Actress and business woman Samira Mohamed Ali has just seen her latest TV series aired in America, and is hard at work selling Wales to the world’s film industry. MARK REES went to meet her.

Ever since taking a leap of faith and boarding a plane to fly into the unknown world of the Bollywood film industry, actress Samira Mohamed Ali has carved out a successful, jet-setting career for herself on the silver screen.

But for all her achievements, in such far-flung countries as India and America, the Neath-based lady of many hats has never lost her love for her hometown, and is working hard to develop the film industry in her own backyard.

When I catch up with Samira, who was raised in Dubai before relocating to Neath in her early teens, she has just had seen her latest show, two-part historical epic Egyptian Vice, broadcast across the United States on digital channel Spike TV.

But as she tells me, even this major production was firmly rooted in Wales.

“It was amazing,” she says of the drama documentary, which delves into the vice-filled lifestyles of the wealthiest rulers in ancient Egypt, and serves as a precursor to Sir Ben Kingsley’s new mini-series Tut which premieres on Channel 5 tonight.

“We filmed it in Wales, and the majority of them came from the US,” she says of the show, noting the blend of Welsh and American talent involved in the production

“It’s a documentary intended to educate the audience about Egypt leading up to Tut, which looks amazing.

“It has a dramatic feel to it. Very bloody, very gory, and very similar to Game of Thrones – but Egyptian.”

Now an in-demand actress, it wasn’t a career path that Samira initially set out to pursue. In fact, it was through entering ­— and winning — beauty pageants that led to an unexpected, and life changing, proposition from the booming Indian film industry.

“It happened overnight,” she recalls of her swift introduction to Bollywood.

“The brother of a friend of the family was a film director in India, and I’d been speaking to him for six months, but I didn’t really think anything was going to come of it.

“Then one Friday, I was asked to be in India for a role on Sunday. I thought, what, a week Sunday? But no – two days later!” she laughs.

It was a big call, heading out to an unfamiliar country on her own, but she plucked up the courage, picked up the airline ticket and flew out into the unknown.

“I just got on a plane and went,” she says of decision to accept what she believed to be the relatively minor role of a Bollywood beauty queen – but then things took an even bigger turn on arrival.

“I’d won some beauty pageants back home – Miss Europe, and Miss American Dream – and I was going there for a similar part,” she explains.

“But when I arrived, I ended up with a leading role in a franchise, and it changed my life. I’m so grateful.”

Since tasting success in India, Samira has juggled her acting with her dual roles as a business owner and producer of her own production company Tanabi, who are based in Swansea’s Dylan Thomas Centre, with a second office based in the equally glamorous city of… Miami.

“I’m in Swansea at the moment, and my partner is in Miami,” she explains of the company’s set-up, noting that she’s more than happy to be spending her time in Wales – in particular, in Neath – while her business partner soaks up the sun in The Magic City.

“It’s my home,” she says of the town.

“Even when I’m in India, I’m thinking of Neath – I love being home.”

So much so that Samira is now hoping that she can help to develop the movie industry locally by exposing India – and with the rest of the world – to the delights of South West Wales.

“We’ve been working in the business for quite a long time, and most of our commissions are from overseas. We get calls from LA, and they’re sending us scripts, which is crazy. I just think, how have you heard of us?” she jokes.

“They’re always looking for new locations, and I’m trying to convince them to come to Swansea, and how wonderful it is here,” she says of a potential team-up with Bollywood.

“We did a tour of the area with some executive producers recently, and they liked that look and feel of the place.

“They’d never normally come as far as Swansea – maybe Newport, maybe Cardiff, but not Swansea.”

But is there anything in particular about the area that they can’t get in India?

“The beaches,” she says of the area’s obvious big selling point.

“Our beaches are beautiful, especially on a good day. We took them to Oystermouth Castle, the city centre, and down to Margam Castle in Port Talbot.”

Looking to the future, Samira can see her love affair with the Indian film industry continuing side-by-side with her commitment to homegrown productions, which includes a locally sourced film later this year.

“50 percent of my job is acting ­— I do four to five films a year,” she says.

“I’ve been offered a lot of work in India, with two big Bollywood properties, which would be amazing.

“I’m also see myself getting more into production. A lot of my roles in the UK have involved a bit of producing as well, and I’m hands on with that side of things.”

All of which points to a successful future right here in Wales.

“We bought the rights to a best-selling book from Swansea author Katherine John called By Any Name, which will be out soon — definitely this year.

“We have such a lovely Welsh team, and there’s a passion and a love I have for Wales. I wouldn’t have half of that passion somewhere else.”

