Morjana Alaoui (Arabic: مرجانة العلوي; born November 30, 1982)[1] is a Moroccan actress. She is best known for her starring roles in director Laila Marrakchi's Marock and Rock the Casbah, films which dealt with sexual taboos, cultural and religious values, and female emancipation in Morocco.[2] She also starred in Pascal Laugier's horror film Martyrs, [3] a polarizing film and associated with the New French Extremity movement.[4]

Morjana Alaoui
Born (1982-11-30) November 30, 1982 (age 41)
Casablanca, Morocco
NationalityMoroccan
EducationAmerican University
OccupationActress

Biography

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Alaoui spent her early life in the Anfa neighborhood of Casablanca, Morocco,[1] and studied at the Casablanca American School.[5] At 18, Alaoui moved to Paris, France, where she studied at the American University of Paris. While attending the university, she met director Laila Marrakchi, who offered her a role in the film Marock (2005).[1] Marock was critically acclaimed and provided Alaoui national fame.[1] In 2007, she began filming Martyrs, for which she is also known.[6] In 2016 Alaoui starred in psychological thriller Broken directed by Shaun Robert Smith.[7]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Haters Elise Collier
2005 Marock Rita
2008 Martyrs Anna
2009 The Two Lives of Daniel Shore Imane
2010 Le Rodba Nina Short film
2010 Golakani Kirkuk Najla
2011 Special Forces Maina
2013 Rock the Casbah Sofia
2013 Traitors Jad
2014 The Hybrid Lyla Healy
2014 The Red Tent Ahouri Miniseries
2016 Broken (aka The Myth of Hopelessness) Evie
2017 Burnout Ines

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Morjana Alaoui". Tout Le Cine. Challenges. Retrieved January 31, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (2020-03-23). "Federation Entertainment Boards Laila Marrakchi's Female-Driven Show 'Casa Girls' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  3. ^ "Morjana Alaoui à l'affiche du film français". Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2011.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Exclusive Interview: Martyrs Director Pascal Laugier - ShockTillYouDrop.com". 2010-12-25. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  5. ^ "Morjana Alaoui raconte son dernier film, Martyrs". Bladi. June 21, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "Martyrs Interview". View London. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "Broken". Grimmfest Film Festival. 2016-09-02. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
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