وردية حمتوش

A few years later, she began acting in comedies, taking on various roles in television, theater, and cinema. She appeared in major popular Algerian films of the 1980s and 1990s, such as *Hassan Niya* by Ghaouti Bendedouche, starring Rouiched (1982); *De Hollywood à Tamanrasset* (1991)—an Algerian comedy classic that brought together the finest actors of the era; *Le Mariage des Dupes* by Hadj Rahim, alongside Mustapha El-Anka; *Taxi El Makhfi (Le Clandestin)* with Athmane Ariouet and Yahia Benmabrouk; and *Sombrero* by Rabah Bouberas, among many others. Her talent extended to French productions, including Bernard Nauer's *Nuit d'ivresse*—alongside Josiane Balasko, Thierry Lhermitte, and Michel Blanc—and Mahmoud Zemmouri's *Les Folles Années du Twist*, featuring Malik Lakhdar-Hamina, Jacques Villeret, and Richard Bohringer. Quickly becoming a popular figure, Ouardia Hamtouche won over audiences with her simple, natural "Algerian mother" persona—which fostered a close bond with the public—and a satirical wit reminiscent of performers like Rachid Ksentini or Mohamed Touri.

She died of a heart attack on a train on January 1, 1991, while traveling to visit her daughter in Metz, France. In 2012, a two-day tribute was held in her honor at the El Mouggar cinema in Algiers, featuring screenings of films in which she had appeared.