Takla Chamoun
تقلا شمعون فرج الله
Chamoun in 2014
Born (1961-09-12) 12 September 1961
Jouar el-Haouz, Lebanon
Occupation(s)Actress, producer
Years active1991–present
SpouseTony Farjallah

Takla Chamoun Farjallah (Arabic: تقلا شمعون فرج الله; born 12 September 1966) is a Lebanese actress, drama instructor, producer, and the co-founder and CEO of the Lebanese Film Academy.[1][2] Chamoun is highly regarded in the Middle East and the Arab World for her acting and her ability to mold into a character.[3]

Early life and education

Takla Chamoun was born and raised in the mountainous village of Jouar el-Haouz to the east of Beirut.[4][5] Her father Butros was a priest, and her mother a housewife. Chamoun is the middle child of nine siblings, six girls and three boys. She has said that she suffered from Middle child syndrome, and that she had a very close relationship with her mother.[6][7] Her family was displaced twice, and she was almost taken out of school at the age of 15 because of the Lebanese Civil War; Chamoun recounted in a 2021 interview that she dissuaded her father from leaving her without an education.[8]

The reclusive child was fond of journaling and spending the afternoons in the village sports club playing Table Football. It was not until after her participation in an amateur village play that she discovered her flair for acting.[6][7] In the mid-1980s, Chamoun participated in a play organized by the village Christian Youth club to celebrate the beatification of Rafqa Ar-Rayes. The play was directed by George Oryan and attended by a large crowd, among whom was her future husband, Tony Farjallah.[9]

Her father Butros did not stop her from pursuing an acting education and career.[6][7] Chamoun joined the Lebanese University Faculty of Journalism before changing course to join the Faculty of Arts.[9] She graduated with a Diploma in Theatre Acting & Directing[10] from the Lebanese University.[11][12]

Career

Early career difficulties

At the start of her acting career, Takla played experimental theater roles before making her film debut. Her talent was spotted by producer Waleed al-Husseini during the premiere of Khodor Alaa Eddin's play Akh ya Baladna in the Picaddilly Theater in the Hamra district of Beirut.[9] She was cast in the role of the wife of Palestinian caricaturist Nagi al-Ali in the eponymous 1991 movie, with legendary Egyptian actor Nour El-Sherif.[9][13] Chamoun landed roles in the 1996 TV series Akher Mashhad (The last scene), and the controversial 1997 TV series Share' el-Kaslik (Kaslik Street), later renamed Share' al-iyyam (Days Street).[14] Her breakout role was Zalfa the midwife in the Lebanese TV series Men Barsoumi (From Barsoumi) a 2001 14-episode historical miniseries, set in French-mandate Lebanon.[13][15] Following her performance in Men Barsoumi, for which she garnered accolades, the actress continued to make regular appearances in popular films and series.[16][13]

During the early 2000s, Chamoun took roles in poorly produced Lebanese TV series; she also worked in dubbing studios "to make ends meet", as she expressed in a 2007 interview;[16] she also deplored the state of Lebanese theater.[16] Her planned theatrical collaboration with renowned director Chakib Khoury dubbed al-Malja2 (The Shelter) was interrupted by the 2006 Lebanon-Israel conflict.[16]

Later work

Chamoun cofounded the Lebanese Film Academy with her husband Tony Farjallah.[17][10]

Personal life

Takla claims to have had a heavy surgical anesthesia-induced near-death experience during her university graduation year at the age of 23. She recounted hearing the medical staff calling to her to wake up while she had an out-of-body experience. At the time, Takla was preparing her graduation thesis based on Eugène Ionesco's Exit the King. The incident, and Ionesco's work, deeply marked Takla. She began the introduction to her graduation thesis with the quotation "Takla Oumi" Wake up Takla; the same call she heard under anesthesia.[9]

Chamoun is known to have refused to cancel a showing of Shakib Khoury's play Mawani' al-hanin (Harbors of Nostalgia) after she was informed of her mother's death from complications of surgery in 1999.[9]

When Men Barsoumi aired, her future husband Tony Farjallah was infatuated with Chamoun and captivated by her performance; however, the two only met a few years later at Farjallah's cinematography workshop in Beirut. They got married shortly afterwards in the Greek Catholic Church in Sarba.[9]

Chamoun describes herself as a nature lover and spends her free time hiking and rock climbing.[18][6][3][7]

Personal views

Chamoun supports women empowerment in the movie industry in the Middle East;[2] she deplores actress body-shaming, ageism, and actresses' recourse to excessive plastic surgery.[18] The actress also takes pride in not having compromised the quality of her work, and not using feminine sensuality for fame.[2] She supported the Lebanese protests against sectarian rule, endemic corruption and political class ineptitude,[19] she also said that revolution is long overdue.[6][20]

Filmography

Films

Year[21][22] Title[22] English title Role[22] Director
1991 Nagi el-Ali[23] Nagi's wife Atef El-Tayeb
2000 al-Jazira al-muharrama (The forbidden island) Samir al-Ghusainy
2004 Ma`arek hobb In the Battlefields Marwa Danielle Arbid
2007 Un homme perdu A Lost Man Taxi cab lady Danielle Arbid
2009 Gibran[21] _ Mariana Samir Habchi
2010 Rsasa taysheh[24] Stray bullet Georges Hachem
2011 Beirut bel-leyl Beirut Hotel The seer Danielle Arbid
2013 Waynon [21] Void 'Actress' Multiple
Habbet Loulou [21] Faten Abdallah Layal M. Rajha
24 ساعة حب (24 hours of love)[21] Liliane Boustany
2016 Saudade[22] Hanine Doris Saba
2018 Morine - alqiddisa al mutanakkira[25] Morine Rohel Tony Farjallah
2019 Yerbo b`ezkon [21][26] C Section David Oryan

