---
name: "Lubna Azabal"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/lubna-azabal"
fi1m_id: "lubna-azabal"
imdb_id: "nm0044073"
tmdb_id: 77498
wikidata_id: "Q462256"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "15 August 1973"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-07T15:36:08.659967+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."
---

# Lubna Azabal

## Identity

Lubna Azabal

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/lubna-azabal
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** lubna-azabal
- **IMDb ID:** nm0044073
- **TMDB ID:** 77498
- **Wikidata ID:** Q462256
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubna_Azabal, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q462256, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0044073/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/77498

Actor. Born 15 August 1973 in Bruxelles, Belgium.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 15 August 1973, Bruxelles, Belgium
- **Active:** 2005–2018
- **Also known as:** לובנה אזאבל, 루브나 아자발
- **Frequently works with:** [Ali Suliman](https://film.one/person/ali-suliman.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 70 (2), 2010s 75 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 70 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Thriller 3, War & Politics 3, Action 1, Crime 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $121m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubna_Azabal, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q462256, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0044073/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/77498

## Coming up

- *Malika* (2026-11-18)

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*Incendies*](https://film.one/film/incendies.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Coriolanus*](https://film.one/film/coriolanus.md) (74)

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

## Fi1m on Lubna Azabal

> Lubna Azabal makes keeping quiet look like hard work, with anger still present beneath the restraint. Her performance in *Incendies* is reason enough to watch, even when the writing asks us to believe too much.

In *Incendies* (2010), Lubna Azabal can hold our attention just by keeping Nawal quiet. The anger remains, and she lets us see the effort needed to contain it. We were moved by that effort, because the performance never makes enduring such suffering look easy. She gives Nawal dignity without suggesting that being able to bear more pain is an achievement. It is a forceful performance, and much of its force comes from how much she holds back.

Azabal’s early film work includes *Loin* (2001), with *Paradise Now* (2005) bringing wider notice before *Incendies* became her international breakthrough. Her subsequent work has moved between French-, English- and Arabic-language projects, and between films and television. She played Atika Halibi alongside Maggie Gyllenhaal in the miniseries *The Honourable Woman* (2014). Later came Mina in *The Blue Caftan* (2023). Those changes of language and format matter, though our clearest reason to seek her out remains Nawal.

Denis Villeneuve gives that performance time, allowing suffering to register rather than hurrying towards the next discovery. Azabal carries the history that Nawal’s children are trying to recover, while Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin and Maxim Gaudette keep their investigation personal. The balance is imperfect: the children’s scenes sometimes leave the actors with little to do beyond asking another question. Some of the plotting is contrived, too, a weakness the strength of her performance cannot remove. But her control keeps Nawal worth watching even when the family mystery strains belief.

There is a danger in being so persuasive at playing women with difficult lives: the same sort of work keeps arriving. Azabal has spoken about receiving those offers frequently and wanting lighter parts. We would welcome that change, rather than another role that asks her to demonstrate how much a person can withstand. A script still needs to give her more than pain to respond to. Choose *Incendies* when there is time to sit quietly afterwards.

## Biography

Lubna Azabal is a Belgian actress. Born in Brussels on 15 August 1973 to a Moroccan father and a Spanish mother, she trained at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and began a theatrical career in Belgium before moving into film.

She made her screen debut in the 1997 short film *J'adore le cinéma*. Azabal is known for her performances in *Paradise Now* (2005), *Incendies* (2010) as Nawal Marwan, *Body of Lies* (2008), *Mary Magdalene* (2018), *The Blue Caftan* (2022) as Mina, and the series *The Little Drummer Girl* (2018) and *Ganglands* (2021). She works in French-, Arabic- and English-language productions.

For her role in *Incendies*, Azabal received the Black Pearl Award for Best Actress at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the Genie Award for Best Actress at the 31st Genie Awards, and the Magritte Award for Best Actress.

