May Skaf Explained

May Skaf
Arabic: مي سكاف
Birth Date:13 April 1969
Birth Place:Damascus, Syria
Death Place:Dourdan, France
Nationality:Syrian
Occupation:Actress, activist
Years Active:1991–2018
Spouse:Taher Alzobbi
Children:1
Relatives:Dima Wannous (maternal cousin)
Saadallah Wannous (uncle-in-law)

May Skaf (Arabic: مي سكاف) (April 15, 1969 – July 23, 2018) was a Syrian actress and activist. She began her career in 1991. Skaf acted in many series and movies such as Al-Ababeed in 1997, Maraya in 1998 and Omar in 2012. Skaf was known for her opposition to Syrian regime, she was labeled The rebellious artist, The Free artist and Revolution icon.[1] She died in July 2018 in Dourdan, France from a heart attack.[2]

Early life and career

Skaf was born to a Christian family in Damascus,[3] where she studied French literature at Damascus University. Skaf started to act in many French plays, when in 1991 she got the attention of director Maher Keddo, who chose her for the main role in his film Sahil aljehat (Neigh of direction). She worked with director Abdellatif Abdelhamid who offered her a role in his movie Rise of rain in 1995. Her first role in TV was in A crime in memory in 1992. Skaf became famous from her breakout role in Al-Ababeed (The Anarchy) in 1997. She acted in many other series like Albawasel (The Heroes) in 2000, Bit alelah (House of family) in 2002, Ash-Shatat (The diaspora) in 2003, Ahel algharam (People of love) in 2006. She portrayed the medieval Arab woman Hind bint Utbah in Omar in 2012, and as Tawq asphalt (Asphalt collar) in 2014. Her last role was in Orchedea in 2017. She participated in the Syrian artists association in 2001, but she was suspended in 2015 for not making payments to the association.[4]

Personal life and activism

She was formerly married and divorced; she had one son, Judd Alzobbi.[5] Since the beginning of Syrian revolution of 2011, she participated in many protests against Bashar al-Assad.[6] She was arrested and released in August 2011.[7] In 2012, she left Syria secretly for Lebanon then to Jordan, where she immigrated to France with her son in 2013. She accused Syrian police of rape when she was under arrest.[8] The government took possession of her house in Jaramana in late 2014 after she fled the country.

Death

On July 23, 2018, her son watched Skaf die at her bed.[2] Her family doubted the cause of death was due to natural reasons. A couple of days before her death she had traveled to Beirut, which led to speculation that Hezbollah may have had a role in her death.[9] However, the official autopsy concluded that she died from a heart attack. Her maternal cousin Dima Wannous said that she died from a stroke, she also said that she suffered from a great deal of frustration for what happened in Syria.[10]

Works

Series

Films

Stage

Notes and References

  1. Web site: وفاة الفنانة السورية مي سكاف. Skynewsarabia.com. 17 August 2019.
  2. Web site: Exiled Syrian actress who took on Assad buried in France. August 3, 2018. France24.com. 17 August 2019.
  3. Web site: صحيفة العرب. Al Arab. العرب. Alarab.co.uk.
  4. Web site: مئتي فنان فصلو من النقابة .. والنقيب يوضح لـ"بوسطة" التفاصيل. Bostah.com. 17 August 2019.
  5. Web site: ابن مي سكاف: جثمانها سيعود إلى سوريا بعد تحريرها. Aljaras.com. 17 August 2019.
  6. News: Mai Skaf: Syrian actor and democracy activist exiled by Assad regime. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mai-skaf-may-scaff-syria-actor-assad-activist-exile-syrian-refugee-a8469876.html . May 12, 2022 . subscription . live. July 30, 2018. The Independent. 17 August 2019.
  7. Web site: اعتقال الممثلة السورية مى سكاف. https://web.archive.org/web/20160604124712/http://www.gn4me.com/gn4me/details.jsp?artId=3985197. dead. June 4, 2016. June 4, 2016. 17 August 2019.
  8. Web site: Security forces detain Syrian actress May Skaf: Lawyer - Region - World - Ahram Online. English.ahram.org.eg. 17 August 2019.
  9. Web site: لهذا كان حسن نصر الله وراء الشكوك بوفاة الفنانة مي سكاف.. طالبته برد الديون لها فأرسل لها "صندوقاً". https://web.archive.org/web/20180730095930/https://arabicpost.net/entertainment/2018/07/29/%D9%84%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%88%D9%83-%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A9/. dead. July 30, 2018. July 30, 2018. 17 August 2019.
  10. Web site: Archived copy . June 7, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190607231613/https://www.alarabiya.net/ar/arab-and-world/syria/2018/07/27/%25D8%25A7%25D8%25A8%25D9%2586%25D8%25A9-%25D8%25AE%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25A9-%25D9%2585%25D9%258A-%25D8%25B3%25D9%2583%25D8%25A7%25D9%2581-%25D8%25AA%25D9%2583%25D8%25B4%25D9%2581-%25D9%2587%25D8%25B0%25D8%25A7-%25D8%25B3%25D8%25A8%25D8%25A8-%25D9%2588%25D9%2581%25D8%25A7%25D8%25A9-%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D9%2581%25D9%2586%25D8%25A7%25D9%2586%25D8%25A9-%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25B3%25D9%2588%25D8%25B1%25D9%258A%25D8%25A9 . June 7, 2019 . dead .

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