Amira Ismail

Amira Ismail (born 4 October 1985) is a Maldivian actress.

Ismail first filmed for a film titled Loabi Dhasvejje which was ultimately delayed and shelved.

She then collaborated with Amjad Ibrahim for his romantic horror film Dhonkamana (2003) which depicts the romantic relationship between a young man (played by Yoosuf Shafeeu) and an old woman (played by Fauziyya Hassan).

Featuring Hassan, Yoosuf Shafeeu, Niuma Mohamed, Sheereen Abdul Wahid, Sheela Najeeb and Aminath Rasheedha, the film received mainly negative reviews from critics though its inclusion of the theme portraying the relationship between a couple with a large age group was appraised.

The same year she appeared as the insecure girlfriend in Abdul Faththaah's critically praised romantic film Vehey Vaarey Therein.

Featuring Yoosuf Shafeeu, Jamsheedha Ahmed, Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi, Mohamed Shavin and Aminath Rasheedha in crucial roles, the film narrates the story of unrequited love, and proved to be one of the highest-grossing Maldivian films of the year.

In 2005, Ismail starred alongside Niuma Mohamed, Ali Seezan and Sheereen Abdul Wahid in Ahmed Nimal's horror film Handhu Keytha (2005) which unfolds the story of a man who was enchanted by a spirit while witnessing a lunar eclipse.

In the film, she played the comforting sister who helps her sister-in-law dealing with the horrific incidences.

Ismail next starred as Nashwa, a domestically abused wife in Yoosuf Shafeeu and Fathimath Nahula's direction, Soora released in 2008.

The film was originally released as a television series to positive response.

In 2009, Amira was cast as a school student who has been harassed by a supernatural force in Amjad Ibrahim's romantic horror film Udhabaani featured alongside Yoosuf Shafeeu, Hamid Ali and Aminath Shareef.

Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics although it performed well at the box office, making it Ibrahim's most successful venture.

She again collaborated with Amjad Ibrahim for his horror film Baaraige Fas, cast alongside Hussain Sobah, Mariyam Nisha, Ali Shameel, Mariyam Shakeela and Ahmed Azmeel.

The film follows a Temptress vampire who goes into a killing spree to quench her thirst.

She played the role of Aminath Madheeha, one of the victims of the vampire.

The film received mainly negative reviews from critics.

Amira's first release of 2010 was Abdul Fahtah's horror film Jinni alongside Ali Seezan and Mariyam Afeefa.

Based on true incidents that occurred in an island of Maldives, she played the fiancé of Javid who has been enthralled by a ghost.

Prior to release the film was marketed to be full of "suspense and uniqueness" compared to other mediocre Maldivian horror films.

Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics; majority of them complaining for having the "same old feeling" of prior horror flicks though the performance were noted to be satisfactory.

Despite the mixed reviews, the film witnessed a positive response at the box office, screening a total of twenty two housefull shows in Male', declaring it as a Mega-Hit.

Later in 2010, Ismail appeared alongside Yoosuf Shafeeu and Niuma Mohamed in Veeraana, a drama film that deals with child sexual abuse.

Directed by Shafeeu, she played the role of Saajila, an impotent wife whose step-daughter has been sexually assaulted by her uncle.

The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics; praising the writer and director for touching a condemnatory topic though criticising its "over-the-top melodrama".

Her appearance in the film was perceived to be on a "satisfactory" level.

Having a strong buzz prior its release, the film was proved to be a commercial success.

This was followed by a horror film, Mendhamuge Evaguthu (2010) co-written and co-directed by Yoosuf Shafeeu alongside Amjad Ibrahim.

It follows a group of ten friends watching a horror film which is being influenced by a narration in it.

Ismail began 2011 in a brief role of Fathimath, a friend of Areeka and Azeem—played by Fathimath Azifa and Ahmed Asim respectively—third-wheeling the couple, in the Moomin Fuad-directed crime tragedy drama Loodhifa.

Featuring an ensemble cast, the film deals with current social issues in the society told from different perspectives of the characters.

Made on a budget of MVR 600,000, the film was declared a commercial failure though it received wide critical acclaim, praising the performance of cast and the film's "realism" in its language, characters and their attitude.

It was followed by Amjad Ibrahim's suspense thriller film Hafaraaiy starred alongside Ali Shameel, Mariyam Shakeela, Yoosuf Shafeeu and Fathimath Fareela, which was a critical and commercial failure.

Based on a real incidence, the film narrates a story of a cannibal woman who is addicted to eats human flesh, how she victimised the inhabitants with her face covered in a veil.

The film received criticism for its "fragile" plot, "unnecessary" characters though its makeup was appreciated.

Ahmed Naif from Sun wrote: "neither scientifically nor psychologically, it has been proven in the film how a chicken addict turns to be a cannibal. The film slides from a suspense thriller to a comedy for its inclusion of inconceivable details".

She again collaborated with Amjad Ibrahim to play the role of a school teacher who discovers her husband's secret affair in his family drama Hithey Dheymee (2011) which received negative reviews from critics and was a box office disaster.

She next appeared in Yoosuf Shafeeu's family drama E Bappa (2011), featuring an ensemble cast including Hassan Manik, Yoosuf Shafeeu, Mohamed Manik, Sheela Najeeb, Lufshan Shakeeb, Mariyam Shakeela and Fathimath Fareela.

A film about fatherhood and how he has been treated by his family, received negative reviews for its "typical stereotype style" and was a box office failure.

A series of flop was continued with Hamid Ali's Laelaa starring Yoosuf Shafeeu, Ahmed Easa and Ali opposite her.

The film revolves around two daughters who were forced to arranged marriages by their parent.