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

## On Fi1m (7)

- *The Little Drummer Girl* (2018), Fi1m 76, as Fatmeh Al-Khadar — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-little-drummer-girl.md)
- *The Honourable Woman* (2014), Fi1m 80, as Atika Halibi — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-honourable-woman.md)
- *Coriolanus* (2011), Fi1m 74, as First Citizen (Tamora) — [page](https://film.one/film/coriolanus.md)
- *I Am Slave* (2010), Fi1m 61, as Haleema — [page](https://film.one/film/i-am-slave.md)
- *Incendies* (2010), Fi1m 82, as Nawal — [page](https://film.one/film/incendies.md)
- *Occupation* (2009), Fi1m 80, as Aliya Nabil — [page](https://film.one/tv/occupation.md)
- *Body of Lies* (2008), Fi1m 60, as Aisha's Sister Cala — [page](https://film.one/film/body-of-lies.md)

## Complete filmography (81)

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

- *Malika* (2026), Actor
- *Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston* (2026), series, as Julia Felix
- *A Turkish Case* (2026), as Faïza Benseddik
- *Hot Water* (2026), as Layla
- *Ardennes* (2025), series, as Anna Charou
- *Rabia* (2024), as Madame
- *Maldoror* (2024), as Mme Santos
- *Somewhere in Love* (2024), as Norah
- *L'école des espions* (2024), as Anne-Sophie de Noblecourt
- *Des blessures invisibles* (2024), as Larivière
- *Amal* (2024), as Amal
- *You Promised Me the Sea* (2023), as Rabia
- *The Blue Caftan* (2023), as Mina
- *For My Country* (2023), as Nadia
- *The Love* (2022), as Fatima Zahwani
- *Simone: Woman of the Century* (2022), as Hafsia Hamdad
- *Rebel* (2022), as Leila
- *Champion* (2022), as Gloria
- *Life Suits Me Well* (2021), as Rita
- *Suicide Club* (2021), as Anita
- *Ganglands* (2021), series, as Anissa
- *Cheyenne & Lola* (2020), series, as Rachida
- *The Collapse* (2019), series, as Sofia Desmarest
- *Adam* (2019), as Abla
- *The Traveller* (2019), series, as Claire Elgouarch
- *Hellhole* (2019), as Samira
- *The Crimson Rivers* (2018), series, as Sabrina Harel
- *The Little Drummer Girl* (2018), series, as Fatmeh Al-Khadar — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-little-drummer-girl.md)
- *Lockdown* (2018), as Farah
- *Sofia* (2018), as Leila
- *Tel Aviv on Fire* (2018), as Tala
- *Mary Magdalene* (2018), as Susannah
- *A Bluebird in My Heart* (2018), as Nadia
- *Above the Law* (2017), as Lucie Tesla
- *Buğday* (2017), as Beatrice
- *Banking District* (2017), series, as Luna
- *Catch the Wind* (2017), as Nadia
- *Lola Pater* (2017), as Malika
- *Ruby Is Dead* (2017), as Alice Tanner
- *Light Thereafter* (2017), as Soumaya
- *The Frozen Dead* (2017), series, as Elizabeth Ferney
- *Betelgeuse* (2016), as Sarah
- *My Revolution* (2016), as Samia
- *Ustica: The Missing Paper* (2016), as Valja
- *Trepalium* (2016), series, as Lisbeth
- *Accusé* (2015), series, as Samia
- *The Honourable Woman* (2014), series, as Atika Halibi — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-honourable-woman.md)
- *The Marchers* (2013), as Kheira
- *Rock the Casbah* (2013), as Kenza
- *Le Donne della Vucciria* (2013), Actor
- *Goodbye Morocco* (2013), as Dounia
- *Headwinds* (2011), as La mère de Yamine
- *Free Men* (2011), as Warba Shlimane alias Leila
- *Tout le monde descend* (2011), as Leila El Fassi
- *Coriolanus* (2011), as First Citizen (Tamora) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/coriolanus.md)
- *Here* (2011), as Gadarine Nazarian
- *Incendies* (2010), as Nawal — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/incendies.md)
- *I Am Slave* (2010), as Haleema — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/i-am-slave.md)
