Friday March 29th, 2024
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Meet the Self-Proclaimed First Egyptian Porn Star

[Exclusive] The unapologetic aspiring actor-turned-porn-star opens up about how a series of rejections left him with no option but to pursue his passion for erotica.

Staff Writer

Around this time last year, I took it upon myself to fool the entire country into believing a massive US porn studio had issued a casting call for auditions set to be held in Egypt. In the process, I had to create a fake Gmail account in order to post a fake x-rated listing to Craigslist so I could then screenshot it and make the lie seem more believable. Sorry, Egypt. As I had anticipated, you all fell for it and the fake email's inbox filled up with messages from hopeful applicants from all across this great nation.

That was, of course, a straight-up lie. However the fact that such an industry would be unimaginable in Egypt doesn't mean there aren't Egyptians for whom shooting porn is their nine to five. But you would be forgiven for assuming that, if such creatures existed, then at least they'd probably want to conceal their identity or stay on the down-low; however, Sherif Taliani, the self-proclaimed  first ever Egyptian porn star, begs to differ.

"I couldn't care less what Egyptians think of me. What would you expect from people who can't even love in public to feel about me? Of course Egyptians would hate me, but I don't give a shit," said Taliani, the Shoubra-born-and-raised Egyptian/Italian porn star. "If I'm promoting debauchery and immorality, then we could say the same about the 70s and 80s blockbuster movies starring Adel Emam, Nour El-Sherif and Hussein Fahmy," he argued. "There were numerous kissing and erotic scenes in their movies. In fact, Nour El Sherif inspires me a lot."The Munich-based 37-year-old led a relatively normal life in Egypt, with 'relatively' being the operative word. But what's normal anyways? Am I blabbering again? Nevermind. Upon graduating from Helwan University's Faculty of Commerce in 2003, Taliani quickly made arrangements to travel to Italy, where his Egyptian/Italian mother has lived for as long as he remembered. He found out, however, that his bachelor degree didn't qualify him for a master's program at any Italian university, so he stayed a couple more years in Egypt to get a two-year diploma from Ain Shams University.

Those 'religious' people who seem determined to label me as an adulterer would jump in the sack with any woman they manage to get their hands on and later ask god for forgiveness.

During those years, Taliani had a recurrent fantasy about becoming an actor or a TV host, and he also had a girlfriend whom he loved deeply. After getting rejected in a camera-test at Dream TV and the dismissal of his marriage proposal by his girlfriend's father, Taliani, who was 25 at the time, packed his bags, along with his Italian passport, and took off to Europe. But it wasn't waiting with open arms.

"I left Egypt at the peak of my emotional and sexual satisfaction. There were no unfulfilled fantasies nor was I deprived of pleasure," explained Taliani. "I was loved and wanted by so many women, but I always said no to marriage because I had concluded that those who say yes never seem to make any progress in their lives."

 I stayed home for a week, drowning in depression. It was then that I first laid eyes on an ad for a sex festival in Florence.

After taking up a job as a factory worker for two years in Italy, Taliani began taking advantage of his mother-tongue by working in translation. He then got a degree in international business from a public university in Rome, after which he left for Paris, which is where his journey with the porn industry slowly came to life.

"In Paris, I found a friend in an Egyptian illegal immigrant. We would always hangout by the Eiffel Tower and pick up girls of all sorts of nationalities, shapes and colours you could imagine. It was around that time that I started shooting amateur erotic scenes with girls I randomly hooked up with."In 2013, Taliani made his way back to Italy to begin an extended job hunt. A couple of years into his search, as he scrolled through Facebook one morning in mid-2016,  a friend suggestion grabbed his attention. It was of a young Egyptian woman who worked as a TV reporter. He sent her a request, they started chatting and Taliani quickly developed feelings he hadn't felt since before he was rejected by the family of his first love.

"I thought she would be a perfect match for me when I decide to get married. However she unhesitatingly shut me down on the basis that we didn't even know each other, which shocked me to my very core," recounted Taliani. "After the rejection, I stayed home for a week, drowning in depression. It was then that  I first laid eyes on an ad for a sex festival in Florence."

He asked If I would mind shooting gay and shemale porn. My answer was a definite no.

"At the festival, I joined an onstage performance which caught the attention of one Italian female porn star," said Taliani. The BDSM-specialised porn actress wanted Taliani to join her in one of her live shows, in which she plays the role of the mistress and he is to submit. "I worked with her for exactly two days, but the whole thing didn't work for me. She would tie me up for the show but I would always try to break loose because I wanted to hug or kiss her," he elaborated. "I said I wanted to be the dominant one. She told me that I'm not a good fit for BDSM productions, but I didn't care, the door had already opened."

A short while later, Taliani showed up for a casting call for a three-way production, which led to his first ever on camera-performance.

"The first time is nerve-wrecking even when you're used to cameras. I did alright though, and the director offered me a contract after finishing the scene," said Taliani. However the contract's conditions didn't sit well with Taliani. "He asked If I would mind shooting gay and shemale porn, to which my answer was a definite no. I said it bluntly; I'm only in it for the women."

Religious fanatics are turning a blind-eye to rape and abuse, which are rampant in Egypt, and instead they are directing their energy to me; an ordinary man with a job in an established industry.

Taliani used the video he shot to begin promoting himself on social media and in sex festivals around Europe. One audition after the other, he quickly accumulated work and became a familiar face to industry figures across the continent.

"I live in Europe and I abide by its laws," said Taliani. "Religious fanatics are turning a blind-eye to rape and abuse, which are rampant in Egypt, and instead they are directing their energy to me, an ordinary man with a job in an established industry," explained Taliani on the hate he usually encounters on social media. "Those 'religious' people who seem determined to label me as an adulterer would jump in the sack with any woman they manage to get their hands on and later ask god for forgiveness," he further argued. 

Throughout his career, Taliani has moved between European capitals pursuing work opportunities and recognition. He lived in London, Paris and Rome, before finally settling in Munich. With his current employer, Taliani travels at least 30 times a year to perform at sex festivals around the world. Despite all the perks, he doesn't intend to carry on with this nomadic life for long.

"I don't see my future in porn because its a very demanding and stressful career. If I find an opportunity to work in the Egyptian movie or TV industries, I would take it. I mean, even if could just lead a normal life again, that would be alright too."

Photos courtesy of Sherif Taliani.