(She/Her)

Helen Al-Janabi

About me

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(She/Her)

Helen Al-Janabi

About me

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An Arabic-speaking actress from Syria, now living in Sweden. Over the last two years, I have acted in six TV and film productions, including two lead roles. 2023 I performed at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. 

I was born and raised in Damascus to a Syrian-Iraqi family and completed my education at the Syrian Academy of Theater from 2001 to 2005.

In 2015–2016, I collaborated with Malmö City Theatre and pursued studies in theater directing and playwriting. I also participated in the Sundance Institute Theater Lab, a program supporting theater practitioners from the Middle East.

One of my most significant achievements is founding Arabiska Teatern in 2016, Sweden’s only professional Arabic-speaking theater group, and one of only two in Europe. To date, we have performed for over 20,000 people in more than 400 shows.

Our debut production was The Little Prince, followed by Northern Lights, Don Quijote, and Midnight Sun. We also adapted Northern Lights and Midnight Sun into films, with Northern Lights distributed on TV across the Middle East and the US. During the pandemic, I directed Heroines, a feminist children's play in Arabic, which was performed more than 70 times. In 2022, I wrote and directed Survivors, a play in Arabic about the Holocaust, which we are currently touring. Additionally, I am touring with shadow plays for children in 2025.

I have been recognized for my artistic and intercultural contributions with several prestigious awards, including the Swedish National Artists' Committee’s ten-year work scholarship in 2018, the Michael Nyqvist Award in 2022, and the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arabic Culture.

I hold a Swedish passport, allowing me to travel internationally with ease.

I speak Arabic fluently and can speak different Arabic dialects. I can of course also read Arabic. I speak Swedish and English.

Helen Al-Janabi
Actor34-55 yearsSwedish
Place of residence Stockholm (SE)
Genderfemale
Year of birth1979 (45 years)
Place of birthDamascus, Syria
Working permitsEuropean Union (EU-27)
Housing optionsBerlin (DE)
AssociationsScen & Film - The Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Film
SpecializationsTheater
Eye colordark brown
Hair colorblack
Height (cm)156
Weight (in kg)58
LanguagesArabic(native)EnglishSwedish
DialectsArabic - EgyptianArabic - GulfArabic - Levantine(native dialect)Iraqi Arabic
AccentsArabic
DanceBelly danceFolk dance
Training
Primary professional training
Awards
2023
UNESCO – Sharjah Prize for Arabic Culture
2018
Michael Nyqvist Award
Film
2025
2028 (Short film) In development
Julia Ammouri Jacob Bernhardtz
2025
The Dark Knight (Feature film) In development
Supporting role
Uwe Boll BorVel Jozo Schmuch
2023
Bullets picture
Bullets (Cinema film)
Halima (MR)
Peter Pontikis Thin Skin films Tri Star Peter Pontikis
Television
2023 – 2025
"Half, Half" aka "Home in You" / Halva, Halva picture
"Half, Half" aka "Home in You" / Halva, Halva (Drama) In development
Main role
Alexander Abdullah, Mustafa Al-Mashhadani, Julia Lindström Viaplay Alexander Abdullah, Mustafa Al-Mashhadani, Julia Lindström
2023 – 2025
Breakthrough / Genombrottet (Drama)
Supporting role
FLX Netflix Oskar Söderlund
2024
From Inside / Från insidan picture
From Inside / Från insidan (Drama)
Bilals Mother (SR)
(2024). Director: Filip Iversen. TV series. SVT Drama SVT Malmö (Swedish National Television) SVT SVT (Swedish National Television) Sanne Övermark
2020
”Beartown” / ”Björnstad” (2020). Director: Actor. TV series, HBO Nordic. picture
”Beartown” / ”Björnstad” (2020). Director: Actor. TV series, HBO Nordic. (Drama)
Supporting role
Peter Grönlund HBO Nordic Fredrik Backman
2007
”Al-Ejtiyah” (2008) (Series)
Shawqi Almajery
Theater
2023
Maktens diskreta charm picture
Maktens diskreta charm (Drama)
Mohammad Al Attar Royal Dramatic Theatre Dramaten Mohammad Al Attar
2022
Survivors picture
Survivors (Drama)
Main role
Helen Al-Janabi Arabiska Teatern Waessem Alsharqi & Helen Al-Janabi