Hiam Abbass

Hiam Abbass is a Palestinian actress and film director who also holds Israeli and French citizenship. Though she started her career in 1989, she is most recognized for her roles in noted films like The Syrian Bride (2004), Paradise Now (2005), Free Zone (2005), Munich (2005), The Visitor (2007), Lemon Tree (2008), Insyriated (2017), and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). She played a poignant role as Marcia Roy in the HBO drama series Succession (2018–2023) and has acted in the Channel 4 series The Promise (2011), the Lifetime miniseries The Red Tent (2014), the Hulu comedy series Ramy (2019–present), and the Hulu drama series The Old Man (2022).

Born on 30 November 1960 in Nazareth, Israel, Abbass spent her early life in the nearby village of Deir Hanna. In the late 1980s, she moved to Paris, France. Abbass demonstrated a unique insight during the filming of Munich in 2005, bridging gaps between Arab and Israeli actors through regular discussions. She is not only an accomplished actress but also a respected director, credited for two short films, Le Pain (2001), and La Danse éternelle (2004). She is known for nuanced characters in various international films, including Red Satin, Haifa, Dawn of the World, Amreeka, and others. In 2012, she was a jury member at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.