 2 Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. pp. 1, 107. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  10. ↑ Shafik, Viola (2007). Popular Egyptian cinema: gender, class, and nation (International version ed.). Cairo, Egypt New York: American University in Cairo Press. pp. 36-37. ISBN 978-1-61797-010-8.
  11. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. pp. 13, 94–96, 112–113, 118, 165, 172, 174–175, 177, 227–228. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  12. ↑ Yoxall, Collin. "The Life and Times of Layla Murad". addran.tcu.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  13. ↑ Halawa, Ahmed (2021-12-04). "Layla Murad's Life and Career Give Scholar a Lens on Egyptian History". Al-Fanar Media. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  14. ↑ Shafik, Viola (2007). Popular Egyptian cinema: gender, class, and nation (International version ed.). Cairo, Egypt New York: American University in Cairo Press. pp. 20. ISBN 978-1-61797-010-8.
  15. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. pp. 22, 29. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  16. ↑ Shafik, Viola (2007). Popular Egyptian cinema: gender, class, and nation (International version ed.). Cairo, Egypt New York: American University in Cairo Press. pp. 36. ISBN 978-1-61797-010-8.
  17. 1 2 Yoxall, Collin. "The Life and Times of Layla Murad". addran.tcu.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  18. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  19. ↑ Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates, Henry Louis, eds. (2012). Dictionary of African biography. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
  20. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. pp. 13, 94–96, 112–113, 118, 165, 172, 174–175, 177, 227–228. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  21. ↑ Halawa, Ahmed (2021-12-04). "Layla Murad's Life and Career Give Scholar a Lens on Egyptian History". Al-Fanar Media. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  22. ↑ Armbrust, Walter (2009). "Long Live Patriarchy: Love in the Time of 'Abd al-Wahhab". History Compass. 7 (1): 257. doi:10.1111/j.1478-0542.2008.00575.x. ISSN 1478-0542.
  23. 1 2 Danielson, Virginia (1996). "Layla Murād". Middle East Studies Association Bulletin. 30 (1): 143–145. doi:10.1017/S0026318400033897. ISSN 0026-3184.
  24. ↑ Danielson, Virginia (1997). The voice of Egypt: Umm Kulthūm, Arabic song, and Egyptian society in the twentieth century. Chicago studies in ethnomusicology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 67. ISBN 978-0-226-13611-0.
  25. 1 2 Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown Past : Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim Star of Egypt. Stanford university press. pp. 37–38.
  26. 1 2 Beinin, Joel (1998). The dispersion of Egyptian Jewry: culture, politics, and the formation of a modern diaspora. Contraversions. Berkeley Los Angeles London: University of California press. ISBN 978-0-520-21175-9.
  27. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022-04-18). Unknown Past. Stanford University Press. p. 40. doi:10.1515/9781503629783. ISBN 978-1-5036-2978-3.
  28. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022-04-18). Unknown Past. Stanford University Press. p. 45. doi:10.1515/9781503629783. ISBN 978-1-5036-2978-3.
  29. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  30. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022-04-18). Unknown Past. Stanford University Press. p. 53. doi:10.1515/9781503629783. ISBN 978-1-5036-2978-3.
  31. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022-04-18). Unknown Past. Stanford University Press. p. 55. doi:10.1515/9781503629783. ISBN 978-1-5036-2978-3.
  32. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022-04-18). Unknown Past. Stanford University Press. p. 56. doi:10.1515/9781503629783. ISBN 978-1-5036-2978-3.
  33. ↑ Starr, Deborah A. (2020-09-22). Togo Mizrahi and the Making of Egyptian Cinema. University of California Press. p. 130. doi:10.1525/9780520976122. ISBN 978-0-520-97612-2.
  34. ↑ Elsaket, Ifdal (2023). "The Politics of Stardom, Entertainment and Industry: New Studies in Egyptian Cinema History". International Journal of Middle East Studies. 55 (4): 799. doi:10.1017/S0020743823001137. ISSN 0020-7438.
  35. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. pp. 129, 166. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  36. ↑ Shafik, Viola (2007). Popular Egyptian cinema: gender, class, and nation (International version ed.). Cairo, Egypt New York: American University in Cairo Press. pp. 37. ISBN 978-1-61797-010-8.
  37. 1 2 Shafik, Viola (2007). Popular Egyptian Cinema: Gender, Class, and Nation (1 ed.). La Vergne: The American University in Cairo Press. pp. 37. ISBN 978-977-416-053-0.
  38. ↑ Beinin, Joel (1998). The dispersion of Egyptian Jewry: culture, politics, and the formation of a modern diaspora. Contraversions. Berkeley Los Angeles London: University of California press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-520-21175-9.
  39. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. pp. 130, 133, 152. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  40. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. pp. 168, 172. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  41. ↑ Hammad, Hanan (2022). Unknown past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim star of Egypt. Redwood City: Stanford University Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-5036-2942-4.
  42. ↑ "Laila Mourad". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  43. ↑ فيلم - شهداء الغرام - 1944 مشاهدة اونلاين، فيديو، الإعلان، صور، النقد الفني، مواعيد العرض (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-05-12 – via elcinema.com.
  44. ↑ طاقم العمل: فيلم - شادية الوادي - 1947 (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-05-12 – via elcinema.com.
  45. ↑ طاقم العمل: فيلم - الهوى والشباب - 1948 (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-05-12 – via elcinema.com.
  46. ↑ فيلم - من القلب للقلب - 1952 مشاهدة اونلاين، فيديو، الإعلان، صور، النقد الفني، مواعيد العرض (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-05-12 – via elcinema.com.
  47. ↑ فيلم - الحبيب المجهول - 1955 مشاهدة اونلاين، فيديو، الإعلان، صور، النقد الفني، مواعيد العرض (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-05-12 – via elcinema.com.