Syrian actress Sarah Baraka has revealed that she left her family home at the age of 19 after facing intense opposition from her relatives over her pursuit of an acting career.
Baraka explained that her father strongly opposed the idea of her becoming a professional actor. To navigate this resistance, she initially enrolled in the faculty of mass communication after achieving high academic marks, though she quickly realized the major was not the right fit for her true ambitions.
Competition for the institute was fierce. According to her statements, approximately 1,000 applicants vied for a spot, while the institute accepted only about 15 students. Baraka failed to pass the entrance evaluations on her first attempt. Rather than giving up, she continued her studies for another year before trying again, ultimately securing acceptance.
Concealing Admission and Leaving Home
The actress managed to keep her application process entirely hidden from her relatives. Her family only discovered the truth when her name appeared on the official list of accepted students published on Facebook.
This milestone marked the beginning of a turbulent period at home. Baraka described moving out of her family residence at 19 as the second-hardest thing she has ever done in her life, stating simply, tani asab shi amaltu bi hayati.. ana waqta tarakt al-bayt
(The second hardest thing I did in my life… I left the house at that time), as she prioritized her artistic ambitions.
The curriculum encompassed vocal production, elocution, music, dance, and psychology, broadening her understanding of the craft.
Addressing Prior Controversy Over Public Remarks
Alongside her revelations about her early career struggles, Baraka recently addressed a separate controversy concerning remarks she made regarding Egyptian women. Clarifying statements that circulated widely, she asserted that her words had been taken out of context.
In a public statement, Baraka explained the nature of the inquiry she received, noting that she was asked about perceived differences in temperament between Egyptian and Syrian women and whether Syrian women are more accommodating partners. She recalled her response: minfash nnaamim.. al-sitt al-misriyya azheema wal-sitt al-suriyya azheema, w yumkin tibqa al-sitt al-suriyya mutafahhima aktar.. la akthar wala aqal
(You cannot generalize… The Egyptian woman is great and the Syrian woman is great, and the Syrian woman might be more understanding… no more and no less).
Expressing deep frustration over the incident, Baraka condemned the distortion of her interview, which was recorded on video. She described the alteration of her comments as a deliberate and unfair attempt to incite controversy without justification, concluding with a message of appreciation for women of all nationalities.
Future Artistic Projects
Baraka credited her faith and trust in God’s choices with helping her navigate the obstacles she faced during her formative years. She emphasized that her current standing in the industry is the result of dedicated artistic labor rather than an overnight breakthrough.
