Egyptian actress Dalia Ibrahim has confirmed during a telephone interview that she will not return to acting after a decade-long absence. Speaking on the television program Tafaseel broadcast on Sada El Balad 2, she also disclosed a past marriage to director Khaled Youssef.
Dalia Ibrahim Rejects Acting Return After Ten Years Away
Ten years after stepping away from television and film screens, actress Dalia Ibrahim has firmly closed the door on any potential comeback. During an appearance on the Tafaseel program hosted by Nihal Tael on Sunday, October 18, 2026, she addressed lingering speculation about resuming her career. Born in Cairo on March 24, 1974, and educated in theater at the Faculty of Arts, she began her artistic journey at an early age after being discovered by artist Mohamed Sobhi, who brought her into his theatrical troupe. Her notable television work includes appearances in Wanees’s Family, El-Lil Wa Akhrooh with Yehia El-Fakharany, and Kenaria w Shoraka.
Her stance marks a definitive shift from earlier remarks. Comparing her statements from 2022 to her remarks in October 2026 reveals a clear transformation; whereas she previously left the door open for a new experience under conditions matching her choices, she now asserts that she no longer wishes to return regardless of the roles offered. During her call with presenter Nihal Tael on the Tafaseel program via Sada El Balad 2 channel, she detailed the psychological pressures and difficult crises she endured in her life, noting how her strong faith in God helped her overcome those trials and allowed her to advise her daughter and others facing hardships.
I am not coming back, it has been ten years, and praise be to God for the wonderful journey I had, and that is enough,
Dalia Ibrahim told Sayidaty.
Revealing a Past Marriage to Director Khaled Youssef
Alongside her comments on retirement, Ibrahim disclosed that she was previously married to director Khaled Youssef in 2009.
The film, released in 2010 and directed by Youssef, featured Ibrahim alongside Amr Abdel Gelil and Ghada Abdel Razek. The actress noted that she chose to share this history publicly to address online criticism and clarify her past industry connections after facing recent scrutiny on social media.
Addressing Personal Choices and the Decision to Wear the Hijab
Ibrahim also addressed the timeline behind her decision to wear the hijab and step away from the spotlight. She dismissed rumors linking her choice to fellow actress Hanan Turk, explaining that they have not maintained a personal friendship or met in over twenty years.
Hanan has nothing to do with the matter, I haven't met her at all for 20 years, and many people stayed in their homes, and they are very nice, and they were very good actors, they stayed home and wore the hijab and no one knows about them,
Dalia Ibrahim told Alarabiya.
She explained that the idea of wearing the hijab first crossed her mind in 2002 and returned in 2008 before she gradually changed her attire. Her formal retirement was announced on Facebook in June 2020 following her final television appearance in the 2016 series Garab Hawa, concluding a career that spanned approximately 40 television series, seven theatrical plays, five short films, three feature films, and dubbing work, as noted by Erem News.
