Netflix Breakout Star of Syrian Refugee Story & Representation

In director’s Sally El Hosaini’s drama, the Mardini sisters battle fear and exhaustion to stay alive in their refugee-filled dinghy on their way to Greece. Yusra (played by Nathalie) and Sara heroically jump in the water and swim for three and a half hours to help their crowded boat complete the passage to Lesbos. After a dangerous journey on land, the sisters get to Berlin pass through a refugee shelter where they are taken on as competitive swimmers by a local swim coach. Yusra ultimately went on to compete on the inaugural refugee team at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Nathalie admits that initially she wasn’t a fan of the role as she is not a great swimmer and her sister has a deep water phobia. Fortunately, the film did not require competitive swimming for the role but the Issa sisters did undergo two months of pre-production training in the swimming pool. The training was meant to push them and give them a glimpse of the exhaustion one would have crossing the Aegean sea.

Not a stranger to film, Nathalie appeared in the 2018 short film, “Unforgettable Memory of a Friend,” which received a lot of critical and audience praise. She followed that project with her role in the film, ‘Mon Tissu Préféré’ and is establishing herself as ‘one to watch.’ THE SWIMMERS is truly her breakout role and she is showing no signs of slowing down. We look forward to setting up an interview with you to discuss her performance and the bright future that lies ahead.