Renowned Egyptian actress Sabreen responded to the mounting criticism she has been receiving concerning her role in the Ramadan TV series "Awraq Al Toot" (Mulberry Leaves) when she appeared Monday on Abu Dhabi TV's Ramadan talk show "Rating Ramadan."
The famous veiled actress, who has recently come under fire for appearing on the TV show without her hijab, said she was unfazed by the "media war" on her series and that her hard work on the show will "rise even if they try to kill it." She added that she considered being on "Rating Ramadan" an honor that acknowledges her efforts on the series.
In response to her appearing without her hijab on the show, the actress said: "The audience knows me as Sabreen the actress and not Sabreen the infidel or the veiled, but there is a message I want to convey and my God has given me a gift so the audience can believe me."
The actress also said that she was just doing her job as an actress and that she is responsible for that, adding that she wears a wig on the show so her real hair never actually appears on the screen.
"So is it reasonable for a woman to wear a hijab in her home? But unfortunately everyone forgot the wig that appeared to cover my head," Sabreen said.
In addition, the actress spoke about her role on the series saying it was one of the most difficult roles she's ever played.
Jointly produced by Saudi producer Majid Al-Ebid who appeared with Sabreen on the talk show, "Awraq Al Toot" is considered the only religious series in this year's Ramadan TV scene. The show is a mythological drama about two fictional empires in which conflict between the powerful kingdoms rises as a Muslim man gets stranded on their shores.
The actress had recently received backlash after she stirred another controversy when she appeared kissing fellow Egyptian actress Soheir Ramzy at a public gathering in a video that went viral online. When asked on the talk show about the controversy, Sabreen said it was spontaneous and unintentional, adding that Ramzy is her relative as she called her an "aunt" and her "husband's relative."