Actress Dina Shihabi has previously starred in 'Jack Ryan' and 'Altered Carbon'. Getty Images
Actress Dina Shihabi has previously starred in 'Jack Ryan' and 'Altered Carbon'. Getty Images
Actress Dina Shihabi has previously starred in 'Jack Ryan' and 'Altered Carbon'. Getty Images
Actress Dina Shihabi has previously starred in 'Jack Ryan' and 'Altered Carbon'. Getty Images

How Saudi actress Dina Shihabi forged a path in US TV, from 'Archive 81' to 'Jack Ryan'


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Any new TV show is always a throw of the dice. "You never really know how it’s gonna land,” says Dina Shihabi.

Fortunately, the Saudi actress has just seen her latest screen venture turn out to be the equivalent of a double six.

Archive 81, a smart, unsettling, found-footage horror arrived on Netflix with little fanfare, before effortlessly gliding to number one on the streaming platform.

“I was surprised, for sure,” the 32-year-old admits, bright and early, over the telephone from Los Angeles.

“Because there wasn’t really push for it. It really just arrived on the platform and resonated with people. And it seems like by word of mouth, that’s really spread like wildfire.

"So that feels in a way better. No one was inundated with our faces. They just found it on their own. And so I feel like [viewers have] a very genuine love for the show.”

Dina Shihabi as Melody Pendras in 'Archive 81'. Photo: Netflix
Dina Shihabi as Melody Pendras in 'Archive 81'. Photo: Netflix

It also feels rather fitting that fans might discover Archive 81 — and Shihabi — on their own. Loosely taken from the podcast of the same name, the show sees Mamoudou Athie play Dan Turner, a restoration expert for the Museum of the Moving Image who is employed to sift through some ageing fire-damaged VHS tapes. On them are recordings made by Shihabi’s graduate student character Melody Pendras, who years earlier documented events surrounding a mysterious fire in an apartment complex.

Although Dan and Melody are in parallel storylines, Shihabi immediately felt the connection. “I was really drawn to this … these two protagonists, that were both grappling with the same kind of loneliness and longing, and wanting for deep connection and a deep sense of who they are. They both grew up without families, essentially. And so they are both after the same thing, and I found that so moving and so beautiful. That really resonated with me deeply. That deep sense of longing and wanting to connect.”

With shades of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and even the recent British horror movie Censor, Archive 81 reeks of atmosphere. You can even see it as a metaphor for the virtual encounters that we are now locked into, post pandemic, as Dan spends hours studying Melody. “Trying to connect to someone through a computer screen, that felt really real,” says Shihabi, who auditioned for her role, shot the show and saw it released all during Covid-19.

When it comes to horror, Shihabi will watch the genre — under certain conditions. “I get really scared so I can’t watch it at night,” she says. “My scariest memory of watching a horror film was watching The Exorcist when I was four years old.”

William Friedkin’s tale of a young girl possessed “scarred me for life”, she says. “Especially [as] I watched it in Saudi Arabia, where you grew up with Islam, and you’re really made scared of the devil. And then I watched The Exorcist. And I was convinced I was gonna get possessed.”

A huge lover of TV and movies in her youth, the Riyadh-born Shihabi spent hours watching whatever she could get her hands on. “That was my meditation,” she says.

School years weren’t easy, though. “Distracted and disruptive in class”, she was put up for a school musical by a fourth-grade teacher in an effort to stimulate her. But acting felt an impossibility, given she’d grown up with a high-pitched voice. “People always laughed about it and made fun of it. Once I started kind of getting more self-conscious about my voice, I was like, ‘Oh, this isn’t the thing for me. I can’t do this if I don’t feel comfortable speaking.’”

Instead, she found dance as a means of expression after her family moved to Dubai, discovering a class run by renowned dancer and choreographer Sharmilla Kamte at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre. “I remember walking in and it felt like fate … this weird body feeling. I’d never felt that before. But I just knew that was my destiny in some way. I just walked through the door of my future. I went home that night and I told my parents that I was going to become a dancer.” Within a year, she was dancing professionally in Kamte’s company.

If an incredible project came my way from the Middle East, I would jump at the opportunity
Dina Shihabi,
actress

Gradually, Shihabi’s confidence grew with acting, something she pursued in tandem with dance when she moved to New York aged 18. “I would take acting classes during the day and dance classes at night,” she explains. Before long, she scored her first gig, dancing on the sketch show Saturday Night Live, and began auditioning for acting schools. Places at Juilliard and NYU’s Graduate Acting programme were awarded. Impressively, she was the first Saudi woman to be accepted by both these institutions.

After graduating, she remained in the States, although has yet to work in the Mena region. “If an incredible project came my way from the Middle East, I would jump at the opportunity,” she says.

Instead, it’s been a steady rise for Shihabi through the American television industry. Small roles in Daredevil and Ramy have been interspersed with more significant parts, in Netflix sci-fi Altered Carbon and Amazon Prime action-drama Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, in which she featured opposite John Krasinski in the first season.

Saudi actress Dina Shihabi in 'Jack Ryan'. AP
Saudi actress Dina Shihabi in 'Jack Ryan'. AP

“What’s beautiful about this is that you’re always a student,” she says. “You’re always learning. And that’s part of what I love about it. Things happen that always surprise you. And you always learn things about yourself that cause you to grow and reassess, and make better decisions. And I think there’s a lot of failure in this business. While you’re doing these things. You take a couple of steps forward, a couple steps back … it’s ever changing. And it’s such a playground to test yourself and push yourself and get out of your comfort zone.”

She’s already shot her next mini-series, Painkiller, a drama about the origins of the opioid crisis co-starring Matthew Broderick and shot by director Peter Berg. “It’s very different from Archive 81,” she says. “I mean, that’s the career I want. And that’s what’s happened naturally — every part, every project I’ve gotten to do, has been completely different. I’ve never done the same thing twice. And so I hope to continue to do that because I think that’s what excites me most — to shape-shift.”

Archive 81 is available on Netflix

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Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESplintr%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMay%202019%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammad%20AlMheiri%20and%20Badr%20AlBadr%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20and%20Riyadh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epayments%20%2F%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10%20employees%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%20seven-figure%20sum%20%2F%20pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eangel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National photo project

Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).

The Year Earth Changed

Directed by:Tom Beard

Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough

Stars: 4

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

RESULTS

West Asia Premiership

Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles

Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers

West Asia Premiership

Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles

Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain

Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

RESULTS

Women:

55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2

Men:

62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke

The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta

Key developments

All times UTC 4

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

The Ashes

Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs

LOVE%20AGAIN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jim%20Strouse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Priyanka%20Chopra%20Jonas%2C%20Sam%20Heughan%2C%20Celine%20Dion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Unresolved crisis

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.

Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.

The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.

Company%20profile
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Results:

6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer).

7.05pm: Handicap (rated 72-87) Dh 165,000 1,600m.
Winner: Syncopation, George Buckell, Doug Watson.

7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Big Brown Bear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

8.15pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,200m.
Winner: Stunned, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

8.50pm: Handicap (85-105) Dh 210,000 2,000m.
Winner: New Trails, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.

9.25pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,600m.
Winner: Pillar Of Society, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

Profile of Bitex UAE

Date of launch: November 2018

Founder: Monark Modi

Based: Business Bay, Dubai

Sector: Financial services

Size: Eight employees

Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

Company%20profile
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Updated: February 14, 2022, 3:57 AM