- *Comme les 5 doigts de la main* (2010), as Amel Zeroual
- *Sisters* (2009), as Angela Di Biaggio
- *Bajo el mismo cielo* (2009), as Fathia
- *Occupation* (2009), series, as Aliya Nabil — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/occupation.md)
- *Occupation* (2009), as Aliya Nabil
- *Body of Lies* (2008), as Aisha's Sister Cala — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/body-of-lies.md)
- *Une chaîne pour deux* (2008), as Corinne
- *24 Bars* (2007), as Helly
- *Strangers* (2007), as Rana Sweid
- *Echo* (2007), as Carole
- *L'île des esclaves* (2006), Actor
- *Paradise Now* (2005), as Suha
- *Changing Times* (2004), as Nadia
- *Exiles* (2004), as Naima
- *25 Degrees in Winter* (2004), as Loubna
- *Viva Algeria* (2004), as Goucem
- *A Minute of Sun Less* (2003), Actor
- *Almost Peaceful* (2002), as Jacqueline
- *Aram* (2002), as Méliné
- *Far Away* (2001), as Sarah
- *Les siestes Grenadine* (1999), as Mabrouka
- *Pure fiction* (1998), Actor
- *Malin Fors*, series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Loubna Azabal Festival Paris Cinéma 2011.](https://film.one/media/person/103097/gallery-816dca015958.jpg) Loubna Azabal Festival Paris Cinéma 2011. — Yann Caradec from Paris, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Avant_premi%C3%A8re_du_film_Les_Hommes_libres_d%27Isma%C3%ABl_Ferroukhi_-_Paris_Cin%C3%A9ma_%285909867129%29.jpg/1280px-Avant_premi%C3%A8re_du_film_Les_Hommes_libres_d%27Isma%C3%ABl_Ferroukhi_-_Paris_Cin%C3%A9ma_%285909867129%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Michael Lonsdale & Loubna Azabal Festival Paris Cinéma 2011.](https://film.one/media/person/103097/gallery-9126d76aee16.jpg) Michael Lonsdale & Loubna Azabal Festival Paris Cinéma 2011. — Yann Caradec from Paris, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Avant_premi%C3%A8re_du_film_Les_Hommes_libres_d%27Isma%C3%ABl_Ferroukhi_-_Paris_Cin%C3%A9ma_%285909875945%29.jpg/1280px-Avant_premi%C3%A8re_du_film_Les_Hommes_libres_d%27Isma%C3%ABl_Ferroukhi_-_Paris_Cin%C3%A9ma_%285909875945%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Michael Lonsdale & Loubna Azabal Festival Paris Cinéma 2011.](https://film.one/media/person/103097/gallery-f62c9f09a34c.jpg) Michael Lonsdale & Loubna Azabal Festival Paris Cinéma 2011. — Yann Caradec from Paris, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Avant_premi%C3%A8re_du_film_Les_Hommes_libres_d%27Isma%C3%ABl_Ferroukhi_-_Paris_Cin%C3%A9ma_%285910444290%29.jpg/1280px-Avant_premi%C3%A8re_du_film_Les_Hommes_libres_d%27Isma%C3%ABl_Ferroukhi_-_Paris_Cin%C3%A9ma_%285910444290%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lubna Azabal](https://film.one/media/person/103097/gallery-0039a4cdfa0f.jpg) Lubna Azabal — Yann Caradec from Paris, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Avant_premi%C3%A8re_du_film_Les_Hommes_libres_d%27Isma%C3%ABl_Ferroukhi_-_Paris_Cin%C3%A9ma_%285910444290%29_%28cropped-rot15-00%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Lubna Azabal](https://film.one/media/person/103097/gallery-e7eeee5c37ec.jpg) Lubna Azabal — Image via TMDB
- ![Loubna Azabal à l'avant première du film Les Hommes libres d'Ismaël Ferroukhi - Paris Cinéma (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/103097/gallery-982aa55c184c.jpg) Loubna Azabal à l'avant première du film Les Hommes libres d'Ismaël Ferroukhi - Paris Cinéma (2011) — Yann Caradec, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Loubna_Azabal.jpg/1280px-Loubna_Azabal.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 2011: Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (won)

*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/lubna-azabal