Model behaviour

It should come as no surprise that an hour or so with Cyrine Abdelnour took us more than two months to arrange. Not only she in full demand these days – a new best-selling music album, a blockbuster movie and a major drama series all helping her become cultural wallpaper – the Lebanese model-turned-singer-turned-actress is struggling to juggle the consequences of being one of the hottest names in Arabic pop culture. And by hottest we don’t only mean the killer body or the charming smile.

For the gutter tabloid journo that lurks in every NOX writer, though, her friendly, warm and genuinely accommodating demeanour are a little disarming. This is no Maria, whose brilliantly crazy interview in NOX 33 set the bar a little too high in terms of did-you-just-say-that? quotability. Instead there’s a quiet charm accompanying those killer looks, and a pleasing humility that includes excusing herself halfway through the interview to prepare lunch for her husband. Yes, we said husband. “My dad warned me that I am going to be a lamb among wolves,” she says of her non-diva personality. Indeed, she couldn’t even give the name of one celebrity she would love to punch in the face. What a sweetheart.

NOX: We find it hard to believe there isn’t one brewing feud or misunderstanding that you want to get off your chest…
Cyrine: (laughing): I don’t pay any attention to such inane stuff. My message is God is great and he is the one who grants success and he is the mightiest. And there’s no way I can punch anyone... I am 53kg soaking wet so I would only break my hand!

NOX: But there must be some resentment from the acting fraternity that another singer is encroaching on their territory?
Cyrine: Competition is always going to be there, but any fair and decent competitor would accept me as an artist. Of course, there some people out there who won’t be able to cope with the idea of some else’s success and those are usually what you call “fame sick” who wants to hog the spotlight.

NOX: The path from Beirut recording booth to Cairo filmset is a well-trodden one. Were you accepted?
Cyrine: Yeah! I was treated like a queen. You should see the reviews I received, and how they talked about me on TV. It was worse in Lebanon, actually, where I would name a price for a concert, and a certain singer and her manager would offer a lower rate, just so they can take my spot!

NOX: Let us guess… Carole Saqr? We heard there is a lawsuit in the works…
Cyrine (laughs again): No, no. You got that completely wrong. Carole is a respectable Lebanese singer with a very nice voice, and I even worked with her husband Hadi Shararah, who distributed some songs in my latest album Layali al-Hob. What happened is that a songwriter sold us both the same lyrics and we talked together and realised that we are both victims, so we decided to sue the writer.

NOX: Damn. Okay, we’ll give up on trying to get you mad at someone – for now. So let’s talk about the film Ramadan Mabrook abu Alamain Hamoudeh with Mohammad Henaidi; it seems it has been in movie theatres forever.
Cyrine: It was a great way to introduce me to the Egyptian audience, especially as the character I played was very close to who I am in real life – a simple and natural person. Working with Mohammad Henaidi was fun, too. He will often veer of the script to do something funny, and that prompted me to do the same on a couple of occasions. One of the funniest bits in the film when he pushes me of the tree was completely improvised.

NOX: Would you like to tackle more serious issues?
Cyrine: Unfortunately, serious movies are not very popular in the Arab world. Take for example Palestinian cinema, the films are always about the struggle. In Lebanon, it is always dealing with sectarian issues. But in Egypt, you have a fun-loving population that likes to go to the movies for entertainment. But I am always willing to take up new experiences – like the film Dokhan Bila Nar, which talks about terrorism and political imprisonment in the Arab world.

NOX: So, what are you, singer, actress or model?
Cyrine: I hope I am a comprehensive artist. I have many concerts this summer and I’m working on a series called “Sarah” that talks about women rights. I am really proud of the designation I received from ART and al-Jomhouryyah newspaper as the best comprehensive actor – both based on fan voting. I am also considering revisiting my modelling days and work with some designer to release my own fashion line.

 NOX: Did you learn how to ride a motorbike for the video “Omri Ma’ak”? You didn’t exactly look like an expert!
Cyrine: Are you crazy?! I was about to cancel thee whole shoot when they told me there is a motorcycle shot. I sat on it a let them drag it with a rope. I am very feminine and soft, and motorcycles are not something I do!

NOX: So you won’t be considering pizza delivery for a career?
Cyrine (laughing): Why not? There’s no shame in it! Actually, the whole idea of the music video came up after my friends were wondering why it is never a hot delivery girl that bring them the pizza!
 
NOX: Who do you think is the most overrated name in the industry?
Cyrine (laughs again): I know that your magazine is an excellent publication so I will not get you into that kind of name calling stuff!


Cyrine file
Born: Feb 21st, 1977
Beirut

Music:
Laila min al-Layali (2004)
Alaik Oyooni (2006)
Lyali al-Hob (2008)

TV
Sama’ Qsha’ (1998)
Ghadan Yawm Akhar (2001)
Mariana (2003)
Ibnati (2003)
Ghareebah (2004)
Sajeenah (2007)

Film
Dokhan Bila Nar (2007)
Al-Mosafer (2007)
Ramadan Mabrook abu Alamain Hamoudeh (2008)