Baghdad memorial honors actor Iqbal Naeem for her legacy in Iraqi theater and film

BAGHDAD — Artists, academics, and cultural figures gathered Friday at the Al-Mada Foundation for Culture and Arts on Mutanabbi Street to honor the late actor Iqbal Naeem, whose decades-long career left a lasting imprint on Iraqi theater, television, radio, and cinema.

The memorial featured tributes and reflections from colleagues who described Naeem as a disciplined, expressive performer and a defining voice of her generation.

“Iqbal was an exceptional Iraqi talent,” said actor and theater director Azeez Khayoun. “Her presence on stage marked a pivotal moment. The same goes for her roles on television, radio, and in film — but theater was her true domain, her greatest arena.”

Actor and academic Hind Kamel recalled Naeem’s professionalism and cultural depth. “She was deeply cultured, shaped by a generation of distinguished teachers. She respected her work and influenced the stage, television, and radio with a distinctive voice that also stood out in dubbing,” Kamel said. She also spoke of their friendship, describing Naeem as “loyal, sincere, and clear in her emotions.”

Writer Abbas Latif highlighted Naeem’s approach to performance, calling it emotionally grounded and internal. “Iqbal performed with emotional depth. Many actors rely only on voice, but she embodied her characters from within,” he said. Latif also noted her contributions to children’s theater, crediting her with helping to establish “a different kind of children’s theater.”

The memorial comes more than two weeks after Naeem’s death, which prompted widespread tributes across Iraq’s artistic community.