Career
She has become one of the most recognized faces of the Syrian Civil War. Born in Aleppo, Soliman moved to the capital Damascus to pursue an acting career where she performed in numerous plays, Maria"s Voice and Media, and in at least a dozen television shows, including in The Diary of Abou Antar and Little Ladies. She also played an art teacher at an orphanage in "Small Hearts," a television series that helped raise awareness about human organ trafficking and was broadcast by several Arab channels.
She also acted in an Arabic adaptation of Henrik Ibsen"s "A Doll"s House" at the Qabbani theater in Damascus.
Since the beginning of the Syrian uprising on March 15, 2011, Soliman has been one of the few outspoken actresses against Assad"s government. She said she also wanted to dismiss the government"s narrative that those who participate in protests are Islamists or armed terrorists.
She has appeared at rallies demanding Assad"s removal, sharing the podium with soccer star Abdelbasset Sarout, one of a number of Syrian celebrities who have backed the revolt. Soliman has also delivered impassioned monologues to camera, calling for peaceful protests to continue across the country until Assad is overthrown.
“Sectarian violence in Homs would be worse if it weren’t for Fadwa Soliman,” says Peter Harling, Syria analyst at the International Crisis Group, the think tank.
Soliman cut her hair short like a boy and moved from house to house to evade capture.