Television

Year Title English title Role[22] Director
1995 Rabih al-hob (The spring of love) Milad al-Hachem
1996 Akher Mashhad (The last scene)
Shabab a banat (Boys and girls) Bassem Nasr
Awraq El Zaman El Murr Nabila Najdat Esmail Anzur
1997 Share' el-Kaslik (Kaslik Street)[21] Randa Najdat Esmail Anzur
1997 Mada al-omor (For a lifetime) Georges Ghayyad
1999 Rumh an-Nar (The spear of fire) Najdat Esmail Anzur
2001 Men Barsoumi (From Barsoumi)[21] Elie Adabashi
2007 Maleh ya Baher (Oh salty sea)[21] Sonia Liliane Boustany
Laylat al-qarar (Decision night) Charbel Kamel
2008 at-Ta'er al-maksour (The broken bird)[21] Gigi Milad Abi Raad
2009 al-Burj 13 (Tower 13)[21] Souad Caroline Milan
Iza el-ard mdawra (If the earth is round) Elie Adabashi
Li annahu al-hob (Because it's love) Elie Feghali
2010 Dahaya al-Madi (Victims of the past) Tony Farjallah
2011 Casanova[21] Laudy Philippe Asmar
al-Jami`a (The university) Dr. Layla Amr Kora
Hia wa hia _ Liliane Boustany
Scenario[27] The Hayena Elie F. Habib
2012 Ruby[21] _ Alia Rami Hanna
Murahiqoon (Adolescents) Saifeddin al-Subeihi
2013 Juthur (Roots)[21] Raja' Philippe Asmar
Sana`udu ba`s qalil _ Al Laith Hajo
2014 `Ashrat `abid szghar[21] And Then There Were None adaptation Laura Elie F. Habib
Ittiham (accusation) Layla Philippe Asmar
Makan fi al-qasr (A place in the mansion) Rima Adel Adib
2014–2015 24 Qirat[21] 24 Carats Jihane Al Laith Hajo
2016 Jarimat shaghaf (A crime of passion)[21] Mona Walid Nassif
2016 Sarkhat ruh (A soul's cry) - season 4 Huda / Sahar Samih Hussein
2017 Fakhamat as-Shakk (The luxury of Doubt)[21] Aida Ussama Shehab al-Hamad
2018 Karma Rodney El Haddad
Sakat al-waraq (The papers fell silent)[21] Yasmin Farah Nadim Mhanna
Julia[21] Diana Elie F. Habib
Thawrat al-fallahin[21] Peasants' Rebellion Narjis Philippe Asmar
2019–2021 Arous Beirut[21] Bride of Beirut Layla Daher Fikret Kadioglu

Emre Kabakusak

2021 As-Sununu (The swallow)[21] Khayri Beshara
Az-Ziara[28] The Visit Claire Adolfo Martinez Perez
al-Bari'a The innocent Fadia Rami Hanna

Theater

Year Title Role Director
1990? Akh ya balanda[9] Khodor Alaa Eddin
1997 Shay' ma yushbihu al-hobb (Something like love)[29]
1999 Mawani' al-hanin (Harbors of Nostalgia) [30] Shakib Khoury
2008 `Awdat al-finiq (The return of the Phoenix)[31] Marwan Rahbani
2009 Akher ayyam[32] Colette Mattar Marwan Rahbani
2016 al-Fares The hostess Marwan Rahbani
2020 Love & Light (orchestral theatrical concert)[33] Diana Harout Fazlian

As producer

  • Morine (2019)

Honors and awards

References

  1. ↑ "Takla Chamoun". www.listal.com. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Najjar 2022.
  3. 1 2 Al Ain News staff 2021.
  4. ↑ Chamoun 2021, 26:39.
  5. ↑ ""تقلا شمعون": "والدي كان كاهنًا قاسيًا"" (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Al Aan TV 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Chamoun 2021.
  8. ↑ Chamoun & Bsaibes 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Chamoun 2022.
  10. 1 2 "LFA". www.lebanesefilmacademy.com. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  11. ↑ Ticketing Boxoffice 2020.
  12. ↑ Arab Culture Club 1993.
  13. 1 2 3 elCinema 2016.
  14. ↑ Njeim 2020.
  15. ↑ Adabashi 2001.
  16. 1 2 3 4 al-Hakim 2007.
  17. ↑ "Takla Chamoun". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  18. 1 2 "تقلا شمعون: لا أملك رفاهية الوقت". اندبندنت عربية (in Arabic). 2019-08-11. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  19. ↑ "خاص وبالفيديو- تقلا شمعون تكشف عن رأيها بثورة 17 تشرين وماذا قالت عن وفاة زملائها بـ كورونا؟". Elfann News (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  20. ↑ Chamoun 2021, 8:45.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Manhom editorial staff 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 IMDb 2022b.
  23. ↑ el-Zubaidy 2006, p. 129.
  24. ↑ Agenda Culturel 2011.
  25. ↑ Khalaf 2018.
  26. ↑ Khalaf 2021.
  27. ↑ Habib 2011.
  28. ↑ Martinez Perez 2021.
  29. ↑ Farabi publishers 1997.
  30. ↑ Bin Hamza 2011.
  31. ↑ Rahbani 2008.
  32. ↑ Rahbani 2009.
  33. ↑ Agenda Culturel 2020.
  34. ↑ Fakhry 2022.
  35. ↑ Chamoun 2021, 4:30.
  36. ↑ Barakat 2021.
  37. 1 2 IMDb 2022.

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