In the world of acting, some seek the steady climb of fame. The Rollercoaster Journey of Egyptian Actress Jala Hesham has been anything but linear. Jala has embraced the Rollercoaster with series of extreme ups and downs from successes to lows that have shaped her into one of the most grounded performers of her generation.
Her Upbringing
Jala’s fascination with acting didn’t start on a set; it started at four years old. “Growing up in a household where going out meant the cinema or the theater,” she said.
The transition from a dreamy child to her professional career came with countless workshops. The Rollercoaster Journey of Jala Hesham started when she learned how to use her body as a tool, taking away the shyness to find the subtext in every breath. Also, She highlighted the importance of getting to know the character more. “I learned how to build a character, what her life is like and whether she has a specific trauma or mental health issue, because if I don’t understand that, I’ll just be Jala in every role.”
The Rollercoaster: Balance is the Key
Every journey has it’s own ups and downs. Jala explained the down parts of the rollercoaster from rejections after auditions and stings of self doubt to fear of the future.
“The downs are all about that anticipation, wanting people to like you, and wanting continuity. When I have a huge success in a series, I don’t feel relaxed; I feel terrified.”
However, Jala finds the ups just as intimidating as the downs. A huge success brings terrifying responsibility. “Success doesn’t just make you happy; it scares you,” she admits.
“ Why am I here? What did I do right so I can repeat it? If I repeat it, will it work? It’s an extraordinary rollercoaster of emotions. I feel like balance is the key. You’ll go high, you’ll go low, you just have to center yourself. But that takes a lot of practice and experience,” Jala explained her way for surviving the rollercoaster’s peak is to have solid inner circle and constant reminders of centeralized self before next steps.
Breaking the “Perfect Woman” Myth
When it comes to female representation, Jala isn’t interested in the Perfect Role. She believes that perfect women don’t exist. She wants to portray the woman who is struggling with her body, or the woman dealing with silent traumas like FGM or domestic abuse. These topics are often whispered about but rarely shown with raw honesty.
This Ramadan, Jala continues her journey with two series. In Ras El A’faa, she plays Salma, a doctor and the love interest of Ahmed ghozi which a role she describes as beautiful and serene. Simultaneously, she takes a sharp turn in her role as “Noura,” playing the wife of Youssef Omar in a Kan Ya Makan starring the legendary Maged El Kedwany.
To play Noura, Jala went through a total physical transformation from black hair, brown lenses, and a practical persona that is the polar opposite of her real-life self. It’s another loop on the rollercoaster, proving that she isn’t afraid to lose herself to find a character.
The Balance
Eventually, Jala Hesham’s story isn’t about reaching the end of the ride; it’s about mastering the highs and lows. Whether she’s playing comedy like Ibn El Nadi or a traumatized woman fighting for her agency, she remains one of the few who can look at the rollercoaster and say, Let’s go again.