Ninotchka Lebleba, born in 1946, was the youngest of four children, with two brothers and a sister. Her birth name, Ninotchka, was inspired by the 1939 movie of the same name. Interestingly, her mother, Zarouhi Kalfaian, had initially wanted to name her first daughter Ninotchka, but due to a family tradition, named her Perouz instead. When Lebleba was born, her mother decided to name her Ninotchka, following the same tradition.
From a very young age, Lebleba was accompanied by her parents to various events, including an amateur gala at the Auberge Des Pyramides, where she first performed on stage at the age of 5. Impressed by her talent, the jury awarded her the first prize, despite the other competitors being adults. This early recognition led to her being approached by Cinema Director Niazi Mustafa, who offered her a role in his film. She was subsequently renamed Lebleba, which means "quick and intelligent" in the word "Labib".
Lebleba's overnight fame came with her first film, and she went on to become the "sassy little girl" of the Egyptian stage and screen, starring in numerous comedies, stage productions, and films. Her breakthrough in a more dramatic role came when director Atef Al-Tayeb offered her the leading role in his film "Leyla Sakhena" or "Hot Nights", which won 28 international awards, including seven that she herself won, including one in Cape Town, South Africa in 1997.
Lebleba's talent was further recognized by international award-winning director Youssef Chahine, who offered her important roles in his films "Al-Akhar" or "The Other" and "Alexandria New York". She also acted alongside international actor Omar Sherif and Egyptian superstar Adel Imam in "Hassan & Morcos". Throughout her long and illustrious career, Lebleba has acted in a total of 77 feature films, six of which were as a child actress. Her continued acting in major Egyptian film productions has cemented her unique position in the Egyptian motion picture and theater history.
