Menna Shalabi Biography: Age, Husband, Net Worth, Height, Movies, Career, Awards, Parents

Mennat Allah Hesham Shalaby, known professionally as Menna Shalabi, is an Egyptian actress renowned for her commanding presence and versatility across cinema and television, where she has delivered over 40 films and 20 series that blend sharp social commentary with emotional depth.

She first gained prominence with her breakout role in the 2001 film Al Saher (The Magician), earning early acclaim for portraying complex women in hits like Heya Fawda (Chaos) and Diamond Dust.

Shalabi’s career highlights include a historic International Emmy nomination for Every Week Has a Friday, making her the first Egyptian actress to achieve this milestone, alongside multiple Best Actress awards from festivals like Cairo International and Dubai.

Profile

• Full Name: Mennat Allah Hesham Shalaby
• Stage Name: Menna Shalabi
• Born: 24 July 1982
• Age: 43 years old
• Birthplace: Giza, Egypt
• Nationality: Egyptian
• Occupation: Actress
• Height: 1.65m
• Parents: Hesham Shalaby, Zizi Mustafa
• Siblings: Eman Shalabi
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $3 million

Early Life and Education

Mennat Allah Hesham Shalaby, known as Menna Shalabi, was born on July 24, 1982, in Giza, Egypt, to Hesham Shalaby, a businessman, and Zizi Mustafa, a renowned dancer and performer.

She grew up with a half-sister named Eman Shalabi from her father’s previous marriage, in an artistic family that included her aunt, media personality Poussy Shalaby, fostering an early exposure to the entertainment world.

Shalabi displayed a flair for performance from childhood, often mimicking her mother in front of mirrors and skipping school by feigning illness, which her mother playfully called acting practice.

Details of her formal education remain private, but she immersed herself in the industry through family connections and local theater, without pursuing a specific degree in the arts.

She is of Egyptian descent and Muslim faith.

Career

Menna Shalabi began her acting journey in 2000, discovered by actress Samiha Ayoub for a role in the TV series Salma Ya Salama, a brief appearance that ignited her passion amid her artistic family’s influence.

Her true breakthrough arrived in 2001 with the lead in Al Saher (The Magician), directed by Radwan El-Kashef, where her portrayal of Nour earned her the Best Actress Award at the Egyptian National Film Festival and launched her into cinema’s spotlight.

Early TV work in Hadith Al Sabah Wal Masaa (Morning and Evening Talk), adapted from Naguib Mahfouz’s stories, honed her skills in ensemble dramas, while a fleeting cameo in El-Asifa (1999) marked her uncredited debut, building her resilience in a competitive field.

Shalabi’s ascent accelerated through the 2000s with diverse roles in films like I Love Cinema (2004) and Heya Fawda (Chaos, 2007), the latter screening at Venice and Toronto festivals and showcasing her in Youssef Chahine’s improvisational style.

She claimed another Best Actress honor at the National Festival for An El Eshq Wel Hawaa (2006), transitioning seamlessly between comedies such as Sorry to Disturb (2008) and social dramas like After the Battle (2012), which premiered at Cannes.

Television successes followed, including Friendly Fire (2013) and Jewish Quarter (2015), where her nuanced takes on resilience amid hardship drew critical praise and expanded her reach across the Arab world.

Shalabi’s stature grew with landmark projects like Nawara (2015), netting her a record 10 Best Actress awards from festivals including Dubai and Cairo, and Marwan Hamed’s Diamond Dust (2018), a box-office triumph that swept Arabian Cinema Awards.

Her 2020 series Every Week Has a Friday secured an International Emmy nomination, a historic first for an Egyptian actress, while recent works such as The Crime (2022) on Netflix and Scarecrow (2019) reflect her commitment to mentoring newcomers through shorts like Fork and Knife (2018) at El Gouna.

Her jury roles at global festivals and charity drives for disabilities amplify her legacy, blending artistry with advocacy that inspires across generations.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @mennagram
• Facebook Handle: Menna Shalabi
• Twitter Handle: @Menna_Shalaby

Personal Life

Menna Shalabi has remained unmarried, embracing single life at 43 after a high-profile relationship with director Khaled Youssef in 2008 that ended without lasting commitment, and she has no children, often prioritizing her career and causes over romance.

Filmography

• Al Saher (The Magician) (2001)
• I Love Cinema (2004)
• An El Eshq Wel Hawaa (2006)
• Heya Fawda (Chaos) (2007)
• After the Battle (2012)
• Nawara (2015)
• Diamond Dust (2018)
• Scarecrow (2019)
• The Crime (El Gareema) (2022)
• Al Hawaa Sultan (2024)

Net Worth

Menna Shalabi has an estimated net worth of $3 million.

Her earnings largely stem from starring roles in over 40 films and 20 television series, including royalties from hits like Diamond Dust and streaming successes on Netflix, alongside festival awards and endorsements that reflect her enduring appeal in Egyptian cinema.