Egyptian actress Igalal Zaki made an emotional return to the media spotlight after a long absence, opening up about deeply personal and shocking details of her life—particularly the difficult period following the death of her son, which led to severe physical and psychological health crises that drastically changed her life.

In a televised interview, Zaki described the death of her son as a tragic turning point. She revealed that shortly afterward, she suffered partial paralysis due to intense emotional shock and distress.

“I have a bit of a fiery personality,” she said. “After my son passed away, I experienced a very strong emotional reaction, and from that moment, I became partially paralyzed. I didn’t even realize what was happening. I went to the hospital, then to neurologists, but I was treating the situation lightly—I wasn’t grasping the magnitude of what was unfolding.”

She continued: “The doctors told me I had a tumor that had to be removed immediately. I underwent a 12-hour surgery. My daughter and my father refused to sign the medical consent form out of fear, so I signed it myself because the situation was critical. When I woke up after the surgery, I found my hair had been shaved off—I was very attached to it. The surgical stitches were thick and black. I was in a terrible psychological state.”

Zaki also spoke of another health crisis that was discovered by chance, after a series of emotional hardships.

Open-Heart Surgery

She recalled, “Six years ago, the son of a relative I considered like a mother passed away. She broke down during the funeral. I was by her side, and I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I went for a routine check-up, and the doctor told me I had 80% blockage in two arteries. I didn’t believe it at first, so I went to our family cardiologist. He performed an exploratory catheterization and found a third artery was 100% blocked. I had to undergo open-heart surgery.”

Despite these painful experiences, Igalal Zaki captured public attention with her graceful and vibrant appearance. Audiences praised her for maintaining her elegance and features with strength and faith, seeing her as a symbol of refined art and resilient womanhood.