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Cymraeg i’w ddilyn:

Today sees the official launch of ‘Rescue 365’, a community interest company that specialises in providing Health & Safety Training and Advice.

Based in Carmarthen in West Wales, Rescue 365 provides training and consultancy in many areas including health and safety, first aid, fire safety, working at height and water rescue, as well as bespoke solutions depending on the client’s needs.

As a community interest company, profits are reinvested back into MAWWFRS’s community safety initiatives, or the wider community.

In just its first few months, Rescue 365 has seen rapid growth with clients ranging from global companies such as TATA Steel and RWE in the private sector, as well as local authorities and education providers right across Wales and England.

At Rescue 365’s official launch today at the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea, MAWWFRS Chief Fire Officer, Chris Davies said: “I am thrilled to be supporting this new venture. Rescue 365 is an excellent example of how an innovative business model can service industry demand while supplementing traditional Fire and Rescue Service funding streams in these challenging economic times. This new venture will not only ensure that the valuable community safety initiatives provided by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are secured, but also allow their expert skills in risk management to benefit a wider industry audience.”

Rob Quin, Director of Rescue 365 said: “Seeing Rescue 365 expand so rapidly over the last eight months shows that there is a great demand for experienced and highly skilled training operators within the risk management sector. I look forward to seeing how the company develops over the next 12 months with the aim of expanding further throughout the UK and beyond.”

With the support of Tanabi Group, Rescue 365 will be expanding into new sectors over the next 3 months, which will include the Creative and Renewable sectors in Wales.

You can follow the progress via @Rescue_365 on twitter, on Facebook as well as their website: www.rescue365.co.uk

Heddiw, bydd lansio swyddogol ‘Rescue 365’, cwmni buddiannau cymunedol sy’n arbenigo mewn darparu Hyfforddiant a Chyngor mewn Iechyd a Diogelwch.

Lleolir canolfan Rescue 365 yng Nghaerfyrddin, Gorllewin Cymru, ac mae’n darparu hyfforddiant ac ymgynghoriad mewn nifer o feysydd, yn cynnwys iechyd a diogelwch, cymorth cyntaf, diogelwch tân, gweithio ar uchder ac achub yn y dŵr, yn ogystal â datrysiadau pwrpasol yn ôl anghenion y cleient.

Fel cwmni buddiannau cymunedol, mae unrhyw elw’n cael ei ail-fuddsoddi’n ôl i fentrau diogelwch cymunedol Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru (MAWWFRS), neu’r gymuned yn ehangach.

Ym misoedd cyntaf ei fodolaeth, mae Rescue 365 wedi gweld cynnydd mawr yn ei gleientiaid, o gwmnïau rhyngwladol yn y sector breifat e.e. TATA Steel a RWE, yn ogystal ag awdurdodau lleol a darparwyr addysg yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Wrth lansio’r Rescue 365 yn swyddogol heddiw yng Nghanolfan Dylan Thomas, Abertawe, dywedodd Prif Swyddog Tân MAWWFRS, Chris Davies “Rydw i’n hynod o falch o gael cefnogi’r fenter newydd hon. Dyma enghraifft wych o sut y gall model busnes arloesol wasanaethu anghenion diwydiant, ac ar yr un pryd ychwanegu at lif arian y gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub yn y cyfnod heriol hwn. Bydd y fenter newydd hon, nid yn unig yn sicrhau bod mentrau gwerthfawr a ddarperir gan Wasanaeth Tân ac Achub Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru yn ddiogel, ond hefyd yn caniatáu i’w sgiliau arbenigol mewn rheoli risg fod o fudd i fwy o gwmnïau diwydiannol.”

Meddai Rob Quin, Cyfarwyddwr Rescue 365, “Mae gweld Rescue 365 yn ehangu mor gyflym dros yr wyth mis diwethaf yn dangos bod galw mawr am weithwyr profiadol sydd wedi eu hyfforddi mewn sgiliau tra arbenigol o fewn y sector rheoli risg. Rydw i’n edrych ymlaen at gael gweld sut bydd y cwmni’n datblygu dros y 12 mis nesaf, gyda’r nod o ehangu ymhellach drwy’r DU a thu hwnt.”

Gyda chefnogaeth Grŵp Tanabi, bydd Rescue 365 yn ehangu i sectorau newydd yn ystod y tri mis nesaf e.e. sectorau Creadigol ac Adnewyddadwy yng Nghymru.

Gallwch ddilyn ein datblygiad drwy @Rescue_365 ar Twitter neu Facebook yn ogystal â’n gwefan: www.rescue365.co.uk