Lebleba (لبلبة) - Ninochka Manoug Kupelian - interview

Ninochka Manoug Kupelian (Arabic: نينوتشكا مانوك كوبليان; born November 14, 1946 in Cairo), better known by her stage name Lebleba (Arabic: لبلبة, pronounced [lebˈlebæ], also Lubluba), is an Egyptian film actress and entertainer. She is the cousin of both Egyptian actress Feyrouz and entertainer Nelly.
She was born in Cairo to an Egyptian family of Armenian Christian background. She started as a child actress imitating other actresses, including appearances on the Egyptian National Theater promoted by Muallem Sadiq. She was given her first movie role through Egyptian film director and producer Anwar Wagdi and screenwriter / playwright Abo El Seoud El Ebiary in Habeebti Sousou. El Ebiary also chose the name Lebleba after seeing the multi-talented child actress, comedian, dancer and singer Ninochka Kupelian. [Wikipedia]
This interview took place in the early 1990s.
Background
Arab American TV (AATV) was a Los Angeles-based news and media syndicate. It initially produced a bilingual, magazine-style television program on a weekly basis. It covered local and national community events, showcasing Arab Los Angeles's rich social, cultural and political dimensions. Prominent Arab newsmakers, celebrities and political leaders appeared on AATV frequently.
Part of AATV's content included imported films, TV serials, plays, news and music videos from the region. In a sense, it served as a media bridge between the Arab diaspora in the US and the homeland. AATV operated from the early 1980s until the mid-2000s.
During its first decade, AATV was broadcast over-the-air throughout Southern California. The show capturing the zeitgeist of southern California's Arab American communities. In the 1990s, it grew to reach a national footprint via the International Channel, which was available on many cable television carriers and satellite. It expanded its broadcast hours and put out daily entertainment programming. It was one of the only television programs connecting large parts of Arab America as a whole. In its final years, it became a live talk show that took callers and discussed issues concerning Arab Americans.
Preservation of Arab American TV was made possible by funding from the George Washington University, including the Institute for Middle East Studies, The Elliott School of International Affairs, the School of Media & Public Affairs, the University Facilitating Fund and the Humanities Center. Initial support was also given by the Dresher Center for the Humanities at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.