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Marrakech – Veteran Moroccan actress Safia Ziani passed away Saturday at Moulay Youssef Hospital in Rabat at age 91 following a prolonged battle with illness. Sources close to the family confirmed she suffered a sudden heart attack that led to her death.
Ziani had been bedridden for years due to chronic illnesses that severely affected her mobility and daily life. She was rushed to the hospital Saturday after her condition deteriorated, marking the end of a lengthy health struggle that forced her into complete absence from the artistic scene.
Born in Fez in 1935, Ziani became one of Morocco’s most recognizable theatrical and television personalities. She began her career in the 1950s after winning several competitions and receiving comprehensive theatrical training.
She joined the National Theater School in 1960, studying under renowned professors like Abdallah Chakroun, Abderrahmane Essaïh, Abdessamad Kanfaoui, and Tahar Ouaziz.
Throughout her career, Ziani collaborated with major Moroccan theatre figures such as Tayeb Seddiki, Tayeb Laalej, and Abdessamad Kanfaoui. She also worked extensively in radio and television productions with the national radio troupe.
Her film career included notable collaborations with director Jilali Farhati in “Les Enfants de la plage perdue” (Children of the Lost Beach) in 1991 and “Mémoire en détention” (Memory in Detention) in 2004.
She later worked on international productions, including the Franco-Moroccan 1993 film “La Nuit sacrée” (The Sacred Night), adapted from Tahar Ben Jelloun’s novel, where she played a nurse.
Ziani also appeared in major Italian and German productions, portraying Pharaoh III’s nurse and Noah’s wife in a German series about prophets.
She became particularly known for her comedic television roles, notably through the sitcom “Khater Men Ndir,” which featured the late Mustapha Dassoukine alongside Naima Bouhmala, as well as “Hdidane” (2009) by Fatima Boubekdi, both of which earned her widespread recognition among Moroccan audiences.
During her final years, Ziani faced difficult social and financial circumstances while remaining away from public life due to her deteriorating health condition.
