Ahmed Muhammad Helmy Abdel Rahman Awwad (; born 18 November 1968) is an Egyptian actor. He began his career in 1993 as host of the children's program Leib Eyal (Kids' Play) on the Egyptian Satellite Channel. Helmy made his film debut in 1998 with Aboud at the Border (Aboud Ala El Hedoud), which introduced him to a wider audience. Over the following two decades, he became one of the most popular comedians in Egyptian cinema, known for leading roles in commercially successful films such as El Nazer (2000), Keda Reda (2007), and X-Large (2011).
Early life Helmy was born in Banha, Qalyubiyya Governorate, Egypt. He is the middle of three siblings, between his brother Khaled and sister Sally. At the age of eight, he moved with his family to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where his father was employed. After living there for ten years, he returned to Egypt and enrolled in the Academy of Arts, graduating in 1993 from the High Institute for Theatre Arts.
Career Ahmed Helmy began his acting career with a role in the television series Decent People (1993), before establishing himself in the media industry as a television presenter on several programs broadcast by Egyptian satellite channels. After gaining popularity through television, he transitioned to cinema, making his feature-film debut in Aboud on the Borders (1999), which became his breakthrough role. He subsequently established himself as one of Egypt’s leading comedic actors and stars.
Some of his most successful films include “Mido Mashakel” (2003), “Sayea Bahr” (2004), “Zaki Chan” (2005), “Keda Reda” (2007), “Asal Aswad” (2010), and “Wahed Tani” (2022). At the 15th Malmö Arab Film Festival, Helmy was honored for his contribution to Arab cinema. Festival president Mouhamad Keblawi described him as one of Arab cinema’s most distinguished stars, highlighting his work across both comedy and drama and his ability to address social issues through humor and human sensitivity. Helmy has received numerous awards from Egyptian and international festivals and has also served as a UNICEF Regional Ambassador, supporting initiatives concerning children’s rights and mental health awareness. Other ventures Helmy was a judge on the Arab talent show, “Arabs Got Talent,” for its third season. He is also the author of a book called “28 Letters.”
Filmography
Acting +Feature films and televisionNo.YearTitleRole11999Aboud at the Border ()Saeed22000El Nazer (The Headmaster, )Atef32000Omar 2000 ()Saeed42000Leh Khaletny Ahebak? (Why Did You Make Me Love You?, )Zakaria52001Elsellem Wel Te'ban (Snakes and Ladders, )Ahmed6200155 Es'af (Ambulance 55, )Sayed72001Rehlet Hob (Love Journey, )Ramze82001Hakim Ayon (Eye Doctor, )Helmy92003Mido Mashakel (Mido the Troublemaker, )Mido102003Sahar El Layali (Sleepless Nights, )Amr112004Saye' Bahr (The Beach Loafer, )Hasan "Hantirah"122005Zaki Chan ()Zaki Salem El-Asyuti132006Zarf Tarek (Tarek's Situation, )Tarek Hasan El-Wakil142006El Cinderella ()Aziz152006Khalliteni Mogreman (Made Me a Criminal, )Rushdi Sarhan Abaza162006Matab Sena'i (Traffic Signal, )Mimi172007Keda Reda ()Reda (triple role)182008Asf Ala El-Ezaag (Sorry for the Disturbance, )Hasan Salah El-Din192009Alf Mabrouk (1000 Congratulations, )Ahmed Galal202010Asal Eswed (Bittersweet, )Masri Sayyed El-Arabi212010El Gama'a (The Group, Season 1, )Mohammed Awny Abdulsattar222010Bolbol Hayran (Bewildered Bolbol, )Bolbol232011X-Large ()Magdi / Adel242013Ala Gothety (On My Dead Body, )Raouf252014La Mo'akhza (Excuse My French, )Narrator (voice)262014El Amalia Messi (Operation Messi, )Messi (voice)272014Made in Egypt ()Alaa El-Faresy / Panda282016Laf W Dawaran (Flimflam, )Nour Rabbani292017Horob Edterary (Forced Escape, )Cameo302019Khayal Ma'ata (Scarecrow, )Yakan Fuad Sanhour / Aziz312022Wahed Tani (Another One, )Mustafa
Writing +ScreenwritingNo.YearTitle11998Leib Eyal (Child’s Play, )2201118 Days
Producing +ProductionNo.YearTitle12013Asia22014Countdown ()32014Made in Egypt
Personal life In 2002, Helmy married Egyptian actress Mona Zaki. They have three children: Lily, Salim, and Younis.
Helmy is the founder of the production company Shadows Communications and the author of the book 28 Harf.
In 2014, he revealed that he had undergone surgery in the United States to remove a tumor from his back.
Helmy has collaborated with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to promote its "Food for Education" project, in partnership with the snack brand Chipsy.
References