Maryam Al-Jundi: My character in 'What You See Is Not What It Seems' helped me rediscover myself

Sada News - The artist Maryam Al-Jundi is one of the young faces who has made her way steadily in Egyptian drama, without relying on her artistic family, as she has proven her presence in several television and cinematic works in recent years, especially during Ramadan drama, and has stood alongside many stars.

Despite her short artistic journey so far, she has attracted attention with her ability to embody diverse characters that carry complex human dimensions, which has made her one of the most prominent rising names that critics expect to have a promising future in the artistic scene.

In her latest appearance, artist Maryam Al-Jundi spoke with "Al-Arabiya.net" about her participation in the series "What You See Is Not What It Seems," which is shown on the "Shahid" platform, and the reason for her attraction to it. She also talked about the character "Maryam" that she portrayed during the events, the difficulties she faced, how she prepared for the character, the training she underwent, and revealed behind-the-scenes details about the series and her relationship with her colleague artist Ahmed Khaled Saleh and director Jamal Khazim.

"A real addition to my journey"

Maryam Al-Jundi stated that her participation in the series "What You See Is Not What It Seems" and the story "Flashback" was a different experience that constituted a real addition to her journey, as this role is completely different from what she has presented before in her previous works.

She explained that the title alone was enough to stimulate her curiosity, affirming that the phrase "What You See Is Not What It Seems" is not just a title for a series, but reflects a reality we all live in, where the apparent is not always the truth. When she read the work, she was attracted to it and the character she plays and agreed immediately.

She added that her participation in the story "Flashback" came from her deep attraction to the character "Maryam" that she presents, describing it as a very rich character full of contradictions, as it combines dance, painting, and family life, while expressing both tenderness and strength and fragility at the same time. She pointed out that reading just one scene from the script was enough to give her the motivation to agree to take on the experience.

Special preparations for the role

Al-Jundi explained that the role required special preparation on both physical and spiritual levels, as she underwent intensive dance training with a specialized trainer, and also tried to get closer to the experience of painters to understand their relationship with colors and paintings, affirming that the dance in the work was not just a display, but a parallel language to words, expressing internal emotions that are sometimes difficult to convey through dialogue.

She noted that the behind-the-scenes atmosphere was comfortable and supportive, as she shared many scenes with artist Ahmed Khaled Saleh, "He is a wonderful actor and easy to deal with," affirming that his presence in front of the camera creates a positive energy that helps her embody her character more authentically. She also praised director Jamal Khazim, who was precise in his directions and ensured that each actor maintained the uniqueness of the character they presented, without losing harmony with the spirit of the story.

Al-Jundi confirmed that the experience was also rich on the production level, as the producing company provided a professional working atmosphere that gave the actors the confidence and support needed to present their best. She added that working within 7 different stories in one series adds visual and dramatic diversity that keeps the viewer in a state of continuous passion, away from monotony and repetition.

She considered that "Flashback" was not just a dramatic work, but a window for deep human reflections, as it raises questions about the past that haunts a person, and about images that may deceive the eye, but ultimately expose the heart. She hopes that the audience finds some of themselves in the character "Maryam," and "that the messages of the work reach as she personally felt them."