Darine Hamze is a renowned Lebanese actress, celebrated in the Middle East for her versatility and courage in taking on complex, daring, and diverse roles in cinema. Born during the Lebanese Civil War, she was sent to a private boarding school in London, where she developed a strong educational foundation in art and media practice from the University of Westminster, and a BA in Drama from the Institute of Fine Arts at the Lebanese University.
As one of the most talented professionals of her generation, Darine has faced controversy and harsh criticism from some quarters, but has always responded with calm professionalism. She is an advocate for women's rights and freedom of speech, and has been credited as one of the best Arab actresses for her ability to take on challenging roles in different dialects and languages.
Darine's film career began in 2009 with the acclaimed Iranian feature film "The Book of Law," where she studied Persian dialect and co-starred with legendary Iranian actor Parviz Parastui. The film sparked controversy for its critique of incorrect Islamic practices, but was later accepted as a smart, self-critical, and romantic comedy.
She has since appeared in a range of films and TV series, including the French-Lebanese film "Beirut Hotel," which was banned in Lebanon due to its political subtext and explicit scenes. Darine took on the role of a wild, romantic singer who falls in love with a French spy, and her voice became a hit on the film's soundtrack. However, the film was met with criticism from some Arab societies and was banned by a local Islamic television channel.
In response to the controversy, Darine stated that she is a professional actress who has the right to play any character, regardless of whether certain ideologies accept them or not. She emphasized that cinema is a reflection of real life and a mirror of society, and that it is part of her job to bring all sorts of characters to life.
Darine's next notable role was in the German-Lebanese film "Halal Love (and sex)," which premiered at the Sundance and Hamptons film festivals and was nominated for a Golden Globe. She played the role of a Muslim divorced woman trying to navigate her love life and desires without breaking any religious rules.
In her acceptance speech for the film at the Fukuoka International Film Festival, Darine stated that she looks for roles that challenge her psychologically and mentally, and that she hopes to bring a voice to those who are often silenced. She believes that film can help bring people together and wake up society's humanity.
Darine continues to take on challenging, politically unaccepted, and out-of-the-box roles in the region, including her latest film "NUTS," where she plays a Lebanese poker addict rebel who dives into the risky underground world of gambling in Lebanon.
