---
name: "Hiam Abbass"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/hiam-abbass"
fi1m_id: "hiam-abbass"
imdb_id: "nm0007814"
tmdb_id: 765
wikidata_id: "Q177993"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 November 1960"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-07T19:44:17.209174+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Hiam Abbass

## Identity

Hiam Abbass

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/hiam-abbass
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** hiam-abbass
- **IMDb ID:** nm0007814
- **TMDB ID:** 765
- **Wikidata ID:** Q177993
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiam_Abbass, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177993, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007814/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/765

Actor. Born 30 November 1960 in Nazareth, Israel.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 November 1960, Nazareth, Israel
- **Active:** 2005–present
- **Also known as:** Hiam Soualem, Hiam Abbas, Hiyam Abbass, Iliam Abbass, 히암 압바스, هيام عباس, היאם עבאס
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 9: 8 acting, 1 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Ali Suliman](https://film.one/person/ali-suliman.md), [Lubna Azabal](https://film.one/person/lubna-azabal.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 72 (2), 2010s 67 (5), 2020s 64 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 68 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Thriller 3, History 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Comedy 1
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $848m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiam_Abbass, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177993, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007814/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/765

## Coming up

- *The Arab* (2026-11-04), as Mother

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Succession*](https://film.one/tv/succession.md) (88)
- **Apple TV:** [*Blade Runner 2049*](https://film.one/film/blade-runner-2049.md) (83)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Palestine 36*](https://film.one/film/palestine-36.md) (73)
- **Disney+:** [*Insidious: The Red Door*](https://film.one/film/insidious-the-red-door.md) (54)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Hiam Abbass

> Hiam Abbass gives supporting roles a quiet authority that makes their brevity frustrating. We value her watchfulness, but the Hollywood films we have reviewed offer only a narrow view of an actor whose breakthrough came as a lead.

In the classroom scene in *Insidious: The Red Door* (2023), Hiam Abbass gives Professor Armagan a watchfulness that deserves more attention than the film allows. Patrick Wilson's first film as director has feeling for its father and son, but gives her too little to do. Editors Michel Aller and Derek Ambrosi keep cutting between those men's separate stories, loosening the tension rather than building it. We were frustrated when the film cut away from Abbass's watchful classroom presence to Josh alone at home. There is someone worth spending time with here, and the film has other business.

Her breakthrough came with a lead, Lilia in *Satin Rouge* (2002). International work followed, including Marie Claude Hamshari in *Munich* (2005), where she also consulted on dialect and acting. *Lemon Tree* (2008) gave her another lead, Salma Zidane, and another opportunity to sustain a character beyond a few supporting scenes. She works across Arabic, French and English, in Arab, European and Hollywood productions. Those leading parts matter when considering her work: a handful of Hollywood appearances cannot give a fair account of what she does.

Denis Villeneuve's *Blade Runner 2049* (2017) is a much better film, patient and moving despite stretches that need a firmer cut. Abbass's Freysa is still a relatively brief part. We recommend the film, with that reservation for anyone approaching it chiefly for her. Its human focus is Ryan Gosling, and it cannot tell us much about what she can sustain as a lead.

*Succession* (2018–2023), with Abbass as Marcia Roy, offers a more useful example of her quiet authority within a large ensemble. She can make a supporting character feel substantial without needing the story to centre on her. But the classroom scene in *Insidious: The Red Door* shows the risk of relying on that quality without developing the part. For a fuller introduction, start with *Satin Rouge*; leave Professor Armagan for an evening when Abbass is not the main reason for watching.

## Biography

Hiam Abbass is a Palestinian actress and film director with Israeli and French citizenship. She was born on 30 November 1960 in Nazareth, Israel, and raised in Deir Hanna. She began acting in the 1980s with the Palestinian National Theatre El Hakawati in East Jerusalem and later studied photography before moving to Paris in the late 1980s.

Abbass is known for film roles including Marie Claude Hamshari in *Munich* (2005), Mouna Khalil in *The Visitor* (2008), Freysa in *Blade Runner 2049* (2017) and Professor Armagan in *Insidious: The Red Door* (2023). On television she played Marcia Roy in the HBO series *Succession* (2018–2023), for which she received a Primetime Emmy nomination, as well as appearances in *The OA* (2016) and *The Old Man* (2022). She has also directed feature films and shorts.

