Anousha, hailing from Shiraz, Iran, is a talented actress and writer who has garnered recognition for her work in films such as “Clairevoyant” (2021), “Lifeline” (2020), and “Escape Room” (2017). Her journey in the world of acting commenced at the tender age of eleven, marking the start of her professional career.
Can you talk about your journey from being born in Iran to becoming an international actress and writer?
My acting journey began at age 11 in Shiraz, Iran. I convinced my parents to enrol me in an adult acting class, making me the only child among adults. Through school, I honed my craft on stage and occasionally worked on local film projects. At 15, I knew cinema was my calling, but there was only one girls’ cinema school in Iran, Sooreh, located in Tehran. Convincing my parents to let me move was challenging due to societal pressures.
I spent nearly three transformative years at Sooreh School, immersed in cinema while remaining active in theatre and festivals in Tehran. I also took advanced acting classes.
Before turning 18, I left Iran for the UK to pursue drama and the Meisner technique at Regents University. This led me to the United States, specifically AAU in San Francisco, where I continued my acting studies. Now based in Los Angeles, I’ve been involved in short films, feature projects, and national commercials for brands like Nike and Amazon.
Currently, I’m deeply engaged in my original play ‘ZanGir,’ addressing domestic violence through light, music, and body expression instead of traditional dialogue. This innovative approach makes it accessible and relatable to global audiences, and we plan to take ‘ZanGir’ on a global tour soon to share its powerful message.
How does your background in dramatic arts and diverse experiences shape the way you approach roles in movies like “Clairevoyant,” “Lifeline,” and “Escape Room”?
My journey in acting has been a diverse blend of workshops, classes at Sooreh Cinema and Drama School, and even weekly online sessions. Collectively, they’ve led me to a profound realization: they bring me back to my core, to the essence of ‘Anousha,’ the persona I’ve chosen to portray. As an actor, I’ve learned to peel back the layers, shedding the mask of ‘Anousha’ to allow other facets of myself to emerge without judgment.
These rules and techniques, they’re not just about ‘Anousha’; they’re about tapping into the shared aspects of human nature that reside in all of us. It’s a challenging truth to accept—that within a criminal or a saint, we all harbor similar aspects, thoughts, and feelings.
For instance, when I took on the role in the movie ‘Escape Room’ as a Middle Eastern police officer facing an emotional manipulation test, I had to find that space within me where it was acceptable to be swayed by love, to break the very laws I’d sworn to uphold. It required shedding judgment and, without hesitation, making a decision that, in Anousha’s mind, might have seemed wrong but was unquestionably right in my character’s world.
What motivated you to leave your hometown and pursue acting at a young age, and how did this decision shape your career?
During my time in Iran, if someone asked me about my aspirations, I would often express it this way: ‘I want to make a positive impact on the world, to bring happiness somehow.’ I’d add ‘somehow’ because it’s an easier way for most people to digest, but deep down, I’ve always believed in intuition rather than vague ‘somehows.’ I knew that my path involved service, that in serving the world, I would ultimately rediscover myself.
However, as I emotionally connect with my acting journey, my perspective has evolved. I now firmly believe that actors are healers! Every person who sits in front of a screen, whether it’s a TV, a big movie screen, or a theatre, is seeking to feel something, to experience the world from a fresh perspective. They’re searching for healing, trying to uncover and embrace aspects of themselves they’ve kept hidden. When they watch a character or an actor portray those hidden facets, they heal as they watch, whether it’s through laughter or tears.
In a broader sense, I see all artists and creators as healers. What our world truly needs is less resistance and more ‘the art of allowing.’ Acting, to me, embodies the ‘art of allowing’ and genuine listening. This realization drives me to consider myself a healer through my craft.
As an Iranian woman, do you have any advice or a message for individuals in Iran who are dealing with limitations and injustices, particularly in the fields of music, art, and acting?
Yes, I do believe this deeply. Through my experiences living in various countries, states, and cities around the world, I’ve come to realize that our conditioning in Iran tends to be very black-and-white. We’re deeply entrenched in notions of right and wrong, and this can instil a lot of fear in people. I firmly believe that this kind of conditioning can have a detrimental effect on our art.
When everything is seen in stark black-and-white terms, and we don’t allow for other perspectives due to fear and limitations, we become prone to excessive judgment. And when there’s too much judgment or a lack of openness, it stifles our creativity, limits our minds, and hinders the creative spirit within us. In Iran, with the influence of culture, government pressures, and religion, creation often ends up in resistance rather than flowing naturally as it should.
So, my message to fellow Iranians is to let go of the rigid concepts of right and wrong, release judgment as much as possible. And the key to achieving this? One word: ‘Meditation.’ Meditation is the path to shedding these restrictions. It’s the path of least resistance and can open doors to everything you want to release.
Supporting the Women, Life, Freedom movement, what’s your message for Iranians sharing their challenges? Is it our duty to amplify and spread their message?
