They say: You are what you manifest. If you believe you’re gonna reach the stars one day, then you’re already watching them over the moon! Caroline Azmy grew up to study law, but she knew in her heart she’d become an actress. And today she’s the star of the Ramadan hit Fahd El Batal. In an exclusive interview with ELLE Egypt, Caroline Azmy opens up about her beginnings, love life, and the success of her breakout role in Fahd El Batal.
THE BEGINNING AND SALMA EL ATTAR
Sometimes, against all odds, the universe conspires in your favor. What feels impossible becomes reality through life’s magic. “I used to act in front of the mirror as a child,” Azmy recalls. “My family wanted me to study law, but I always saw myself under the camera’s spotlight.”
After two failed attempts, Azmy finally enrolled in the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts. “People thought I was delusional about acting. They didn’t believe it until they saw me on stage.” Her first drama role came as a complete surprise. “When the casting call for El Ab El Rohy went out, I applied knowing my chances were slim.” But fate had other plans. Out of hundreds of applicants, Mahmoud Hemida selected her for the role of Salma El Attar. As a newcomer, Azmy gave it her all, and it was clear that she owned the role. Starring alongside Mahmoud Hemida and Sawsan Badr, Azmy reflects, “It felt like a fever dream—standing before the camera, Hemida, and Badr for the first time.”
THE BEST CAREER ADVICE
Sometimes, you get lucky enough to be mentored by someone like Mahmoud Hemida. “I remember walking onto the set of El Ab El Rohy one day, crying over a personal issue,” Azmy recalls. “Hemida noticed and came right to me. He told me, ‘If you find out that a family member has passed away just before you walk onto the set, leave it behind. You’re not Caroline here.’ That moment changed everything for me. From then on, when I step onto set, Caroline is a distant memory.”
When asked who she’s learned the most from in the industry, Azmy didn’t hesitate. “Sawsan Badr. She taught me how to commit and give my all to this job– so that when I grow old and grey, my children to watch every scene of mine on screen with pride and joy.”
THE ACTRESS AND CAROLINE
When you spend so much time becoming someone you’re not, it’s easy to lose sight of who you really are. So, what happens when you finish playing a character who’s consumed you for months? “I have to travel,” Azmy says. “The characters I portray take so much of me. To find my way back to Caroline, I need to get away.”
CAROLINE’S FAVORITE ROLE
Actors spend most of their lives wearing costumes that don’t belong to them, names that are not theirs, and living lives they never had. But sometimes, a role feels like it could have been written just for you. “Hagar in Abou El Arousa is, without a doubt, the closest to my heart,” Azmy shares. “It didn’t feel like acting—it was like filming a part of Caroline’s daily life.” Yet, despite this close connection, Azmy is eager to play roles that are far from her real-life persona. “I want to play a psycho!” she laughs.
BIOGRAPHIES
Azmy doesn’t believe in biographical dramas. Meaning no offense to any colleague who once starred in a biographical drama, in her opinion, they often come across as awkward and don’t resonate well with audiences. “If I were offered a biographical role,” she admits, “I’d probably turn it down.”
BLENDING IN THE ROLE
Acting is, in many ways, about deception: pretending to be someone else and convincing others it’s real. But can you fake an emotion so convincingly that it feels authentic? “I always imagine that what’s happening to my character is actually happening to me,” Azmy explains. “If my character is crying over the death of her brother, I’ll think about how I would feel if my real brother passed away. It’s painful, but it helps bring the character to life.”
THE FIRST LOVE
After spending so much time talking about Caroline on screen, it felt only right to dig deeper—into the woman behind the actress. We turned the conversation to something more personal: love. The late Ehsan Abd El Qudoos once said, “In everyone’s life, there’s a huge illusion we call ‘First Love’. Your true first love is your last.” Azmy couldn’t agree more. “The first love is just a memory. The one you can truly call your first love is your last, because it’s the purest and most real.”
Caroline Azmy is not only a talented actress but also a beautiful soul. From Salma El Attar to Rawya Mahmoud, we’re eagerly anticipating her next captivating performance on screen.
Photoshoot Team Credits:
Creative Director & Stylist :
@_mayaneheshamm11
Photographer : @_ahmedradi_
Dressed in: @chl_maisonleon
Mua : @makeupbysalmasheriff
Hair : @fady.mohsen1
Videographer: @ali_dexter
Accessories: @tinajewelleryofficial
Location :@ramseshilton
