Loubna Abidar

Loubna Abidar (born 20 September 1985) is a Moroccan actress whose rise to international attention began with her striking debut in Much Loved, a socially charged drama directed by Nabil Ayouch. Born in Marrakesh to a Berber father and an Arab mother, she grew up at the intersection of two vibrant cultural traditions, which later informed her nuanced performances and deep connection to Moroccan societal issues. After years of studying acting and participating in local theater, Abidar was cast in the lead role of Much Loved, a film that explores the lives of sex workers in Casablanca and quickly became a lightning rod for controversy. The Moroccan Ministry of Communication banned the film in 2015, labeling it a serious outrage to moral values, yet the controversy propelled Abidar onto the global stage, earning her the Best Actress award at the 2015 Gijón International Film Festival and a nomination for the César Award for Best Actress in January 2016. In November 2015, while promoting the film in Casablanca, Abidar was violently attacked by an unknown assailant, an incident that forced her to leave Morocco and seek refuge in France, where she continued her acting career and advocacy for artistic freedom. Her experience underscores the precarious balance between artistic expression and societal constraints in contemporary Morocco, and she has since become a vocal supporter of women’s rights and cultural openness. Despite the challenges, Loubna Abidar remains active in the industry, appearing in subsequent French and Moroccan productions, and she is widely regarded as a symbol of resilience and courage in the face of censorship. As of today, her career spans from 2012 to the present, reflecting an unwavering commitment to storytelling that transcends borders and sparks essential conversations.