2006年VOA标准英语-"Goddess of the Screen" Promotes Women’s

By Nazzy Beglari
Cairo
24 February 2006
 
watch report on Youssra

Known as the "Goddess of the Screen," Youssra is one of Egypt's most famous actresses.  But her choice of roles has made her controversial with conservative Muslims.  Nazzy Beglari of VOA's Persian Service recently met with her and produced this story, which is narrated¹ by Amy Katz.

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Youssra during her dressing² room interview
  

Youssra started her career as an actress at the age of 14 -- despite the objections of her family.  She has now starred in more than 80 films and has appeared on the cover of many magazines in the Arab world.  But fundamentalists want her to abandon her career because she plays sexy, controversial parts. With Muslim conservatism on the rise in Egypt, the term "clean cinema" is now common.

" ‘Clean cinema’ is where they don't kiss each other,” she explains.  “I don't believe this is (the) clean cinema, because you can be veiled, you can be very conservative and you have a sick mind.  This is something that has nothing to do with Islam."

Youssra and a fellow actor on a set while filming Shall We Dance?  
  
Currently, Youssra is rehearsing for her new film, "Shall We Dance?"  It is her fifth collaboration³ with the only female director in Egypt, Inas Deghridi, who is known for making controversial films dealing⁴ with taboo⁵ subjects.  Deghridi has suffered the consequences -- being threatened by fundamentalists several times. 

It has been even worse for Youssra -- who was actually attacked in her Cairo apartment.  But she says that is not going to stop her. "I believe in what I do, I believe in what say, I believe in what I am."

 
Inas Deghridi is directing her fifth movie with Youssra
  
Youssra chooses parts that tackle social and women's issues in the Muslim world.  Her new role in "Shall We Dance?" is an example.  In it she plays a lawyer with a conservative husband, who finds her freedom in underground dance classes. Deghridi, the director of this film, says Youssra is a great actress because she is beautiful and can handle such challenging roles.

1 narrated   

v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

3 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 taboo   

n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止

参考例句：

• The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
• Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？