She was formerly married to actor Zinedine Soualem; their daughters are actress Mouna Soualem and director Lina Soualem.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, hollywoodreporter.com.*

## On Fi1m (9)

### Performed in (8) — the average rests on these

- *Palestine 36* (2025), Fi1m 73, as Hanan — [page](https://film.one/film/palestine-36.md)
- *Insidious: The Red Door* (2023), Fi1m 54, as Professor Armagan — [page](https://film.one/film/insidious-the-red-door.md)
- *Succession* (2018), Fi1m 88, as Marcia Roy — [page](https://film.one/tv/succession.md)
- *Blade Runner 2049* (2017), Fi1m 83, as Freysa — [page](https://film.one/film/blade-runner-2049.md)
- *The State* (2017), Fi1m 49, as Umm Salamah — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-state.md)
- *Exodus: Gods and Kings* (2014), Fi1m 52, as Bithia — [page](https://film.one/film/exodus-gods-and-kings.md)
- *I Am Slave* (2010), Fi1m 61, as Laila — [page](https://film.one/film/i-am-slave.md)
- *Munich* (2005), Fi1m 80, as Marie Claude Hamshari — [page](https://film.one/film/munich.md)

### Crew (1)

- *Babel* (2006), Fi1m 64, Dialogue Coach — [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md)

