Celebrated Egyptian actress, writer and filmmaker Bahiga Hafez has been immortalised by a regional artist to celebrate what would have been the cinema legend's 112th birthday.
Google dedicated its Tuesday, August 4, doodle to the pioneering screen star.
The portrait was captured by Cairo illustrator Mariam ElReweny, in homage to her countrywoman, who was born in 1908. The doodle appears only to those on Google in the GCC, Lebanon, Iraq and North Africa.
Who was Bahiga Hafez?
The Alexandria-born actress was one of Egyptian cinema's first multi-hyphenate stars.
Hafez also worked as a screenwriter, composer, director, editor and producer, and earned a degree in music composition in Paris in 1930, before moving to Cairo.
The year she finished her degree marked the release of her debut album, as well as her emergence in cinema: she was cast as a lead in 1930 silent drama Zeinab.
The then-22-year-old actress played the titular role in the Mohammad Karim-directed film, portraying a woman who is torn away from her love by her family.
Hafez also composed the soundtrack for the romance, and the film was re-released in 1935 as a "talkie", with dialogue added.
In 1932, the groundbreaking star established her own production company, the Fanar Film Company. Founded with her husband Mahmoud Hamdi, Fanar Films produced the silent film Al-Dahaya (The Victims) the same year.
Hafez played the lead role in the movie, and acted as co-director, producer, editor, costume designer and composer.
Her first solo directorial work was Layla al-Badawiyya (Laila the Bedouin), which was released in 1944, and she went on to produce a number of films under the banner of Fanar.
"Her work helped pave the way for the start of what is widely considered Egyptian cinema’s golden age in the 1940s, and she is depicted in the doodle artwork wearing a costume inspired by the many opulent wardrobes she designed from this era of film," Google says of the star in a statement.
She also appeared in Salaḥ Abu Seif's 1966 drama Cairo 30, making a cameo as a princess.
Hafez died in Cairo in December 1983 at the age of 75.
Take a look through some other regional Google Doodles:
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A Google Doodle celebrating Egyptian actress Karima Mokhtar's 89th birthday. All images: Google -
Egyptian writer Ihsan Abdel Quddous -
Kuwaiti actor and comedian Abdulhussain Abdulredha's 83rd birthday -
UAE National Day 2022 Google Doodle. -
Ousha Al Suwaidi was a poetess from the United Arab Emirates. -
Prof. Hamed Abdel Fattah Goher was an Egyptian oceanographer, scientist and TV presenter. -
Tunisia's Tawhida Ben Cheikh was a pioneer in women's medicine. -
Google Doodle of Egyptian actor and director Nour El-Sherif honours him on what would have been his 75th birthday. -
Google celebrates Syrian-Egyptian composer and actor Farid Al Atrash with a Google Doodle to mark what would have been his 110th birthday. -
Children's author Notaila Rashed is honoured with a special Google Doodle to mark her 86th birthday. -
Egyptian actress, producer, writer and filmmaker Bahiga Hafez was born 112 years ago, on August 4. -
The Google Doodle for January 20, 2020, celebrates Mufidah Abdul Rahman, Egypt's first female lawyer. -
A Google Doodle on June 10, 2019, celebrates Egyptian author Ahmed Khaled Towfik. -
Google Doodle honours Persian mathematician, poet and astronomer Omar Khayyam on what would have been his 971st birthday. -
Mary Mounib was a renowned actress in the Egyptian cinema scene. Her 114th birthday is marked in a Google Doodle on February 11, 2019. -
Egyptian poet Gamila El Alaily is honoured in a Google Doodle on March 20, 2019. -
Syrian artist Louay Kayali is the subject of Google's doodle on January 20, 2019. -
Egyptian-French singer and actress Dalida is honoured on her birthday by Google Doodle, on January 17, 2019. -
Egyptian actress Hind Rostom is celebrated in a Google Doodle on her 87th birthday, on November 12, 2018. -
Ibn Sina, one of the greatest thinkers of Islam's golden age, is honoured on August 7, 2018. -
A Google Doodle honours Saudi musician Talal Maddah on what would have been his 78th birthday, on August 5, 2018. -
A Google Doodle gif marks Egyptian actor Omar Sharif's birthday on April 10, 2018. -
Egyptian poet Farouk Shousha is honoured by Google on what would have been his 82nd birthday, on January 9, 2018. -
Google celebrates Lebanese singer Sabah's 90th birthday on November 10, 2017. -
Egyptian painter Inji Aflatoun's Google Doodle pays homage to her style of bold brushstrokes. -
Google celebrates the birthday of Algerian painter Mohammed Khadda, who was born on March 14, 1930. -
Lebanese singer-songwriter Melham Barakat is honoured by Google on his birthday.
