Biography

She is of Egyptian descent. Both of Dahlia's parents were born in Egypt.

Got Steven Spielberg's attention when he saw her on the hit soap opera series Another World (1964). A meeting was arranged between director Sam Mendes and Salem for a reading of the role of "Angela Hayes" in Oscar winner American Beauty (1999). Mena Suvari was eventually cast in the part.

Her favorite movie is Jaws (1975). Realized she wanted to be an actor after seeing Jessica Lange's work in Tootsie (1982) and Frances (1982).

Worked opposite Al Pacino in a staged reading production of playwright August Strindberg's naturalistic tragedy play "The Father" at the Circle in the Square Theater in New York City. Ms. Salem played the role of "Bertha", the daughter of "Captain Adolph" (Al Pacino) Ms.Salem recounted this experience as being the most poignant and inspiring for her as an actor.

In 1995, Dahlia was an understudy, when she had the lucky opportunity to fill in and make her Broadway debut as "Rosa Delle Rosa" in Robert Fall's revival of Tennessee Williams' "The Rose Tattoo"- opposite Mercedes Ruehl as "Serafina Delle Rosa" and Anthony Lapaglia as "Alvaro Mangiacavallo.".