## Complete filmography (99)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Arab* (2026), as Mother
- *Atonement* (2026), as Mariam Khachaturian
- *La dernière heure* (2026), series, as Zeina
- *Only Rebels Win* (2026), as Suzanne
- *In a Whisper* (2026), as Wahida
- *Spices and Lies* (2025), as Souhila
- *Palestine 36* (2025), as Hanan — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/palestine-36.md)
- *No Beast. So Fierce.* (2025), as Mishal
- *Before What Comes After* (2025), as Ms. Broquet
- *Night* (2024), as Mother (voice)
- *Insidious: The Red Door* (2023), as Professor Armagan — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/insidious-the-red-door.md)
- *Hellraiser* (2022), as Menaker
- *The Old Man* (2022), series, as Abbey Chase
- *Oussekine* (2022), series, as Aïcha
- *Gaza Mon Amour* (2021), as Siham
- *Sofa So Good* (2020), Actor
- *The Swallows of Kabul* (2019), as Mussarat (voice)
- *Brother* (2019), as Madame Miroun
- *In Vitro* (2019), as Dunia
- *Ramy* (2019), series, as Maysa Hassan · Director
- *Succession* (2018), series, as Marcia Roy — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/succession.md)
- *Carnivores* (2018), as Amel, la mère
- *Blade Runner 2049* (2017), as Freysa — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/blade-runner-2049.md)
- *The State* (2017), series, as Umm Salamah — Fi1m 49, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-state.md)
- *In Syria* (2017), as Oum Yazan
- *I Still Hide to Smoke* (2017), as Fatima
- *The OA* (2016), series, as Khatun
- *Dégradé* (2016), as Eftikhar
- *Foreign Body* (2016), as Madame Bertaud
- *The Sense of Wonder* (2015), as Dr. Mélanie Ferenza
- *Nothing Escapes My Eyes* (2015), as Women
- *The Red Tent* (2014), series, as Queen Re-Nefer
- *Exodus: Gods and Kings* (2014), as Bithia — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/exodus-gods-and-kings.md)
- *De guerre lasse* (2014), as Raïssa
- *May in the Summer* (2014), as Nadine
- *Peace After Marriage* (2013), as Amani
- *Rock the Casbah* (2013), as Aicha
- *Le Donne della Vucciria* (2013), Director, Writer
- *Games of Clouds and Rain* (2013), as Blanche
- *Inheritance* (2012), as Samira · Director, Writer
- *Do Not Forget Me Istanbul* (2012), Actor
- *The Bag of Flour* (2012), as Yasmine
- *The Source* (2011), as Fatima
- *A Bottle in the Gaza Sea* (2011), as Intessar
- *The Promise* (2011), series, as Old Jawda
- *Miral* (2010), as Hidi Husseini
- *I Am Slave* (2010), as Laila — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/i-am-slave.md)
- *On bosse ici! On vit ici! On reste ici!* (2010), Co-Director
- *Habibti* (2010), as Iman
- *Everyday Is a Holiday* (2010), as Hala
- *Persecution* (2009), as Marie
- *Amreeka* (2009), as Raghda Halaby
- *Dawn of the World* (2009), as Mastour's mother
- *The Limits of Control* (2009), as Driver
- *Human Zoo* (2009), as Mina
- *Pomegranates and Myrrh* (2009), as Umm Habib
- *Spy(ies)* (2009), as Wafa
- *Kandisha* (2008), as Mona Bendrissi
- *Mateo Falcone* (2008), as La madre / Mother
- *The Wedding Guest* (2008), as Jénane (Voice)
- *A Police Romance* (2008), as Faty
- *Minor Revelations* (2008), Actor
- *The Visitor* (2008), as Mouna Khalil
- *Lemon Tree* (2008), as Selma Zidane
- *The Feelings Factory* (2008), as Professor Sterne
- *Blanche* (2008), as La voisine
- *Disengagement* (2007), as Hiam
- *Conversations with My Gardener* (2007), as The gardener's wife
- *The Nativity Story* (2006), as Anna
- *Babel* (2006), Dialogue Coach — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md)
- *Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest* (2006), as Jenane (voice)
- *Munich* (2005), as Marie Claude Hamshari — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/munich.md)
- *Paradise Now* (2005), as Said's Mother
- *The Demon Stirs* (2005), as Rim
- *Free Zone* (2005), as Leila
- *Sur les traces de Mélanie* (2005), as Madeleine
- *The Syrian Bride* (2004), as Amal
- *Nadia and Sarra* (2004), as Nadia
- *The Gate of the Sun* (2004), as Um Youness
- *La Danse Éternelle* (2004), Writer, Director
- *Tar Angel* (2003), as Naïma Kasmi
- *A Loving Father* (2002), as Salma
- *Satin Rouge* (2002), as Lilia
- *We Need a Vacation* (2002), as La mère de Lucien et de José
- *Bread* (2001), as The Mother · Director, Writer
- *Ali, Rabiaa and the Others* (2000), as Rabiaa
- *Living in Paradise* (1999), as Aïcha
- *Raddem* (1999), Actor
- *Haifa* (1996), as Oum Said
- *When the Cat's Away* (1996), as Une femme dans la cour
- *The Goldfish* (1994), as Customer
- *La nuit miraculeuse* (1989), Actor
- *Immortelle*, Actor
- *Gaza is Calling*, Director
- *Une famille française*, Actor
- *The Shelter*, as Leila
- *Your Turn, 203*, as Aida
- *Daughter of Eden*, as Maryam
- *Occupational Hazards*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![(L-R) Hiam Abbass, Director Leyla Bouzid and Eya Bouteraa pose at the "À Voix Basse" (In A Whisper) photocall at Berlinale 2026 in Berlin, Germany](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-a105994025d1.jpg) (L-R) Hiam Abbass, Director Leyla Bouzid and Eya Bouteraa pose at the "À Voix Basse" (In A Whisper) photocall at Berlinale 2026 in Berlin, Germany — Elena Ternovaja, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Hiam_Abbass%2C_Director_Leyla_Bouzid_and_Eya_Bouteraa_at_Berlinale_2026-1.jpg/1280px-Hiam_Abbass%2C_Director_Leyla_Bouzid_and_Eya_Bouteraa_at_Berlinale_2026-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![(L-R) Hiam Abbass, Director Leyla Bouzid and Eya Bouteraa pose at the "À Voix Basse" (In A Whisper) photocall at Berlinale 2026 in Berlin, Germany](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-7b61f5869eaa.jpg) (L-R) Hiam Abbass, Director Leyla Bouzid and Eya Bouteraa pose at the "À Voix Basse" (In A Whisper) photocall at Berlinale 2026 in Berlin, Germany — Elena Ternovaja, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Hiam_Abbass%2C_Director_Leyla_Bouzid_and_Eya_Bouteraa_at_Berlinale_2026.jpg/1280px-Hiam_Abbass%2C_Director_Leyla_Bouzid_and_Eya_Bouteraa_at_Berlinale_2026.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Hiam Abbass](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-90d8bd44c0af.jpg) Hiam Abbass — Elena Ternovaja, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Hiam_Abbass_at_Berlinale_2026-1.jpg/1280px-Hiam_Abbass_at_Berlinale_2026-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Hiam Abbass pose at the "À Voix Basse" (In A Whisper) photocall at Berlinale 2026 in Berlin, Germany](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-d3a4df150d85.jpg) Hiam Abbass pose at the "À Voix Basse" (In A Whisper) photocall at Berlinale 2026 in Berlin, Germany — Elena Ternovaja, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Hiam_Abbass_at_Berlinale_2026.jpg/1280px-Hiam_Abbass_at_Berlinale_2026.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Hiam Abbass](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-f530f9c22ff1.jpg) Hiam Abbass — Image via TMDB
- ![Hiam Abbass](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-61061863fdcc.jpg) Hiam Abbass — Image via TMDB
- ![Hiam Abbass](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-f03498a49af3.jpg) Hiam Abbass — Image via TMDB
- ![Hiam Abbass at the screening of Atonement at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-73775d30c3bb.jpg) Hiam Abbass at the screening of Atonement at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. — K6ka, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Hiam_Abbass_portrait_at_TIFF_2026.jpg/1280px-Hiam_Abbass_portrait_at_TIFF_2026.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Hiam Abbass](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-ad6133dc6d3d.jpg) Hiam Abbass — Image via TMDB
- ![Hiam Abbass](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-bd9c23373e64.jpg) Hiam Abbass — Image via TMDB
- ![Hiam Abbass](https://film.one/media/person/703/gallery-0461b56c6da0.jpg) Hiam Abbass — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 3 won, 2 nominated

- Valois de l'actrice 2017: Valois de l'actrice (won), for *Insyriated*
- Henri-Langlois award 2012: Henri-Langlois award (won)
- European Film Award for Best Actress 2008: European Film Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *Lemon Tree*
- Ophir Award for Best Actress 2008: Ophir Award for Best Actress (won), for *Lemon Tree*
- Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actress 2005: Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *The Syrian Bride*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/hiam-abbass