Rita Harb: 'Love on Paper' Brought a New Change to My Personality!
Lebanese actress Rita Habib discussed one of the most impactful scenes for her character “Joumi,” which she portrays in the series “Hubb wa Waraq” (Love and Paper), confirming that her relationship with the character “Lina,” played by Haya Marashli, underwent a pivotal turning point that profoundly influenced the course of events. Habib explained in an interview with MBC that one of the most memorable moments for “Joumi” was receiving a video documenting “Lina” leading her out of the house for a few steps while her eyes were closed—an spontaneous gesture that “Joumi” did not realize would bring about such significant change. She added that “Joumi” watched the video repeatedly throughout the night, alternating between laughter and tears, after realizing that these simple steps marked the beginning of breaking through the fear that had confined her for a long time, despite previous unsuccessful therapeutic attempts to help her leave the house.
“Hubb wa Waraq” is the Arabic adaptation of the popular Turkish series “Aşk Kapıyı Çal” (Love Knocks at My Door). The story unfolds within a romantic comedy framework, focusing on “Lina,” portrayed by Haya Marashli, an ambitious young woman striving to complete her education and regain her scholarship, before her life intersects with wealthy businessman “Ouss,” played by Anas Tayara. Their initially formal relationship gradually evolves into a love story filled with situations and surprises.
The series features a cast of other stars, including Haya Marashli, Rita Habib, Dima Al-Jundi, Saad Mina, Gina Abou Zeid, and others. The series is directed by Endre Emre, with the screenplay and dialogue written by Lubna Mushlah and Mai Hayek.
Habib emphasized that the role differed from all her previous experiences, both in terms of the character’s nature and the comedic space she explored for the first time in this manner. She noted that “Joumi” gave her the opportunity to deliver a comedic performance across 90 episodes, which she considered a new experience. While her previous Arab roles included some comedic elements, they were not primarily comedy-driven.
She added that the character “Joumi” challenged her artistic abilities and pushed her to discover new dimensions in her acting, revealing untapped energies she had never previously expressed. This made the experience one of the roles closest to her heart.
