Menna Fadali: I fear sudden death

Artist Menna Fadali was a guest on a podcast after her absence presented by journalist Yara Ahmed via YouTube, where she spoke frankly about her religious and humanitarian convictions and her relationship with life and art.

Menna stressed that any religious or fateful decision, such as wearing the hijab or retiring, must stem from a true internal conviction, noting that if she made the decision to wear the hijab one day, she might move away from the artistic community and start a different life, and perhaps move to live outside Egypt.

She spoke about her great love for animals, stressing that she sees in them loyalty and compassion that she may not always find in humans, and that caring for them is an essential part of her life, reflecting her human side far from the stereotypical image of the artist.

She also discussed her experience with her mother’s illness, and considered it one of the most difficult periods in her life, after she lived between filming and staying next to her in the hospital out of fear for her. She stressed that her mother represents her whole life, so she is careful not to leave her and spends as much time with her as possible.

Regarding death, Menna said that she does not fear it as it is a written destiny, but she is afraid of sudden death because of the shock it carries, explaining that she is psychologically affected by scenes of funerals and morgues, and she even suffered a nervous breakdown while filming a scene dealing with death.

Menna concluded her speech by emphasizing that these experiences made her closer to her family and more aware of the value of life, as pain, she says, leaves unforgettable lessons no matter how much time passes.