Sabah Lebanese actress and singer Date of Birth: 10.11.1927 Country: Lebanon

1. Sabah: An Icon of Style and Talent
2. Early Life and Career
3. A Prolific Career
4. A Life Full of Controversy
5. The End of an Era

Sabah: An Icon of Style and Talent

Sabah, a Lebanese actress and singer, bid farewell to the world in November 2014, at the age of 87. She left behind a legacy of 3,500 songs, nearly 100 film roles, and two dozen roles on the theater stage. Sabah was not only an icon of style in her homeland of Lebanon, but she was also a global figure, holding citizenship in Lebanon, the United States, Jordan, and Egypt. Throughout her life, Sabah captivated journalists, as her personal life was incredibly eventful and perpetually sparked interest. She was married seven times, or according to some sources, nine times, which is particularly remarkable considering she came from an Arab background.

Early Life and Career

Born as Jeanette Gergis Al-Feghali in 1927 in Bdadoun, Greater Lebanon, Sabah had a difficult childhood. Her father was harsh and abusive, often subjecting her to physical abuse and confiscating the money she earned. To escape the horrors of her home life, Sabah married at a young age. Unfortunately, her mother was killed by her own brother, who accused her of infidelity. Sabah possessed remarkable artistic abilities, and by the 1940s, she began appearing in Egyptian films as a singer. Her talent was highly praised by director Henry Barakat. Her breakthrough as an actress came with the film "El Alb Laho Wahed," and from then on, she acted in numerous Lebanese and Egyptian films.

A Prolific Career

Sabah's acting career was incredibly fruitful, with her filmography consisting of at least 98 movies by the end of her life. She was adored and even worshipped by audiences, not just in the Arab world, but also in Europe. In France, she even performed a duet with Enrico Macias. Sabah also had immense success in the music industry, reigning over the Lebanese music scene, with her songs resonating everywhere. By the end of her life, she had released more than 50 studio albums, and her musical legacy consisted of 3,500 songs, setting a record of its own.

A Life Full of Controversy

Sabah, a stunning blonde, constantly kept her fans on their toes with her intriguing love affairs. These relationships were followed with both admiration and criticism, given the conservative nature of the Arab world. She was married at least seven times, with some of her relationships causing significant scandal. One particularly talked-about affair occurred in 2003 when she, already in her seventies, became involved with a 20-year-old beauty pageant winner named Omar Mehyo. While it was challenging to believe in love in this situation, the couple appeared together publicly, despite the gossip and rumors. Although some sources claimed they had an official wedding, it was later revealed that Sabah and Mr. Lebanon engaged in this relationship for the sake of publicity. Their union lasted only a year, and Sabah's true companion remained Joseph Harib, her stylist, with whom she never officially married. Sabah had two children, a son and a daughter, from her nine marriages.

The End of an Era

In the last decade of her life, rumors of Sabah's death circulated frequently but were repeatedly proven false. This deeply saddened the singer. Unfortunately, on November 26, 2014, Sabah passed away at the age of 87 in her home in Beirut. The details and cause of her death were not disclosed. While she was still alive, a biographical television film called "Al Shahrourah" was released, based on her life story. Sabah greatly enjoyed the film and considered it a significant success, despite a few inaccuracies with which she disagreed.