Nour El-Sherif's 75th Birthday

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Cairo-based guest artist Maged El Sokkary, celebrates Egyptian actor and director Nour El-Sherif, who captured the hearts of audiences for close to 40 years with hundreds of performances in feature films, television, and theater.

Nour El-Sherif was born Mohamad Geber Abdallah in Cairo on this day in 1946. As a child, he loved soccer. However, it was overshadowed by his passion for acting, which he first nurtured in small theater roles. It wasn’t long before the talent he displayed in rehearsal for “Romeo and Juliet” caught the attention of eminent Egyptian director Hassan Imam, who cast him in “Kasr El Shawk” (“The Palace of Desire, 1967”)—El-Sharif’s first movie.

His silver screen debut set the stage for an iconic career. Critics and colleagues alike often noted El-Sherif’s careful dedication to his roles, as he read the entire script for each project, not only the lines of his character. This devotion shined through in his performances, which landed him the premier spotlight of Egyptian cinema for decades. Among his significant works include his lead role in  the 1982 film “Hadduta Misriya” (“An Egyptian Story”), as well as the 1991 film “Nagui Al-Ali,” in which he portrayed a Palestinian cartoonist. More than just an actor, El-Sherif also directed theater and film, making his cinematic directorial debut with the 2001 film “Al-Asheqan” (“The Lovers”). 

El-Sherif was renowned for the attention to detail he poured into his craft and his devotion garnered awards from prestigious institutions across Arab entertainment. The Alexandria International Film Festival, which El-Sherif had collaborated with since its inception, honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

Happy birthday, Nour El-Sherif!

Guest Artist Q&A with Maged El Sokkary

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Cairo-based guest artist Maged El Sokkary. Below, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally?

A. Two things actually that make this topic meaningful for me! First, it’s a huge thing working with such great publications like Google—a widely known Search engine for arts & culture. Second, Nour El Sherif is an iconic Egyptian actor and one of the country’s most prominent actors. I felt so honored and proud being a candidate to paint such an inspiring public figure as him. I knew it was a huge responsibility.

Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle?

A. I began to think about the complexity of my task—capturing all Nour El Sherif’s life phases and compiling them into one Doodle, while integrating GOOGLE letters with objects from Nour’s life. That was a challenge.

Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? 

A. In the process of researching for this Doodle, I had the opportunity to watch some of his movies! It was impressive learning about his career, how he started and developed himself. It is inspiring to see an artist with such diversity in roles.

Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A. When a person is devoted to his art and strives in his work, he reserves a permanent place in the hearts of millions of people forever.

Look at the bright things in your life—that was Nour El Sherif’s message. Please keep pursuing your dreams and creating work that fills people’s lives.