In the early hours of Sunday, Gal Gadot announced that she was set to play Cleopatra in a new film about the legendary Queen of the Nile.
The actress wrote on Twitter that she was teaming up with Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins and screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis to bring Cleopatra to the big screen "in a way she's never been seen before".
"To tell her story for the first time through women's eyes, both behind and in front of the camera," Gadot continued. "I love embarking on new journeys, I love the excitement of new projects, the thrill of bringing new stories to life. Cleopatra is a story I wanted to tell for a very long time."
The announcement was not entirely met with the enthusiasm the Justice League star may have been expecting.
A social media storm began brewing in the wake of the news, with some criticising the casting decision, saying it was not appropriate for Gadot – an Israeli actress of European descent – to play the Egyptian queen. To date, no Egyptian actress has played the role of the country's last Ptolemaic ruler in a blockbuster film.
One of the most scathing comments came from journalist Sameera Khan, who posted a tweet asking who in Hollywood thought “it would be a good idea to cast an Israeli actress as Cleopatra instead of a stunning Arab actress like Nadine Njeim?”
Others pointed out that, however, that though Cleopatra was born in Egypt, she was probably of Greek-Macedonian descent.
She may have had some Persian ancestry but scholars almost unanimously agree that she did not have a drop of Egyptian blood in her.
"Cleopatra VII was white – of Macedonian descent, as were all of the Ptolemy rulers, who lived in Egypt," Kathryn Bard, professor of archaeology and classical studies at Boston University, told Newsweek.
Cleopatra traced her family origins to Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great's generals, who founded the Ptolemic Kingdom in Egypt in 305 BC after Alexander the Great's conquest. Egypt, at the time, was loosely governed by the Persian Empire, which had control of the area since the decline of the Ancient Egyptian Empire in the late seventh century BC.
The Ptolemies went on to rule Egypt for nearly three centuries, making them the longest dynasty in ancient Egyptian history, and also the last. The dynasty came to a close with Cleopatra's death in 30 BC. Then Octavian (who would later become Caesar Augustus, the first Roman Emperor) took the opportunity to annex Egypt, effectively bringing the Ptolemic Kingdom to an end.
While Cleopatra did not have Egyptian ancestry, to say she was not Egyptian is another thing entirely.
Besides being born and raised in Egypt, the queen was one of the country's most powerful and intelligent rulers. She is also said to have been the only ruler of the house of Ptolemy to have learnt the language of ancient Egypt. She was proud of her country and did whatever she could to ensure its independence. Her reign brought Egypt two decades of security, stability and wealth. Egypt was also where Cleopatra died, taking her own life after it became clear that her and Mark Antony's forces were defeated at the hands of Octavian's army.
A legend with a complicated legacy
There have been many depictions of Cleopatra on screen, as well as on page and stage. And it is probably for this reason that her life has become so entwined with legend, making it difficult to separate fact from fiction.
For instance, modern-day historians don’t believe she committed suicide by allowing an Egyptian cobra to bite her. Instead, she is believed to have drunk some sort of poisonous cocktail, which most likely contained a lethal dose of opium or hemlock, according to German historian Christoph Schaefer.
Still, the facts of Cleopatra’s life are just as astounding as her legend.
Most of what we know of the Egyptian queen comes from the writings of Greco-Roman scholars, most notably Plutarch. But they all, almost unanimously, portray Cleopatra as an expert diplomat, who is said to have been able to speak nine languages. They show her to have been a perceptive negotiator with razor-sharp political acumen, who managed to have the two most powerful men of the world, at the time, wrapped around her little finger.
The strategies she resorted to ensure her place on the throne were no less amazing.
First, she fashioned herself as the living embodiment of the goddess Isis as a PR stunt to ensure favour with the masses. Then, after being dethroned by her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII, Cleopatra snuck into the Alexandria palace, where Julius Caesar was staying during a visit, by hiding in a laundry sack (though a different iteration of the story suggests she was rolled into a rug).
She managed to plead her case to the Roman statesman and win an alliance with him, which later blossomed into a love affair. Finally, seeking to expand her power and secure the rights of her son, Caesarion, whom she is thought to have had with Caesar, Cleopatra went to visit Mark Antony to forge an alliance with him. Legend even says that to make sure she made an impression, Cleopatra doused the sails of her royal ship in perfume so that Antony could smell it before it arrived. Shakespeare wrote the sails were "so perfumed that the winds were lovesick with them".
