Van Damme mourns Gedawy: She will always live in my memory with her lovely spirit

CAIRO – 6 July 2020: Famed International actor Jean-Claude Van Damme mourned veteran Egyptian actress Ragaa el-Gedawy on his official Instagram account, posting a photo of them together.

"I am in a shock! It is very sad to read that legendary Egyptian actress Ragaa el-Gedawy has passed away after a brave battle against coronavirus. I met her a few months ago; she was so full of life, cheerful and majestic. I can’t believe she is gone, but she will always live in my memory with her lovely spirit and beautiful laughs. May Allah bless her soul. Love,” Van Damme captioned his photo with the late great Egyptian actress. 

Gedawy passed away at 82 from COVID-19 complications on July 5. She tested positive for coronavirus on May 24. The veteran actress was infected with the novel coronavirus, after she finished shooting her role in “Lebet el Nesian” (The Forgetting Game) series, which was broadcast in Ramadan.

Gedawy's health condition deteriorated and she was transferred to the ICU of Ismailia Hospital where she was receiving her treatment from COVID-19.

Gedwy, who was raised by her aunt the late great actress and belly dancer Tahia Karioka, was born in Ismailia in 1938. She won a modeling competition, and was hired by Greek Egyptian designer Pierre Klofass, to become the first Egyptian model, a career that was dominated at the time by Italians and Greeks. 

She represented Egypt in many fashion shows abroad, and entered the artistic field from the modeling gate.

In 1959, she won "The Cotton Beauty Pageant" and the award was a role in the famous Egyptian movie "Do’aa el-Karawan" (The Call of the Nightingale) and that was her debut role in cinema.

The late heartthrob has a vast repertoire of movies, series and plays under her belt. Gedawy participated with Adel Emam in two of his most successful plays "El-Wad Sayed El-Shaghal" (Sayed the Servant), and "El-Zaiim" (The Leader).

Her cinematic repertoire includes a number of movies such as "Banat el-Am" (The Cousins), "Ana Mesh Ma’ahom" (I am Not with Them), "Bobos", "Taymour w Shafika", "Sahar el-Layali" (Sleepless Nights), and "Karkar".

Gedawy was married to late football coach Hassan Mokhtar, and has one daughter named Amira and one granddaughter named Rawda.

Although she was well known for performing the role of the aristocratic mother and rich lady, Gedawy also brilliantly performed the role of the poor and humble woman in "Le'bet el-Nesian" (The Forgetting game) series which was broadcast in Ramadan 2020.

Gedawy's sense of humour allowed her to play comic roles in numerous movies and series such as "Bobos", "Taymour w Shafika" and "Tamer w Shawkia".

Gedawy was loved by all her fans and colleagues, who all confirm that she was even more elegant, kinder and classier in real life than on the screen.