Nora Hamzawi

Nora Hamzawi (born 29 April 1983 in Cannes, France) is a prominent French humorist, actress, comedian, writer, and television columnist whose career spans over a decade of innovative comedy and cultural commentary. Raised in Paris after her family moved from the Riviera, Hamzawi possesses Syrian heritage through her mother, a background that subtly informs her observational humor and adds a multicultural layer to her performances. She briefly pursued law before abandoning it after three weeks, opting instead for studies in information communication at IUT Paris Descartes and later marketing, advertising, and communication at CELSA, while simultaneously training at the prestigious Cours Florent and Atelier Fanny Vallon, which honed her theatrical skills. Her breakthrough arrived in 2009 with her debut one‑woman show at Théâtre Le Bout, earning her national exposure at the Just for Laughs festival in Nantes the same year, and establishing her reputation as a bold, unconventional voice in French comedy. Hamzawi’s television presence grew when she competed on Laurent Ruquier’s On n’demande qu’à en rire (2011‑2012), where despite an early elimination she garnered significant public attention, prompting veteran actor Jean Benguigui to remark on her unique stage presence. From 2013 onward she created the popular “Oh‑Oh de Nora” segment on Le Before du Grand Journal, later joining Le Grand Journal as a columnist and subsequently Quotidien where she presents the “Nora a la réponse” column answering children’s questions with wit. In addition to television, Hamzawi has contributed as a writer to the sitcom Scènes de ménages, appeared in numerous films such as Non‑Fiction (2018) and Alice and the Mayor (2019), and authored the book 30 ans (10 ans de thérapie) in 2016, cementing her status as a versatile and influential figure in contemporary French entertainment.