But Cleopatra's life was also filled with betrayal, fratricide, sororicide and suicide, in a tale that would make Game of Thrones author George RR Martin blush. Her relationship with Mark Antony inspired myriad plays, from Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, circa 1607, to The Death of Cleopatra, written in 1927 by one of the greatest Arab poets and dramatists, Ahmed Shawqi. The famous couple also found a place in Dante Alighieri's 14th century poem Inferno and in the 1972 opera Antoine et Cleopatre by French composer Emmanuel Bondeville.
A star of the screen
So is Gadot’s bill to become this generation’s representation of Cleopatra, as a woman with no Egyptian or Greek ties, culturally insensitive? Critics are divided. But her casting seems to echo a long tradition in Hollywood.
One of the earliest depictions of the Egyptian queen in cinema was in 1899, in a two-minute silent film by French illusionist and film director Georges Melies, who was also behind the classic A Trip to the Moon.
The film Robbing Cleopatra's Tomb – which is now believed to be lost – wasn't so much about Cleopatra's life, but rather her mummy. The film followed a man's attempts to resurrect Cleopatra, who was played by Melies's wife, French actress Jehanne D'Alcy.
In 1908, a 10-minute film based on Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra was released. It was the first film to dramatise the ill-starred romance between the couple. The film stars Canadian-American stage and film actress Florence Lawrence, who is often referred to as the "first movie star" in the titular role.
Then came the 1912 silent historical drama Cleopatra, which portrays the queen and her love affairs through a series of opulently staged tableaux. The film is considered to be one of the first US full-length films, running for 100 minutes. US stage and film actress Helen Gardner took on the titular role, and produced the lion's share of the film herself, even designing the costumes.
French actress Micheline Dax, meanwhile, lent her voice to 1968 animation Asterix and Cleopatra. The film follows popular cartoon characters Asterix and Obelix as they travel to Ancient Egypt to help the queen build a lavish new summer home.
British actress Vivien Leigh – who starred as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind – also played Cleopatra in the 1945 film Caesar and Cleopatra. The film was adapted from the 1901 play by George Bernard Shaw, and shone a spotlight on the romance between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, with an ageing Caesar trying to mediate a feud between Cleopatra and her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII.
The most recognisable portrayal of the Queen of the Nile was, arguably, by Elizabeth Taylor in 1963's Cleopatra. In a review for The Hollywood Reporter, James Powers wrote: "Miss Taylor is the supreme star of the screen. Her beauty has never been more radiant. Her shudder when she learns, inadvertently, of her son's death — and with it all her ambitions — is one of those inspirations that is unforgettable."
Taylor's performance in the film was so revered that it became the golden standard against which all subsequent portrayals of Cleopatra were judged – and there have been quite a few, from Italian actress Sophia Loren's 1954 film Due Notti con Cleopatra to Chilean actress Leonor Varela's take on the role in the 1999 film Cleopatra.
Still, there have been very few depictions of the Egyptian queen by actresses from the region. In fact, there appears to be only one. Syrian soap opera star Sulaf Fawakherji took the role in the 2010 Arabic TV series Cleopatra, which begins shortly before Caesar's arrival to Egypt and continues until her death.
Gadot’s casting as the legendary queen has, no doubt, brought Cleopatra’s name to the centre of a controversy again. Even centuries after her reign, she continues to spark heated conversations, ensuring her legacy as one of the most powerful figures in history.
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 4 (Mount 18',Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85')
Morecambe 0
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
World%20Cup%202023%20ticket%20sales
%3Cp%3EAugust%2025%20%E2%80%93%20Non-India%20warm-up%20matches%20and%20all%20non-India%20event%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3EAugust%2030%20%E2%80%93%20India%20matches%20at%20Guwahati%20and%20Trivandrum%0D%3Cbr%3EAugust%2031%20%E2%80%93%20India%20matches%20at%20Chennai%2C%20Delhi%20and%20Pune%0D%3Cbr%3ESeptember%201%20%E2%80%93%20India%20matches%20at%20Dharamsala%2C%20Lucknow%20and%20Mumbai%0D%3Cbr%3ESeptember%202%20%E2%80%93%20India%20matches%20at%20Bengaluru%20and%20Kolkata%0D%3Cbr%3ESeptember%203%20%E2%80%93%20India%20matches%20at%20Ahmedabad%0D%3Cbr%3ESeptember%2015%20%E2%80%93%20Semi-finals%20and%20Final%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
-
Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sav%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Purvi%20Munot%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%20as%20of%20March%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Cheb%20Khaled'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKhaled%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBelieve%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE DEALS
Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
2.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,000m
Winner: Raakezz, Tadhg O’Shea, Nicholas Bachalard
3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
More from Neighbourhood Watch
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
Inside%20Out%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EKelsey%20Mann%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Amy%20Poehler%2C%20Maya%20Hawke%2C%20Ayo%20Edebiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
