Darine Hamze

In 2016 Hamze first came to the attention of the American audiences with her performance in the German/Lebanese film Halal Love (and sex), directed by Assad Fouladkar and produced by Razor Films, which screened at the US film festivals Sundance and The Hamptons as well as many other international film festivals and screened the Golden Globes HFPA nominations. She depicted the dreamy role of "Loubna", a Muslim divorced woman trying to live her love life and desires without breaking any of her religion's rules, and in it she took on the taboo topic of the Islamic pleasure marriage (which is a short-term contract marriage). As Hamze accepted an Award for it in Japan (Fukuoka International Film Festival 2016) she confirmed that she “looks for roles that challenge her psychologically and mentally, as well as fill her human emotions to stimulate evolution, because film is also a window into other people’s worlds, a small peak into the other’s point of view, which can help wake up society’s humanity and lend a hand in bring humans together. And that she hopes that with every character she plays she brings a voice to those hidden closed windows that can help unite races, religions and cultures through the common grounds of art”.

Her next unique role was in 2011’s French/Lebanese controversial film Beirut Hotel opposite French actor Charles Berling, directed by Danielle Arbid, which made a huge controversy because of its political sub-text and explicit scenes. Hamze took on the challenge this time to portray (Zoha) a wild romantic alternative singer that falls in love with a French spy. Hamze practiced her French and even took singing classes which made the film’s soundtrack, with her voice, a hit. But the film was banned in Lebanon due to suggestive scenes depicting the Lebanese government as covering up some kind of information regarding the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. However, the film aired in France and Germany on Arte, and Hamze was bombarded by opposing opinions for playing such a daring role. She was praised by the liberal audiences and out-shun by conformists in a number of Arab societies, for playing the French audacious role.

In 2010, Hamze starred in the Iranian film Saturday's Hunter which depicts Jews massacring Arabs while seeking God-Like Powers. The film was directed by Parviz Sheikh Tadi and nominated in the 25th Fajr International Film Festival.

Credited as one of the best Arab actresses for taking on challenging and complex roles in different dialects and languages throughout the region, her international film career began in 2009 starring in a big Iranian acclaimed feature film The Book of Law - Ketabe Ghanoon, co-starring legendary Iranian movie star Parviz Parastui and directed by Maziar Miri, in which Hamze studied intensive Persian dialect for it. The film had some controversy at first for criticizing the way Islam was being practiced erroneously in certain societies in Iran but was later on accepted as a smart amusing self-critiquing social romantic comedy and was a big hit and has since become a cult-underground film.

In 2005, Hamze returned to Beirut with her MA from London and directly started giving courses in acting, editing and media arts in a number of Universities. She also worked as a director/editor in two cinema critique episodes in the program "Al-Adasa Al-Arabia", for Al-Jazeera TV.

Her connection with England led her, in 2003, to apply to the British Council's MA scholarships. She was accepted and travelled to London, UK to attend University of Westminster. In 2004, she graduated from the University of Westminster with a Master of Arts (MA) in Arts and Media Practice.

In 2002, Hamze travelled to New York City where she attended film making classes at Columbia University. There she acted in the short student film “The Park” directed by Nadine Khouri.

Darine Hamze (Arabic: دارين حمزة ‎); is a Lebanese actress, director and producer. She is a well-known professional actresses in the Arab world credited for taking on diverse, daring and complex roles in different languages and countries. She has been working in film, television and theatre since 2001 in The Middle East and Europe. Hamze won the Best Actress Award in Oran International Film Festival 2017 for her role in film Nuts. Hamze speaks Arabic, French, English and Persian.

Her new love of film expanded more as she acted the main role in the film "Her Absurdity" by Chadi Zein in the year 2001. She continued taking on theatre proposals by acting in the object-moving theatre play "THE" by Sam Bardawil the same year. The following year, 2002, Hamze travelled back to London that year to publish her poetry art book "7am Blink" on the web launched 111101 (London, UK) in collaboration with painter/illustrator Rafic Majzoub.

In 1998, Hamze applied and was accepted to the Fine Arts Academy of the Lebanese University, Theatre Department. 2002 was the year of her graduation with a BA in Theatre Arts (acting/directing).

Hamze was born on the 5th of July in the colorful 80s, as a second child. He father was a flight engineer father and a painter mother, in Baalbeck, and raised in Souk El Gharb, Aley District, Lebanon. She was sent to the United Kingdom (England), between the age of 8 and 13, to a British boarding school (ISC) in Bath, along with her two brothers.