She was spotted by film producer Riad El-Erian, who persuaded her to embark on an acting career.
[1] In 1981, she starred as an upper-class college student in I'm Not Lying But I'm Beautifying with leading actors Salah Zulfikar and Ahmed Zaki, which became her best known role.
In 2001, El-Hakim starred in the TV series Escaping from Love as Siham, a woman who earns a Ph.D but is socially isolated.
In 2003, El-Hakim resumed her acting career by playing Jaclyn Khouri in the TV series Kharaz Mulawan.
[4] El-Hakim retired from artistic life in 2013, after receiving tributes during the seventh edition of the Salé International Women's Film Festival.