Hiam Abbass on Gaza mon Amour, Succession and more

3rd December 2021

Hiam Abbass has nearly 100 acting credits to her name: artsy indie movies, French TV dramas, Moroccan horror flicks; she’s appeared on Hulu’s Ramy and in the movies Munich and Blade Runner 2049. But if you know her from one thing, it’s probably Succession, the massive hit TV show on HBO. Hiam plays Marcia, Logan Roy’s wife. On a show famous for its craven, manipulative, sometimes frightening characters, Marcia dominates the lineup in all three categories. Most recently, though, Hiam’s performed in a new movie – it’s called Gaza, Mon Amour. It’s Palestine’s submission to this year’s Academy Awards, and it’s pretty much everything Succession isn’t: it’s a romcom. It’s slow-paced. It’s sweet in parts, sad and scary in others. It’s a really unique film. Hiam joins us to talk about the movie, growing up in Nazareth, how she got the role to play Marcia on Succession, and whether or not she thinks Marcia loves her husband, Logan Roy. Succession intrigue! Don’t miss it!

Episode notes

(Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films)

Hiam Abbass was born and raised in and around Nazareth, a predominantly Arab part of Israel. These days she mostly lives in Paris.

Hiam’s an actor. She has nearly 100 credits to her name: artsy indie movies, French TV dramas, Moroccan horror flicks; she’s appeared on Hulu’s Ramy and in the movies Munich and Blade Runner 2049.

But if you know Hiam Abbass from one thing, it’s probably Succession, the massive hit TV show on HBO. Hiam plays Marcia, Logan Roy’s wife. On a show famous for its craven, manipulative, sometimes frightening characters, Marcia dominates the lineup in all three categories.

Most recently, though, Hiam’s performed in a new movie – it’s called Gaza, Mon Amour. It’s Palestine’s submission to this year’s Academy Awards. It’s pretty much everything Succession isn’t: it’s a romcom. It’s slow-paced. It’s sweet in parts, sad and scary in others.

In it, Abbass plays Siham, a widowed tailor living with her adult daughter. She meets Issa, a local fisherman who never married. A courtship begins, in fits and starts: missed connections, awkward conversations, brief, affectionate glances. And, like the title suggests: it’s set in Gaza, a Palestian city beset by conflict. It’s a really unique film.

We’ll ask Hiam about growing up in Nazareth, how she got the role to play Marcia on Succession, and whether or not she thinks Marcia loves her husband, Logan Roy. Succession intrigue! Don’t miss it!

In this episode...

Senior Producer
Producer
Maximum Fun Producer
Maximum Fun Production Fellow
Video Editor

Guests

  • Hiam Abbass

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Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture.

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Senior Producer

Producer

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Maximum Fun Production Fellow

Video Editor

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