Darine Hamze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Darine Hamze (Arabic: دارين حمزة) is a Lebanese actress, director and producer. She has been working in film, television and theatre since 2001 in The Middle East and Europe. Hamze won the Best Actress Award in Oran International Film Festival 2017 for her role in film Nuts.[citation needed]
Hamze was born as a second child. Her father was a flight engineer and her mother a painter, in Baalbeck. She was raised in Souk El Gharb, Aley District, Lebanon.[1] She was sent to the United Kingdom (England), between the ages of 8 and 13, to a British boarding school (ISC) in Bath, along with her two brothers.
During her time in England, Hamze discovered Shakespeare's theatre. Evidently, her first appearance on a stage was during this young age in Bath participating in all school plays.
In 1998, Hamze applied and was accepted to the Fine Arts Academy of the Lebanese University, Theatre Department. 2002 was the year of her graduation with a BA in Theatre Arts (acting/directing).
In 2002, Hamze travelled back to London that year to publish her poetry art book "7am Blink" on the web launched 111101 (London, UK) in collaboration with painter/illustrator Rafic Majzoub.
In 2002, Hamze travelled to New York City where she attended film making classes at Columbia University. There she acted in the short student film "The Park" directed by Nadine Khouri.
Her connection with England led her, in 2003, to apply to the British Council's MA scholarships. She was accepted and travelled to London, UK to attend University of Westminster. In 2004, she graduated from the University of Westminster with a Master of Arts (MA) in Arts and Media Practice.[2]
In 2005, Hamze returned to Beirut with her MA from London and directly started giving courses in acting, editing and media arts in a number of International Universities, mainly Université Antonine - UA, American University of Science and Technology - AUST, and Lebanese International University - LIU. She also worked as a director/editor in two cinema critique episodes in the program "Al-Adasa Al-Arabia", for Al-Jazeera TV.[3]
After her MA from London, Hamze is credited for taking on the most challenging daring roles throughout the Middle East. Consistently ranked among the region's highest paid actors in 2016, she is best known for her hit movies "The Book of Law" (2009), "Beirut Hotel" (2011), "Single, Married, Divorced- Yalla A’belkon" (2015), "Halal Love" (2016), and "Nuts" (2017).[4] She has won many local and international acting awards, including Japan's Audience Award in Fukuoka Film Festival 2016 for her starring role in film "Halal Love", and the Best Actress Award from Algeria's Oran International Film Festival 2017 for her starring role in film "NUTS".
In 2016 she founded an entertainment production company, which she currently runs, and has since produced several films, documentaries and ads while continuing to support freedom of speech, youth for arts not war, and help the new generation accept their voices, talents by empowering young girls and to thrive and achieve their full potential.
