Egyptian actress Riham Abdel Ghafour opened her heart recently, revealing a deeply human and painful side of her life, confirming that the death of her father, the renowned artist Ashraf Abdel Ghafour, was the hardest moment she has ever experienced.

Riham said in an interview on a television program: “Life lost its flavor after my father passed away… I no longer taste food, I am not afraid of death, and success doesn’t feel the same as before.” She explained that her father was her true support and safe haven, and his passing left her in a constant state of insecurity, to the point that she described herself after this tragedy as “lost.”

Psychological Struggles After the Loss

Riham admitted that she suffered from panic attacks and repeated emotional breakdowns, to the extent that she feared losing her ability to act. She also noted that she could not watch her father’s works for a long time to avoid reawakening feelings of grief, but over time, she managed to overcome the pain and regain her emotional balance.

Criticism Over Her Natural Appearance

Riham also spoke about the backlash she faced on social media after appearing in a TikTok video showing some wrinkles on her face. She said she was surprised by hurtful comments, some claiming she had aged, while others accused her of undergoing failed cosmetic procedures.

“I Stopped Botox Injections”

Riham clarified that she had never had any cosmetic surgery, and only tried Botox injections two or three times before stopping completely, as she felt it restricted her facial expressions and threatened her acting ability. She added: “I decided to live naturally and accept my appearance… wrinkles are not a flaw; they are part of our lives,” affirming that she is completely content with herself.

Defending Her Son Before Herself

Interestingly, Riham emphasized that her responses to negative comments were not motivated by public opinion, but were instead a defense of her young son, who fears the idea of losing her and is upset when her age is discussed. She added that she does not give much weight to such criticism, as what matters most to her is her own self-acceptance and comfort with her appearance.

Behind the Scenes of “Zolm El-Mastaba”

During the interview, Riham also shared behind-the-scenes details from the series “Zolm El-Mastaba” with actor Fathi Abdel Wahab, expressing great admiration for his talent. She explained that she faced a tough scene involving a strong slap, but Fathi immediately apologized even though it was part of his character, as he was reluctant to actually hit her. She added that his role in the series is completely different from the character he played in “Hamada Koshary.”