Tolin Elbakry after Dana Mardini’s retirement: "I see her as one of the finest stars in the Arab world"
Tolin Elbakry: "Dana Mardini, with her great name, is far more significant than many of those who climbed the tree of art undeservedly"
Tolin Elbakry: "The withdrawal of an artist of Dana Mardini's caliber should not go unnoticed"
The sudden announcement by Syrian actress Dana Mardini of her retirement from the art scene has sparked widespread reactions, most notably from fellow actress Tolin Elbakry, who expressed deep sorrow and full solidarity with Mardini, calling the decision "an irreplaceable loss for the Arab artistic landscape."
In a long and emotional Instagram post, Elbakry wrote: “Although my personal acquaintance with her was brief years ago, artistically, I consider her one of the finest stars in the Arab world. In fact, had the concerned artistic authorities — production companies, directors, and industry peers — paid just a bit more attention to her incredible talent... If only we understood what real art and the acting profession truly mean, and if we appreciated how to properly nurture an actor without favoritism or marginalizing innate brilliance, her place today would be global.”
She continued with sharp criticism: “I say this without any exaggeration — Dana Mardini, with her great name, is worth far more than many of those who climbed the branches of art unfairly and became today’s ‘stars’ for reasons that have nothing to do with real artistry — such as connections, cliques, favoritism, marketing, and so on.”
A True Void
Tolin emphasized that the artistic scene is currently suffering from “a true void of authentic voices,” stressing that “the withdrawal of an artist of Dana Mardini’s caliber should not go unnoticed.” She added: “For all the reasons mentioned, I personally hope our beloved star Dana Mardini reconsiders her decision. We are truly starved for genuine talent like yours — we need you to help define what true art and artists should be.”
Tolin concluded her heartfelt message by expressing understanding for Dana’s decision: “Although I deeply understand your reasons for retiring — since I’m going through a similar struggle myself — I fully acknowledge and accept that your artistic level surpasses mine. I’m very proud of you. All my love, Dana Mardini. ??”
She ended her post with the hashtag: #Dana_Mardini_Do_Not_Retire_From_Art_Because_Art_Has_Left_Us
