Meet Fayza Khalifa | Actress

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

Hi Fayza, how do you think about risk?
I believe that when you agree to be an actor, the risk is inherent. It comes with the profession. You must know and accept that you will have to take a lot of risks, get out of your comfort zone, try different things, be vulnerable, and experience new things to express the best of your artistry. You will need to believe in yourself, believe in your work, and take chances to keep moving towards your goals and advance in your career. Therefore, I would say that taking risks is one of the most important actions you must take as an actor.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an Arab-Brazilian actress. I graduated from the State University of Campinas, then I began my theatrical journey with the group Os Geraldos and furthered my training in New York at the renowned Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and Juilliard School.

Throughout my career, I have actively participated in various projects and plays, always dedicated not only to theater and film but also to education, to give a message and transform the world. Besides my work on stage, I have experience in contact and improvisation in dance and modeling, which enriches my artistic expressiveness.

Among my most recent projects are the short film “God in the Land of Santa Joana” and the play “Information for Foreigners,” in both of which I played the lead roles. I am proud of these projects because they are very important to me, as they explore themes of minority resistance—topics I care deeply about. Also, I just got cast for the lead role in the short play “Reveals” by Patrick McEvoy, which I’m very excited about it.

Additionally, as a model I had the privilege of walking the runway of NYFW and modeling for Ode to Soul wine company, promoting Carmelo Anthony’s new line of wines.

Currently, I am writing my own play, focusing on issues of mental health and personal subjectivity. My artistic approach is deeply committed to conveying an enlightening and educational message. I believe that, as an artist, I have the duty to create transformative art capable of stimulating debates and reflections on social matters. My dedication to integrating theater and education reflects my commitment to contributing to a more fair and conscious world.

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?
I love the city so much that I would definitely take them to explore some of the amazing spots we have here. I would start with breakfast or lunch at Bubby’s, then explore the thrift stores in the West Village, followed by a visit to Caffe Reggio for dessert or a drink. After that, we would take a city bike ride to Domino Park to watch the sunset, then head to Fandi Mata in Greenpoint for their amazing Mediterranean food, and finally end the night at Ponyboy.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout to my family and friends to believing in my potential to do incredible things, and the Lee Strasberg Film and Theater institute as well as The Juilliard School that gave me a very special training, and giving me the opportunity to learn more about theater with Michael Ryan and Mark Oslen.

Instagram: @fakhalifa