Desert Flower

Desert Flower is a 2009 German biographical film directed by Sherry Hormann. It stars Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins and Craig Parkinson, and is based on the Somali-born model Waris Dirie's autobiography. Plot The film follows the journey of Waris Dirie (played by Liya Kebede) from a nomadic pastoralist background in Somalia to a new life and career in the West as a fashion model and activist against female genital mutilation. Cast Liya Kebede as Waris Dirie Sally Hawkins as Marylin Craig Parkinson as Neil Meera Syal as Pushpa Patel Anthony Mackie as Harold Jackson Juliet Stevenson as Lucinda Timothy Spall as Terry Donaldson Soraya Omar-Scego as Waris aged 12 Teresa Churcher as Nurse Anne Eckart Friz as Spike Prashant Prabhakar as Kami Anna Hilgedieck as Tilda Matt Kaufman as Burger Bar Manager Emma Kay as Immigration officer Elli as European Man Nick Raio as Truck Driver Robert Robalino as Cafe owner Chris Wilson as Embassy Official Safa Idriss Nour as Little Waris Production Asked about the scene where Waris Dirie really struggles with a nude photo shoot, Liya Kebede said, "Being nude really is a problem for me, so it was actually the easiest scene for me to shoot. I definitely identified with how she was feeling."