Biographie
May Elghety, an Egyptian actress born in Cairo, is the daughter of writer and TV presenter Mohamed Elghety and writer and media personality Mona Barouma. She started her career early, appearing in television and film before branching out into hosting children’s programs on Egyptian national television.
Her initial breakthrough came with the lead role in the musical Badr El Bedour & the Magical Well at Cairo's National Theatre, where her skills as a singer, dancer, and actress earned critical acclaim. Soon after, she gained broader recognition playing Bayada in the 2013 TV series El Kaserat, winning the Best Upcoming Actress award at the Arab Drama Festival. Elghety solidified her status in Egyptian cinema and television with notable roles in the 2016 film Clash, directed by Mohamed Diab and premiered at Cannes, which brought her international exposure, as well as in El Gezira 2. Her work has been praised by international outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. In 2017, she starred in the short film Nada as a dancer with hearing and speech impairments, a role that earned her multiple awards at international film festivals across the US, Europe, and the Middle East.
In addition to film, Elghety has featured in numerous popular television series, especially during Ramadan, showcasing her versatility in genres ranging from drama to psychological thrillers and establishing her as one of her generation’s leading actresses.
Her filmography includes commercially successful ensemble films like Banat Thanawy (2020), Ritsa (2021), and Amar 14 (2022), alongside independent films such as Mama (2022) and Kamla (2022), both of which premiered at major festivals including the Cairo International Film Festival and the Red Sea International Film Festival. Expanding internationally, Elghety lent her voice to the Disney+ animated anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, appeared in the independent feature Due Dating, and joined the cast of The Mummy, directed by Lee Cronin, marking a significant move into global cinema.
Beyond acting, she is active in environmental and social advocacy. In 2024, she was appointed EU Goodwill Ambassador in Egypt focusing on water and climate issues, highlighting her dedication to sustainability and environmental causes. Elghety continues to advance an international career across film and television, with projects spanning the Arab region and global markets.
