Hiam Abbass: Suffering demands voice, not silence

Actress Hiam Abbass, born in Nazareth, asserts that her origins compel her to acknowledge and speak out against the suffering of innocent people, regardless of location. She states it is impossible for her to remain silent on such matters.

Abbass stars in Reed Van Dyk's film 'Atonement,' set during the 2003 U.S. military presence in Baghdad. The movie is inspired by war correspondent Dexter Filkins' reporting on a moment of confusion that led to the deaths of civilians.

The film focuses on the Kachadoorian family, members of Iraq's Armenian Christian minority, who lost loved ones in the incident. Abbass plays Mariam, the matriarch, who laments the loss of her husband and sons, emphasizing their peaceful nature.

Abbass views acting as a profound duty, enabling her to channel her awareness of suffering into portraying characters who have experienced injustice. She aims to make audiences aware of these stories.

She describes the film's narrative as reflecting suffering on both sides, acknowledging the psychological toll on those involved in conflict. Abbass deliberately avoided meeting the family depicted to maintain imaginative space for her portrayal.

Discussing her performance, Abbass highlights the collaborative nature of acting, particularly her scenes with co-star Boyd Holbrook, emphasizing emotional attunement and the dual awareness of self and character.

Abbass also reflected on her past roles, including her work on 'Succession' with Brian Cox and the potential for a future movie project with Sarah Snook. She expressed interest in performing on the London stage with Kenneth Branagh.

Looking ahead, Abbass anticipates filming 'French Family' in France and Algeria, but first, she champions 'Atonement' with considerable pride.