Mariyam Azza

In 2005, Azza appeared in a video single titled "Loabiviyya" alongside her sister, Rishmy, which became a chartbuster.[3] She then appeared in several songs produced by her family production.[3] Azza made her acting debut in a supporting role with Hukuru Vileyrey (2006), co-directed by Aishath Rishmy and Aminath Rasheedha which was based on a novel published by Ibrahim Waheed on Haveeru Daily in 2003.[4][5] The film was a critical and commercial success while being considered as "one of the few acceptable horror film the Maldivian Film Industry has ever produced".[6][7] It was later released as 15 episodes television series with inclusion of several clips that were edited off while released in theatre.[8][9] Her performance fetched her a Gaumee Film Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.[10]

In 2015, Azza collaborated with Fathimath Nahula for two television drama series. In the first release, a 15-episodes romantic series Vakivumuge Kurin, Azza portrayed a seductive colleague and an irresponsible wife who mistreats her mother.[11] This was followed by Umurah Salaan (2015) which centers on a squabble family which is separated due to the greed for money and misunderstandings.[11] The series which stars Mohamed Faisal, Aminath Rishfa, Ahmed Azmeel and Azza in lead roles, she portrays the character Shazly, an orphan who blindly trusts her husband.[11]

In 2016, Azza played the role of Elisha, an innocent girl who becomes possessed while trapped in a house, in Fathimath Nahula's horror film 4426.[12] Upon release, the film received mostly positive reviews from critics. Ahmed Nadheem of Avas labelled the film as a "masterpiece" and noted her performance to be "good" but not "consistent".[13] However, it was also considered to be her "best performance" so far.[13] Ahmed Adhushan reviewing for Mihaaru considered her dialogue delivery and expressions in the possessed scenes to "stand out" from the film while she delivered a "haunting performance" in her "breakthrough film".[14] With twenty-five back-to-back housefull shows being screened, 4426 was declared as the highest-grossing film of the year in the Maldives.[15]

Azza at 9th Gaumee Film Awards ceremony, 2019

In 2017, Azza established herself as a leading actress of contemporary Maldivian cinema by featuring in four of the top-grossing productions of the year. Her first release of the year was the Ali Shifau-directed romantic comedy Mee Loaybakee alongside Mohamed Jumayyil.[16] At the time of release, the film held the record of being the Maldivian film featuring the largest cast onscreen.[17] The film tells the story of ex-lovers sliding into the friend zone, and the envy and diffidence they experience amidst a convoluted love-triangle.[17] In the film, she played the role of Lam, an insecure friend of Ishan - her ex-boyfirend.[17] The film and Azza's performance received mixed reviews, with Aishath Maaha of Avas calling her performance "a drawback from her previous films".[17] The film emerged as one of the highest grossing Maldivian films of 2017.[18] She next featured alongside an ensemble cast including Yoosuf Shafeeu, Mohamed Manik, Ahmed Saeed and Ali Seezan in another romantic comedy film Naughty 40 which was directed by Shafeeu.[19] The film revolves around three friends, Ashwanee, Ahsan and Ajwad (Played by Shafeeu, Saeed and Manik respectively) who are single and having a youthful outlook, in spite of being in their forties.[19] She featured in dual roles - Ziyana, a woman who gets impregnated after being sexually assaulted, and later as Ashwa, the daughter of Ziyana, an introverted daughter who meets her father after nineteen years.[19] The film met with both critical and commercial success, emerging as one of the highest grossing Maldivian films of 2017.[20][18]

Abdul Fatthah's romantic drama Hahdhu was Azza's next film release. She was paid MVR50,000 for the role in the film, becoming the highest-paid actress in the Maldivian film industry alongside Niuma Mohamed for her work in Niuma.[21] The film touched upon controversial issues in the Maldives including the depiction of flogging and also shines a light on mental health by featuring an attempted suicide.[22] Azza played the role of Yusra, an acquiescent and talkative young woman whose life changes with an extramarital affair. A reviewer from Avas wrote: "The transition from being loquacious to reticent, she played the character whole-heatedly saddening the audience with absolute emotions".[23] The film opened to mixed reviews from critics though it emerged as one of the highest grossing Maldivian films of the year.[18]

Her fourth and final release of the year was Aishath Rishmy's romantic drama Bos.[24] Penned and produced by Fathimath Nahula, the film tells the story of a woman from a royal family and her battle with depression after the demise of her father.[25][26] Azza played the lead character Ibaa, who suffers from depression and is forced into an arranged marriage.[26] A reviewer from Avas criticised the film for having a resemblance to American coming-of-age romantic drama A Walk to Remember (2002) and Indian romantic drama Sanam Teri Kasam (2016).[26] The film along with her performance attracted mixed to positive critical reaction.[26] The film emerged as the highest grossing Maldivian film of 2017 and Azza's fifth consecutive success at box office.[18] During the year, Azza hosted the celebrity-based talk show Azxonna, where she interviews actors, directors and other prominent members of the Maldivian film industry.[27] The first season consisting of thirteen episodes were aired from 13 February 2017.[27]

2018 was a dull year for Maldivian film-industry with regards to 2018 Maldivian presidential election. Her only release of the year was the first Maldivian web-series, a romantic drama by Fathimath Nahula, Huvaa.[28] The series consisting of sixty episodes and streamed through the digital platform Baiskoafu, centers around a happy and radiant family which breaks into despairing pieces after a tragic incident that led to an unaccountable loss.[29][30] The series and her performance as a divorcee struggling to choose between her abusive ex-husband and a caring young man were positively received.[31][32]

The following year, Azza starred in Nafrathuvumun (2019) alongside Shafeeu, Ali Azim and Ahmed Easa which revolves around a guesthouse, the only source of income for a woman who is convinced by several men to sell the property.[33] Mariyam Waheedha from Miadhu praised Azza's "dynamic" performance and preferred her negative side of the character than her vulnerable personality.[34] This was followed by another direction from Shafeeu, the romantic horror film Dhauvath (2019) which follows a happily married couple who goes on a honeymoon trip and the paranormal activities they experience due to black-magic.[35] Mariyam Waheedha from Miadhu considers her portrayal of the character Zeeniya as "relevant in the horror scenes but unnatural in the calm scenes".[34]