Carmen Bsaibes Is The Bazaar Arabia June 2025 Issue Cover Star

Harpers Bazaar Arabia

3 days ago

What does 'Having It All' really mean? Carmen Bsaibes opens up about motherhood, stepping back, and stepping forward with grace, grit and a new sense of purpose
'Your priorities shift, but at the same time you manage to do everything, altogether.' Showing up for work 60 days after giving birth is challenge enough, but doing so photo-ready, at a time when women are arguably at their most vulnerable – both physically and mentally – shows the strength, professionalism, and confidence of acclaimed Lebanese actor Carmen Bsaibes.
Speaking a couple of weeks later, Carmen smiles, comfortably ensconced in her Beirut base, when she admits, 'I managed it, but my head was everywhere. I don't know how I managed it.' And although she makes quick decisions – like taking on her latest role filming a special appearance in an Egyptian movie – by 'not overthinking things,' the process of adjustment has not been as seamless as it looks. And it did look effortless; after all, this was the woman who stunned in a red sheath dress at the Bvlgari Calla launch in Paris, just weeks before welcoming baby Andrea into her life.
'When I got offered the role, I got excited about it. It's something really cool,' she tells us. 'But I was a bit nervous about the whole situation. It's all very different for me, being a new mother – I wondered, 'How will I manage everything?' But then I thought, all my friends and the women around me work – whatever their job is, they all do work. So, I told myself, I'm going to do it. I will not overthink it. I think everything is possible workwise. That's how it happened.'
Travelling back and forth to different locations has always been an intrinsic part of the Eugenie Nights star's life, so her current routine is no different. Except she now has an entourage with her to help out on babysitting duties while she is on set. 'I manage a lot of things at the same time. There are lots of logistics. But my family is flexible. I have help.' She is visibly excited when she says, 'I'm back on track. I'm back to the film set,' firmly putting her short maternity leave behind her.
Carmen, 35, shrugs when asked if there was pressure – from both the industry and fans – to return from her hiatus quickly. 'I didn't feel the pressure. My fans were so excited for me to come back. I always see on social media how excited they are. They were happy for me when I was pregnant, when I had a baby. And they are happy and excited for me to come back to work, but I didn't feel the pressure from people or society or the industry – not at all – because, honestly, that is not my personality. I'm someone who's very focused on myself. I don't compare or look outside at what's happening. I know what my trajectory is and what my path is career wise. But between me and myself, I was ready. I felt I was ready, physically and mentally, to go back to work. And that is what happened.'
Perhaps this decision was partly based on the fact that Carmen took an extended – somewhat forced – sabbatical from work during her pregnancy. 'I finished filming my last series, Look of Love, in April [2024]. I had a long nine-month break,' she recalls. 'I did red carpets and events, but I wasn't filming. To be honest I wasn't capable of filming anyways during my first trimester because it was a hard pregnancy for me. The first four months were hard so it was impossible for me to work.' Ironically that was how she managed to keep her pregnancy under wraps until she was ready to share the news with the world last September, via a poignant Instagram post which referenced hardships fellow mothers were going through due to the conflict in the region. 'I thought I would work through the first few months of my pregnancy but I just couldn't. I didn't go out. I stayed home and rested. So, no one noticed!'
Carmen last graced our cover three years ago at a pivotal time in her career, wrapping up the third – and final – season of her career-defining series Bride of Beirut. Since then, she has made sure to diversify the roles she's taken on, imbuing characters with her trademark dramatic flair. But she'll always be identified with that role. 'People really loved that series. Sometimes I don't get called Carmen in the streets. They shout, Bride of Beirut!'
When we last spoke, her deep love for her craft was evident. And that dedication hasn't wavered. 'I take a lot of time to read and dig deep into the script; this is the phase that is sacred for me. So, whenever I'm on a project, I like to read the script over and over again. I start to imagine her tics, her style, the way she talks, she walks, everything. And then I try to get inspired by people around me that might look like this character, that might have the same personality as this character. I observe a lot – that's part of being an actress, the journey. I think an actor is an observer. I get impressed and mesmerised by someone who's in front of me. Whenever I am on a job, I observe, I remember people that are similar to this character, and then I start overdoing it and trying stuff, but I always keep space for imagination and improvisation on set. I like things to be organic.'
'My main passion is acting, being on set,' she tells us, while we discuss whether stepping back was ever an option. In a world where everyone is striving to become famous for fame's sake, that was never her goal, given she guards her private life fiercely. But there are aspects of being in the limelight that she revels in. When discussing the fashion world, and dressing for appearances she admits, 'This is the part where I breathe. I enjoy shooting couture and jewellery. The glamorous side of our job is a lot of fun. You get to show a different side of your personality, your feminine side. I really enjoy it.'
The key, she insists is to have balance, both personally and professionally. Control what you can, but don't be adamant to sticking to things that require adapting. 'My dreams are quite clear. I have a general idea of what I like to do, and what I want to do. But I don't plan a lot for the future. I don't put a plan in place and stick to it. I'm not the kind of person who would tell you, 'I will be doing this next year.' I like to follow my instinct. I like to be surprised by the future. So, I try to have a balance.'
She warms to the theme of balance when talking about the profound change a child can have on one's life. Musing over whether you can actually have it all, she insists, 'I cannot say you don't sacrifice and you won't compromise, that's for sure. It's inevitable. But at the same time, you can have it all – but you will be sacrificing and compromising.' She adds, 'Life with a child is different. You think about her all the time. Her priorities are now more important than yours. So, you will be sacrificing in a way, and making compromises, but it is a choice you willingly make.'
There was never even a thought of stepping away from her profession though. 'I wouldn't consider it,' she says vehemently. 'My ambitions are clear, I have a lot of dreams, and I'm passionate about my job. I know that I will keep on doing what I love. But at the same time, I know that when I need a break, I can take a break. This happened last year. I got pregnant, I took a break. It's not easy. When you are in a project, you're overloaded, you have intensive working hours, you film a lot, you're into a character. It could be complex. So sometimes for four months, five months, it's quite intensive. After projects like these, you have to take a break, so it's all in the balance.'
Carmen is known for wanting to gatekeep her personal life, so how did her new arrival impact that decision, given how invested fans were about this new chapter in her life? 'I think it's going to be the same as I've always been. I am private about my private life, and this is part of my private life. And even more so because now she's a baby. She's not a decision maker, so I'm going to protect her, and whenever or whatever she decides to share about herself, she will do when she's conscious and grown-up. But for now, definitely, I will be private about her.'
Motherhood has altered her fundamentally. 'Oh, my gosh, it has changed me. I always had empathy, and I always felt for others… But now, I cannot even imagine what people go through after losing their child or seeing their child suffer for reasons they are not capable of changing. Now I can see it even more clearly. My baby – it's your heart, it's part of you – seeing her go through all of this… So, yes, it's another perspective. When I was pregnant, I thought I knew what it felt like, but now I literally feel it within my deep, deep self and heart. All I think about is wanting to protect her, how I want her to feel safe. I want to give her the world.'
Would she be open to her daughter following in her footsteps? She says, 'Andrea has to do something she loves. This is how I want her to follow my path. I did what I love. I want her to do what she loves.'
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