Carole Samaha to Play the Legendary Sabah

Popular Lebanese singer Carole Samaha is about to start shooting her first big role on the small screen. The TV series El-Shahrora (Songbird) depicts the life of the legendary Lebanese actress and singer Sabah, whose diverse career has spanned over 50 years in film, theater and music. Samaha has already started researching the role by meeting with the now 85-year-old Sabah to discuss the diva’s personal and professional life. The series follows Sabah’s life around the time she came to Egypt at the invitation of the actress-turned-film producer Asia. Trained by composer Riyad El-Sonbati, Sabah became one of the leading singers and actresses of Egyptian cinema, where she co-starred with giants like Abdel-Halim Hafez and Farid Al-Atrash. Sabah has requested that the makers of the series not portray certain parts of her private life, namely her relationship with her daughter Howeida and her relationship with the heartthrob actor Roshdy Abaza. Written by Fedaa El-Shandawili and directed by Ahmed Shafiq, El-Shahrora, an Egyptian-Lebanese co-production, will hit screens in Ramadan 2011. Although Samaha will play Sabah from age 16 till age 75, Sabah may make a cameo as her self. We would love to have you back, ya Sabooha!