This Mother’s Day, we’re rejecting the expectation of what mothers should be and celebrating them for who they are.
On Mother’s Day, we’re reminded of everything mothers bring into the world—not just life and love, but laughter, tears, and unforgettable moments in media. This Ramadan, onscreen mums have truly stolen the show.
People often say mothers are selfless, sacrificing everything for their families. While some do, others choose to balance motherhood with maintaining their own sense of self. Some mothers seek out their children, while others become mothers in ways they never expected. Some mother their own parents, siblings, or even entire communities.
Motherhood has always been complex, and Egyptian media is capturing its many forms more evocatively than ever. To celebrate, we’ve rounded up our favourite onscreen mums this Ramadan. They’re not all saintly figures of sacrifice—but they are all iconic.
Fawzeya | Kamel El Adad
Fawzeya has two daughters - or rather, two daughters-in-law, a trope that has often been tainted with judgement and a heartbreaking lack of motherly affection. Fawzeya, however, is different. She remains involved in her daughter-in-law Layla’s life even after she remarries, and starts living with her other daughter-in-law Badra (played, of course, by Badra) after her son passes away. When a man that Badra meets takes advantage of her for financial gain, Fawzeya creates an elaborate plan to avenge her. Honestly, we love a scheming mum.
Layla | Kamel El Adad
Kamel El Adad’s Layla is the most mum a mum can be; she has eight kids, five of which are her biological children, and the remaining three are just as loved and cared for. Layla proves that a mum does not just have to be the person whose name is on your birth certificate, it’s the person who chooses you over and over, without conditions or expectations.
Hayat | Kamel El Adad
It’s not something we see often that a mum is unaware of the existence of one of her children. Unlike dads, mums actually have to carry the baby for nine months, and babies are not that difficult to misplace. Hayat, Ahmed’s mother and Layla’s mother-in-law, was put in this odd situation when a woman showed up at her door claiming that she was her daughter. Hayat discovered that she was deceived by her first ex-husband, who told her that she had a miscarriage but instead fled with her baby to Canada. Despite the gravity of the situation, Hayat takes her daughter Shadia in and loves her all the same.
Mervat | Nos El Shaab Esmo Mohamed
Mervat is not a regular mum; she’s a cool mum. Played by the iconic Sherine, whose motherly roles have always been a warm presence in Egyptian cinema, Mervat exits the conventional role of the sacrificial mum who gives up everything for her children - because why should she? This mum looks out for herself, is repeatedly going into business, and is absolutely hilarious - all whilst carrying a kindness that, when given to the right people (like Batta), might just get her what she deserves.
Fatma (Batta) | Nos El Shaab Esmo Mohamed
Played by Rania Youssef, Batta is just as fierce as the actress who plays her. This mum does not play around when it comes to the well-being of her daughter or that of her own; she will put up a fight and she will win. Batta doesn’t let anything hold her back, not her husband’s snide comments, not her hateful sister, and definitely not the expectation that she’s too old and should just stay home and tend to her daughter.
Nelly | Lam Shamseya
In a show that tackles a subject matter as sensitive as the sexual abuse of children, the way a child’s guardians react becomes paramount. Lam Shamseya’s Nelly, played by Amina Khalil, appears loving from the start, and endlessly devoted to the well-being of her family. When Nelly is convinced that a close family friend is taking advantage of her stepson, Youssef, she immediately steps in to protect him. In the events that follow, everyone doubts Nelly, but she continues to do the most to keep Youssef in a safe and supportive environment, believing the signs of trauma he exhibits even before he recounts what happened. Although untrained as to how to deal with such a complex situation, Nelly constantly tries to educate herself on ways to support her child, and her immediate validation of Youssef’s experience is revolutionary.
Amina | Welad El Shams
At El Shams Orphanage, there are dozens of little boys and only one mother figure. None of the children are Amina’s biological kids, but she cares for them tirelessly, supporting them even when no one else does. While Ebeid, the other caretaker, aligns himself with the orphanage’s owner, Amina consistently stands by the children like a true mother—covering for them and standing up to Baba Maged.
Howaida | Welad El Shams
Wel’a, played by Ahmed Malek, spends most of the 15-episode run of Welad El Shams—and his life—searching for his mother. After years of showing strangers a picture he had carried since childhood, he finally finds Howaida. Initially hesitant—having been told her son had died long ago—she quickly welcomes Wel’a into her life, eager to learn about him. Understanding that his world is different from hers, she accepts him, his choices, and his life without hesitation.
Nahed | Ikhwaty
The first aspect of Nahed’s character that qualifies her for mum status is that she’s the oldest sibling out of four sisters. Throughout the show, she tirelessly cleans up after her troublesome sisters, and puts them before anyone else. Even the warm bond the sisters share is likely thanks to her love; she built this bond as each of them entered her world. After desperately trying for children of her own, Nahed was given the unfortunate news that she had reached menopause early. When she tried and failed to adopt a child from multiple orphanages, Nahed switched careers, running a neighbourhood orphanage herself and taking on a motherly role over all the children there.
