Maimouna Hélène Diarra (1955-2021) was an acclaimed Malian actress, originally from Segou. A prominent figure in African cinema, she began her artistic training by studying theater arts at the Institut National des Arts (INA) in Bamako. Known for her ability to portray mature and wise women, often from a young age, Diarra had a significant career in both theater and cinema. Among her most memorable roles were appearances in internationally acclaimed films such as Guimba, un tyran, une époque (1995), Code inconnu (2000) by Michael Haneke, the acclaimed Moolaadé (2004) by director Ousmane Sembène, in which she played Hadjatou, and Bamako (2006) by Abderrahmane Sissako. Her stage presence and talent have made her one of Mali's most respected actresses, helping to bring African stories to the big screen.