Let me emphasize a fundamental truth: everything that exists is born from contrast. It’s through contrast that we shape our lives, gather experiences, and evoke emotions. Sadly, the contrast people are enduring in Iran is exceptionally tough. It’s heart-wrenching and has taken a toll on many souls. We could easily label this period as one of the darkest in modern Iranian history.
However, I firmly believe that as artists, we possess the unique ability to create, especially in times of profound contrast. We understand that art is a healing force, a connection to the source of love. Even in the face of adversity and the prevailing sadness and darkness in Iran, we can choose not to let it snuff out our light. Instead, we, as artists, can emerge from this period and craft a space for collective healing—a monumental gift to the world.
It’s essential that we remain aware, guarding against allowing the heavy side of contrast to overshadow the light side of life. Instead, we should harness it as a tool to create more beauty and walk the path of least resistance.
Photo by Hadi Safari
“With ‘Bidari,’ I compiled my years of experiences, retreats, classes, workshops, and research into a book that I now share with the world.”
Can you share the inspiration behind your book “Bidari” and what readers can expect from it?
The inspiration for my book ‘Bidari’ and the short story behind it stem from a time when I used to work for Amazon delivery. When I first moved to LA, I needed a part-time job that allowed me to pursue my acting career during the day. Amazon delivery, although physically demanding, provided the flexibility I needed. It enabled me to manage my own schedule and the income was instrumental in kickstarting my life in the US.
Being an immigrant, an artist, and an aspiring actor, starting anew in Los Angeles was a significant challenge. I didn’t know where to begin in the vast Hollywood industry, and performing a physically demanding job made it even more daunting. LA marked the sixth city where I had to rebuild my life from scratch, but I was determined to do so.
Every day, I dedicated myself to studying, researching, and honing my acting craft, all while working tirelessly at night. This routine led me to start journalling every night, documenting my emotions and plans. Writing became my lifeline, saving me and my career. Over the years, I never stopped writing.
With ‘Bidari,’ I compiled my years of experiences, retreats, classes, workshops, and research into a book that I now share with the world. ‘Bidari’ is a 365-page journey filled with scientific facts, mantras, inspirational insights, and the power of intention. It offers a daily practice and encourages readers to return to the book each night, providing a platform to set intentions, express emotions, and thoughts without judgment. It’s about practicing the ‘art of allowing.’
Through ‘Bidari,’ I help people set daily intentions, write about their emotions, and thoughts, bringing them to a welcoming, non-judgmental blank page. Anyone can purchase ‘Bidari’ from Amazon worldwide, and if you’re in Iran, it’s available in nearly every bookstore. It’s my way of contributing to the power of self-discovery and intention-setting for a more fulfilled life.
How have you stayed true to yourself and your artistic vision in an industry that often emphasizes a certain image?
I’m aware that what I’m about to say might challenge some beliefs, but it’s what I’ve come to understand: everything is a dance, a intricate interplay of energy, beliefs, and the state of mind we project. These elements influence what comes back to us, and we have a choice to create from them or resist and learn from them.
In our industry, acting can be a tough and sometimes brutal journey. It has its own kind of violence. However, the dance I’ve been engaged in revolves around the knowledge that within each of us lies an authentic self with its unique ‘language.’ Some call it intuition, others refer to it as the soul or the inner voice. Every individual knows it well. If you listen carefully, it guides you, indicating what’s right or wrong for you in that very moment.
For me, nothing in this world is more valuable than my authentic self. When we ignore it, life brings us back to that moment again and again, offering us more chances to listen. In acting and the Hollywood industry, there’s nothing more important to me than honoring my authentic self. I refuse to compromise it for any achievement, role, or anything else.
What has truly guided me is understanding that my self and who I am take precedence over anything else in this world. I’m not willing to sacrifice my authentic self and its language for anything. Whenever I’m offered an opportunity, whether in acting, daily life, relationships, or my career, I close my eyes and ask myself, ‘Is this what I want to experience?’ Then, I allow my authentic self to answer.
Could you highlight a proud moment or achievement in your career that reflects your journey’s essence?
In the most modest way, there have been moments when people might look at my life and consider them some of my most successful moments. Like when my face graced screens across the US in major commercial campaigns during my acting career, or when I introduced meditation packages – becoming one of the first Iranian women to bring meditation to 100,000 people through the Farsi meditation app Minder. Then, there’s the time when my book ‘Bidari’ hit the shelves, and within two months, we sold 46,000 copies, making it the best-selling book of 2022 in Iran, all while being one of the youngest female writers.
Another highlight in my journey was establishing my personal development company, ‘Joy Culture,’ alongside my business partner, Toranj Kayvon. We launched courses focused on the ‘higher self,’ aiming to help and positively impact thousands upon thousands of individuals by helping them release resistance.
However, if I were to pick my proudest moments, they’d be the ones where people tell me they trust me. It’s not about the big achievements but rather the small circles of individuals who, even from a distance, feel like they’re in a safe space when they’re around me. They sense they can be their authentic selves in my presence, and that’s what truly matters to me. It’s the creation of a safe and trustworthy space that I’m most proud of.