Egypt's Nelly Karim on her Most Iconic Looks & the Stories Behind Them

From the studios of the Cairo Opera House to the red carpets of the Venice Film Festival, Nelly Karim’s public image has been shaped by a career that began in ballet and moved steadily into film and television.

Karim trained as a professional ballerina under Dr. Magda Saleh and Abdelmoneim Kamel, before performing with the Cairo Opera Ballet Company. She also spent time training and competing in Russia, building a background in classical dance before transitioning to acting.

That foundation continues to sit alongside her red carpet appearances. At the El Gouna Film Festival, where she has appeared across multiple editions, Karim’s looks have formed part of the festival’s fashion landscape. In 2024, she wore a full-feathered couture design by Tony Ward — one of the standout looks of that year’s programme.

Her appearance at the Venice Film Festival marked a different kind of milestone. As a jury member — and the first Egyptian to take on that role — she wore a custom design by Antoine Kareh, created specifically for the occasion.

In an exclusive sit-down with SceneStyled, Karim maps out these moments herself — tracing the milestones and the looks that came with them.