Meet Bahar Beihaghi | Actress, Performer & Deviser

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

Hi Bahar, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is one of the fundamental attributes one needs when stepping into a career and lifestyle of an artist where one’s life is based on taking risks on a daily basis.  From hustling on the side to working daily on one’s craft as a performer/actor, from pouring one’s heart and soul into a character for an audition to countless rejections. I can’t imagine an artist who refuses to swim against the current. One of the biggest risks I took that led me to the place I am today is my drastic switch from civil engineering in Iran to immigrating to the US to pursue acting. I always had a strong passion for theater and film since I was in middle school, but because of growing up in a family full of engineers and my good math and physics, I was convinced to study civil engineering and pursue theater on the side. However, I insisted on taking classes, going to rehearsals and performing while I was in college until I graduated with honors from one of the top engineering schools in Iran. I could have continued my studies in their grad program with a promised job and a decent salary, but instead I decided to take the risk of throwing away all that security and moving across the world to New York, where I had no friends or family to study MFA in acting.
I often forget how this initial big risk set the rest of the unexpected series of adventure in my career, but without overcoming the fear of giving up and sacrificing all for a dream, none of what I have achieved in the past 6 years would have happened.
When I was 18 years old, I came across a quote from Richard Boleslavsky that changed my perspective forever: “Loving the theater is not enough: Who does not love it? To consecrate oneself to the theater, to devote one’s entire life to it, give it all one’s thought, all one’s emotions! For the sake of the theater to give up everything, to suffer everything! And more important than all, to be ready to give the theater everything—your entire being—expecting the theater to give you nothing in return, not the least grain of what seemed to you so beautiful in it and so alluring.”

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
As an immigrant who comes from a country with a lot of political unrest, I cannot disengage myself from social justice, women rights and freedom. These matters are part of who I am today and I advocate for them personally and artistically. Especially in light of the recent Women’s Rights movement and the nationwide demand for regime change in Iran in response to the murder of Mahsa Amini by the morality police, I find it more urgent to use my platform and storytelling skills to amplify the voices of my people, raise awareness and demand justice. My job as a storyteller is to tell truthful stories needed to be heard that are not normally given platform to. I aspire to not only leave a legacy in the history of acting, but also be a representative of the women of my country, their resilience, talent and intelligence.   I am reaching for more collective empathy by tapping into the essence of art as the indispensable means for the merging of the individual with the whole, so the audience can connect to the most fundamental human emotions that climax into catharsis and a healing that the world suffers from its absence.

Despite our differences bolded in today’s world via language, culture, borders, cuisine, etc, we humans are very similar. We all understand and feel sadness, happiness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust, and what is very interesting to me is taking my audience on a journey where they can feel these emotions through my unique self-expression and unconventional lens. Let’s say I am to portray a character such as Hamlet (gender aside). The Hamlet I create will be completely different because of the nuances that each performer brings, all rooted in their life experiences and truth.

However, as an immigrant artist in the past 6 years I struggled adapting myself culturally to life in the West and finding my truthful voice, as well as gauging the entertainment industry and navigating my path through it. These days we see more immigrant and diverse stories on TV and Film, yet details and nuances get lost. I learned and continue to learn how to find my own authentic voice, ground myself in who I am and where I come from, and not allow auditions define my artistic worth. I am genuinely proud of my hard work, risk taking, openness to learn and my training background. I come from a physical theater/dance and Le Coq background, so I find the body to be capable of telling stories that are universally recognizable and their depth aren’t inhibited by the barrier of words. My training in Iran and France alongside my training in the Method here in New York has given me a wide spectrum of tools that I can apply towards my approach to every character.

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?
Believe it or not, I have carved out vacation plans for a lot of friends visiting New York, and I got good reviews on my tour guiding skills. I’d start by a walk or bike up the Hudson River to Little Island then I like to take them to the Village to walk around more, grab a bite at Chelsea Market and then visit a cool exhibition at Whitney Museum. Then we can go up the highline and end the night by visiting Times Square and watching a good Broadway/Off-Broadway show. Other days I would definitely make sure that we see the famous Drama Book Shop, walk on the Brooklyn Bridge towards Dumbo and enjoy the view of the city while eating the best Ramen at Mr Taka. Then we can head deeper into Brooklyn to go check out Mia’s Bakery and sit in their garden seating area. Their fruit Napoleon cake is a killer and a must-try! Of course as an Iranian I would squeeze in a meal at a Persian restaurant, either at Sofreh or Ravagh. As for the Brooklyn party scene, House of Yes or Elsewhere are on my list in hopes of catching Laylit, an event of magnificent non generic Arabic music. One of my favorite spots that have recently opened up is Pi Bakery in the Financial District. The outside seating area looks very similar to a famous café in Tehran where I always hung out with friends, and for me this corner has become a haven to escape into my little Tehran when I feel homesick.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Firstly, my love and gratitude goes to my extraordinary parents who have been by my side every step of the way with their immense emotional and financial sacrifices, especially with the difficulties of immigration and that we haven’t been able to see each other since 2017. They were the ones who taught me to be resilient, strong, hardworking and fight for what’s right, and every time the hardship of the entertainment industry takes a toll on me, they are the first to push me not to quit. Second would be my sister who has been my number one fan and cheerleader, for her pep talks before every audition I have and sometimes reading with me for my self tape auditions if the time difference allows.
The next person who had an unforgettable impact on my life as an artist is Neda Shahrokhi, my theater teacher in middle school and high school, with whom I then collaborated on many projects in Iran, France and Greece. She is the person who introduced me to the profound and limitless world of theater, ignited the spark in me and showed me the path to find my passion and calling in this life by opening my heart and mind to the possibility of art and performing arts being an act of service, a tool for education and raising awareness and communal healing.
I would also like to thank my community of faculty members and friends at The Actors Studio Drama School who have given me knowledge, education, support, fearlessness and the means to be the artist I thrive for.
Last but not least, shoutout to my friends in Iran who have been witnessing my growth throughout all these years, for their perpetual encouragement, support and love.

Website: https://www.baharbeihaghi.com/

Instagram: baharbeihaghi

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9839040/

Image Credits
Headshot Photo by David Noles Photo 1: Still shot from “Blue Bloods” on CBS Photo 2: “The Bald Soprano” ASDS Repertory Season – Photo by Scott Wynn Photo 3: “A Second Birth” Directed by Kayla Friend – Photo by Brian E. Long Photo 4: Still Shot from “Taste of Pomegranate” – Directed by Sean Ahmadizadeh Photo 5: “Untitled” A Devised Protest Piece – Photo by Elijah Martinez Photo 6: Talkback after LA screening of “The Girl Sitting Here” for “Women Creating Change” Photo 7: “Hashashin” Directed by Azadeh Nikzadeh – Photo by Renée Xie Photo 8: Still shot from “Inside The Actor’s Studio” interview on Ovation TV