Nabila was a huge fan of classical Egyptian movies and used to gather money as a kid to go to Shoubrah Cinema Palace.

In 1965, she starred with Omar Sharif in The Mamelukes, a role which was described as her "first steps to fame".

[3] In 1967, she co-starred with Salah Zulfikar in the highly successful political play Rubabikia, one of her few roles on stage.

[5] She married the film director, Atef Salem, who discovered her from 1963 to 1967.

Obeid later had several secretive marriages including Osama El-Baz which lasted for nine years.