Beirut is a city of charming contrasts, forever imprinting itself upon those who wander its streets. “I find inspiration everywhere I look in Beirut,” muses Marilyne Naaman (Instagram), actress, singer, screenwriter, and director, whose artistic spirit found its soul in the heart of this beguiling metropolis. “No two streets look the same in Beirut,” she says, “you can endlessly daydream and wander.” Beirut’s allure extends far beyond its charming facades, the city’s vibrant cultural history is imprinted on its Arabesque Ottoman buildings and the remnants of Roman and Byzantine structures that dot its landscape.
Yet, for Marilyne Naaman, it is not the physical beauty that holds the true essence of Beirut, but its people. “What always motivates me to push forward is their spirit and determination,” she says. Despite the city’s ongoing struggles, she adds, “Beirut is always alive with energy, voices, aromas.” The city’s streets became her playground, its architecture a wellspring of creativity, and its people a constant source of motivation. Today, Naaman speaks of Beirut in warm reminiscences, and a voice brimming with admiration and gratitude for the place that shaped the artist she is today.
A luminous talent honed in the cultural heart of Beirut, Naaman outgrew every box she was placed in, blossoming from a promising young actress into a multi-faceted creative powerhouse. Born in 1998, Naaman seamlessly transitioned from celebrated teenage roles to portrayals of self-assured women with a depth and nuance that belies her years. Her expressive face, a canvas of endearing features, effortlessly adapts to diverse roles, mirroring her own artistic metamorphosis as she matures.
Her artistic roots were nurtured through her studies in audio-visual cinema at Notre-Dame University in Lebanon and the esteemed Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart, Germany. This period of intense study was also one of deep introspection for Naaman, who recalls, “I was immersed fully in this world. Although my studies were rich in information and opened up a lot of doors and windows for me, looking back, I think this was more of a time of self-discovery for me, with myself. I was listening to myself and trying to unravel who I am as an artist. What are the tools I can use to express myself?” This journey of self-discovery led to an exploration of different creative outlets: “During this period, I was experimenting. And I found myself in more than one practice.”
This period of experimentation and artistic exploration culminated in a diverse range of roles in local and international short films, as well as prominent series on Shahid and Netflix. She even shared the screen with the iconic French actress Nathalie Baye in the critically acclaimed feature film “La Nuit Du Verre D’eau” (Mother Valley), directed by the celebrated Lebanese-French filmmaker Carlos Chahine. Her performance garnered further accolades, solidifying her position as a rising star in the global film industry.
Naaman’s star ascended with her breakout role as Layla, a young woman navigating the societal constraints of 1950s Lebanon while awakening to her own desires. Her mesmerizing performance earned her the Best Actress award at the prestigious Amman International Film Festival. She further cemented her acting prowess as Farah, a gifted student and singer wrestling with an ultraconservative, patriarchal society in the wildly popular TV series “Aa Amal.” The series’ triumph propelled Naaman onto a musical path, leading to the release of her acclaimed album featuring songs penned by the talented Jad Obeid.
Reflecting on the challenging themes explored in the series, Naaman shared, “I know that some topics we explored with Farah may be considered sensitive, but I think it is important that the audio-visual world paint a real picture and not be disconnected from reality and talk about all the pressing issues. I approached the role of Farah with love and understood the responsibility and gravity of such a role. Farah actually brought out so many emotions out of me.”
“I don’t care if the role is big or small. It matters that it speaks out to me. Once I commit to a role, I freeze my life completely and fully immerse myself in the world of that character.” For Naaman, the act of artistic expression is deeply intertwined with emotional release. “I’m a human being with emotions that I want to express,” she explains, “so I had to find the right tools.” Acting serves as the primary instrument in her creative arsenal. With an approach that borders on metamorphosis, she describes her process: “I fully inhabit the character, immersing myself in their traits, quirks, and worldview. I meticulously dissect every detail, ultimately embodying them completely.”
Naaman’s path to acting was clear, but her other talents, like her singing, needed some encouragement to blossom. She often sang and hummed, driven by pure instinct, as a way to express her emotions. People around her, drawn in by these snippets of song, urged her to share her voice more formally. Naaman, always attuned to her audience, listened and eventually embraced music alongside acting.
Surprisingly, she found music to be a more complete form of self-expression compared to acting. She described singing as an unfiltered, wholly personal creative act, where her voice, words, and melodies were entirely her own. Acting, in contrast, involved embodying someone else’s vision, making it less purely hers.
Her boundless creativity, while expansive and free-flowing, is underpinned by a pragmatic approach. “Everything I’ve ever done has been an answer to the question ‘What’s the next step?'” she explains. “I knew I wanted to be an actress, so I made a showreel. I auditioned for numerous castings, facing both rejection and acceptance. I created numerous short films. I took each step methodically. I believe this is the healthiest approach.” Unhurried yet determined, Marilyne Naaman possesses a clear vision and unwavering self-belief, embracing a steady, day-by-day ascent towards her goals.
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