British police have begun an investigation into the death of Arab cinema's Cinderella, Suad Hosni, after she fell from a building in the Maida Vale district of London on Friday, Egypt's Al Ahram newspaper said, without speculating about whether she committed suicide.
AFP quoted the paper as saying that Hosni, 57, fell from the sixth floor of the building.
Earlier reports said that Hosni died after ten years of suffering from a disease of the spinal column that left her paralyzed.
Egyptian TV programs were interrupted to announce the death of the star, and the president gave instructions to make the necessary arrangements to bring her body home from London.
The late artist, who is the sister of the singer Najat Assaghira, was discovered by director Henry Barakat. He gave Hosni her first starring role in the film Hasan Wa Naemah (Hasan and Naemah) in 1959.
Throughout her career, Hosni took leading roles in 75 films. She was the first artist to get the post office to sell tickets for her smash hit Khalli Balak Min Zoozoo (Beware of Zoozoo) directed by Hasan Al Imam and costarring Hussein Fahmi for one whole year in Egypt in 1973.
The late actress costarred alongside Ahmed Zaki in the series Huwa Wa Hiyya (He and She), which is considered one of the most important series ever aired by an Arab TV station.
The last appearance of the late star was in the film Alrae’y Wannisaa (The Shepherd and Women) along with Zaki and Yusra. Hosni performed her role very well despite her severe illness.
Critics have rated Hosni the best Egyptian actress by choosing nine of her films for inclusion among the best 100 films in Egyptian cinema history.
The late star played both tragic and comic roles, and excelled in musical films.
Before her death, Hosni suffered from a disease in the spinal column, and after 1988 was stricken with facial paralysis. The treatment she received caused her depression and anxiety.
The late star went to London for treatment four years ago and many rumors spread regarding her return home due to the high cost of treatment and residence, as the government money allocated for that purpose was not sufficient. This compelled the star to work during her sickness.
During her stay in the hospital, Hosni recorded many programs for one of the Arab broadcasting stations.
The late star married to director Ali Bader Khan in the late 1960s, and wedded screenwriter Maher Awwad before she got sick, starring in most of the films he scripted - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
