Meet Aya Sherian | Actress, Filmmaker, Theatre performer, and Lover of art

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aya Sherian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aya, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Yes, absoutely! A quote that I have carried with me for essentially my entire life is “Be the boss of your own body”. It was first told to me by my preschool teacher, Mrs. Pam, and then adopted by my father who reminds me of it every single day. I was told it throughout my entire childhood, but I don’t think I fully understood the meaning of the phrase until I turned 18. My elementary school self just took it at face value, but now it means so much more. It means being able to pursue what I am passionate about despite judgement from others. It means using “No” as a whole sentence and standing my ground on something I don’t want to do. It means standing up for others when I have the ability to do so. It contains multitudes and has truly defined my life and made me feel a lot stronger and more confident in who I am.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Something I am extremely thankful for is the fact that I even have the ability to do what I get to do everyday. There are places around the world where people aren’t even granted water to drink or food to eat, and I am privileged with the opportunity to create art. So the idea that one day I might be able to help people in need and make someone’s life just a little bit better is so exciting. Additionally, something that excites me is the ability to bring representation to the Arab and Muslim community. There is such little representation, especially with Muslim women in the entertainment industry, so the thought of being able to encourage little Muslim girls to create art, is deeply exciting and inspiring.

As for how I got to where I am today, honestly I gotta say it has been pure passion and a great support system. A genuine recipe for success. I have the loveliest group of people around me who push me to be exactly who I am and I have a passion for making art that will not quit, and I am happy to say that has gotten me real far. Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been the easiest of roads but I have learned so much. I learned that being Muslim in the arts isn’t something that I have to shy away from and is instead something to embrace. I learned that it’s okay to not be okay. I learned that life is too short to not pursue what you passionate about. Last but not least, I learned that life doesn’t have to be a straight line, it can have forks in the road and sometimes even a giant hole in the road, but that what makes it fun.

As for what I want the world to know about me… I don’t know maybe just that I love making art and I hope they all find something they love doing as well.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh boy! This is tough! Okay let’s see, let’s start with food. For a good breakfast spot, I have to say the Village cafe in Long Beach. They have the best omelettes on this planet and such good pancakes! For lunch… also in Long beach… Playas Ceviche & Tortas has the best street tacos and burritos. As for dinner, I have to say Nomad Asian Bistro, once again in Long Beach, genuinely the most yummy Chinese food on the planet, and halal! For dessert, I am taking my bestie to Simone’s donuts or Handles, for some delicious ice cream. All my most favorite bites to eat!

Alright, now places to hang out! I’m taking them to the Moonlight Rollerway, we are gonna get dressed in 80s vibes, throw on skates, and skate the night away. The roller rink has been open since the 50s, but has the coolest 80s energy. Then we gotta do the Rooftop Cinema Club in the Arts district, maybe for a little La La Land moment. Oh and I am an absolute sucker for a musical so we’ll go see a fun show at the Pantages! Last but not least, I love being out in nature, so we are 100% are going to Crystal Cove for a little hike and beach moment. We’ll bring snacks and food of course and enjoy the sun. Oh wait one more! I LOVE people watching and my favorite place to do it is the Seal Beach Pier and the entirety of Main Street! There are such fun little shops and food places and the most interesting people!

I tried to keep in concise but those are my favorites! Hope you enjoy!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes, I would love to dedicate my shoutout to two people, if that’s alright!

First, I have to give a shoutout to my father. Genuinely the greatest living legend on this planet. Every single day, he has pushed me and pushed me to create and to pursue exactly what I wanted in my life. He himself loves to write and after years and years of pushing me to write stories, I finally gave in, and owe him all the thanks for my love for screenwriting. He is the strongest person I know and his existence alone pushes me to be the best version of myself. I will never be able to thank him enough. Love you, dad.

Secondly, I have to give a shoutout to one of my best friends, Sophia Moore, who dragged me out of the pits of despair when I had convinced myself that I wasn’t going to pursue a career in the arts. She convinced me to switch my major to theatre, she is there front row at every one of my shows, and she is truly my biggest cheerleader to which I can’t ever thank her enough. She also makes killer music and her passion for creating is infectious and inspires me every day of my life.

Other: ayamsherian@gmail.com