Mona Wassef

Mona Wassef is a Syrian film and theatre actress who was born in Damascus in 1942. She is considered an icon in Arab cinema and a role model for many artists and has earned numerous nicknames including, “The First Star of Syria,” “Star of the Arab World,” and “Lady of the Syrian Screen.” Wassef's most famous early role was as Hind in the 1976 film “Al Ressala” (The Message) about the life of the prophet Mohammed. She has played the role of Bassam Kousa’s mother more than ten times in cinema and on television. In 2009, Wassef became the first Syrian woman to receive the Syrian Order of Merit-Excellent Degree. She has starred in more than 25 plays and 30 films, has appeared in nearly 200 television series and has received multiple life achievement awards from the Damascus Film Festival, Alexandria Film Festival and the International Arab Film Festival in Oran. She was married to the late director Mohammed Shaheen and they have one son, Ammar.

Mona Wassef is known for work in acting across film and television. New Release currently presents 30 verified screen credits connected to this profile. Selected work includes Mawlana (2026), Deep Down Under (2025), Roxy Nights (2025), The Visit (2024), Close Your Eyes (2024), Finally (2023), Al Hayba: The Movie (2022), Al Hayba: The Documentary (2022). The recorded credits span 2007 to 2026, including 4 movies and 26 TV shows. The filmography below lists available titles, release years and known roles. This profile is updated as additional verified information becomes available.