Art & Culture

May El Ghety on Roles, Selfies, and The Craziest Rumour She Heard About Herself

BYYassine Hariss

October 30, 2025

Across 10-days— between Oct. 15 – 25— writers, directors, producers, and actors from all over the Arab World flocked to Egypt to attend the eighth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival, one of the region’s most esteemed gatherings of cinema. The most exciting part of film festivals? For us at least, those chance encounters with people you’re used to seeing only on screen. Call them stars, call them artists, or just people who make culture happen, last week, they all seemed to orbit the same few square meters of red carpets and café terraces.

And while most eyes were fixed on the premieres and screenings, it didn’t take long to realize that if you lingered in Gouna long enough, you were bound to cross paths with someone you’d normally only glimpse through a laptop screen or from the back row of a cinema.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by May Elghety (@mayelghety)

At the festival’s headquarters— AKA the “Plaza”— we ran into 26-year-old actress May El Ghety, who was darting between interviews, hugs, and photo ops. Not wanting to miss the chance to speak with the youngest Egyptian actress to ever have a film compete in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard selection, we pulled the rising star aside for a rapid fire Q&A to get to know one of Egyptian cinema’s brightest young voices a bit better.

Below, a transcript of our quick conversation.

MILLE WORLD: What’s your most actress habit that your friends tease you about?

Mai El Gheity: That even in places where people definitely won’t know me— because I know that they definitely didn’t watch any of my stuff— I still pull my cap down.

How many takes does it usually take you to nail a crying scene?

ME: A crying scene? Usually either from the first or second time, but no more than that, because directors don’t want to drain you out.

What about a laughing scene?

ME: I’ve not been in a position where I’m the one that had to lighten up the moods or, you know, be cracking jokes. I think I’ve been lucky that I’ve worked with really great comedians in the few comedy things I’ve done so they had most of that load on them, and I just support it.

What’s something that instantly lifts your mood?

ME: Cuddling with my dog.

Which role taught you the most about yourself, not just as an actress, but also as a woman?

ME: I’d say Mariam from Ritsa, because I feel like she just gave this sort of unconditioned love, and I felt like, yeah, I can relate to that. I had to question a lot about whether I can be that person or not in real life. And so it raised a lot of questions, and a lot of answers too.

Which do you prefer playing: a romantic lead or a mysterious villain?

ME: To play a mysterious villain, of course.

Who’s the person you know that takes the most selfies on set?

ME: Is there a list of suggestions? Not me. I don’t use my phone at all on set.

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard about yourself?

ME: That I got divorced two months after my wedding… It started on Facebook, which is such a mom place to be.

Lead picture courtesy of Dany Victor (@therealyouisoffline)

May El Ghety on Roles, Selfies, and The Craziest Rumour She Heard About Herself

MILLE WORLD: What’s your most actress habit that your friends tease you about?

How many takes does it usually take you to nail a crying scene?

What about a laughing scene?

What’s something that instantly lifts your mood?

Which role taught you the most about yourself, not just as an actress, but also as a woman?

Which do you prefer playing: a romantic lead or a mysterious villain?

Who’s the person you know that takes the most selfies on set?

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard about yourself?

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

May El Ghety on Roles, Selfies, and The Craziest Rumour She Heard About Herself

MILLE WORLD: What’s your most actress habit that your friends tease you about?

How many takes does it usually take you to nail a crying scene?

What about a laughing scene?

What’s something that instantly lifts your mood?

Which role taught you the most about yourself, not just as an actress, but also as a woman?

Which do you prefer playing: a romantic lead or a mysterious villain?

Who’s the person you know that takes the most selfies on set?

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard about yourself?

Related Stories

More From Art & Culture

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

Newsletter

The only newsletter you won't unsubscribe from

Follow Us