Artist Wael Youssef to “Al-Youm”: Between Aramco and cameras… persistence created my dream and broke the restrictions
Saudi artist Wael Youssef revealed the features of His schedule with the directors to ensure his commitment to both paths. He added that the professional challenges did not discourage him from continuing, but rather increased his adherence to his artistic choice, driven by an internal desire for expression and creativity.
Experience of the series “Complex 75”
He touched on his experience in the series “Complex 75”, where he presented the character “Walid”, describing it as a complex character that develops within a long dramatic context that extended to 250 episodes, showcasing the lives of five families living in a luxury residential complex in the city. Riyadh. He pointed out that the work reflects multiple social patterns, which allowed him a wider space to present a gradual performance rich in details.
Regarding the controversy that arose regarding the nature of the character, especially in light of his presentation of a businessman who lives with a wife with a strong personality, Youssef explained that the dramatic work is inseparable from the cultural and social context, stressing that there are constants and values that cannot be transcended, and that his presentation of the character came within this framework, while maintaining a balance between realism and respect for cultural privacy.
He stressed that the actor had the audacity to engage in Diverse experiences are considered an essential element in the development of Saudi drama, stressing the need to move away from stereotypes and present contemporary social topics in an honest presentation, which contributes to creating a state of interaction with the audience and opening broader horizons for cultural discussion.
He added that this boldness does not mean crossing boundaries, but rather presenting realistic characters that carry human dimensions, while being free from the obsession with “people’s words,” to create mature artistic content that reflects the transformations he is witnessing. Society.
An artistic career full of development efforts
Regarding his professional career, Youssef explained that he was keen to develop his tools by enrolling in a number of specialized courses in actor preparation and theatrical and television directing, in addition to studies in film criticism inside and outside the Kingdom. He, in turn, presented training workshops in this field.
He participated in a number of dramatic works, including “Days of Mirage,” “Abjad Hawz,” “Mubta’atat,” and “More Than Khawat” and “Al-Marsa”, in addition to his theatrical presence in prominent works, including the play “Imru’ Al-Qais” produced by the Ministry of Culture, which dealt with the biography of the pre-Islamic poet, as well as his participation in the Riyadh season performances with the artist Nasser Al-Qasabi in the play “Long Live”.
Youssef stressed that talent represents the starting point for any artist, but it is not enough alone, stressing that continuous learning and knowledge constitute the decisive element in refining the artistic experience and giving it depth. And excellence.
He pointed out that the Kingdom’s cultural openness and development in the artistic sector has contributed to creating a more professional environment that allows for attracting diverse international experiences, which enhances opportunities for learning and exchanging experiences, and supports the growth of the Saudi artist at the local and international levels.
The community’s vision of the artist
In the context of social challenges, Youssef pointed out that some families, especially conservative ones, may view acting as an unconventional option, which puts the artist in front of Pressures related to the family’s image and social status. He added that this view may sometimes amount to imposing restrictions on the type of roles or artistic direction, in addition to the prejudices that the artist may be exposed to.
In this context, he cited previous experiences in the artistic community, explaining that some artists were forced to use artistic names instead of their real names, to avoid social sensitivities, as happened with the artist Khaled Sami, stressing that these challenges were and still are part of the journey of many artists, but they did not prevent them from continuing and achieving their presence in the arena.
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