Meet Yasamin Rezai | Actor & Scholar

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

Hi Yasamin, how do you think about risk? We’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Well, to me it’s the very essence of art and creation, to begin with. As an actor, artist, and scholar, I literally THRIVE on the edge of risks, the spaces they open up to me and and the adrenaline they bring to me. I’m all about risks that have their roots in some sort of calculations or understanding, though, not haphazard gambles_ even when sometimes it doesn’t seem like they’re calculated from outside. There’s an art to dancing on the razor-thin line between audacity and recklessness, trying to find your balance, and that’s where I find my true, playful, airy self. I took many major risks to stand where I do today, doing what I love. Throughout my career, what might seem like a journey with sudden leaps until today—transitioning from engineering to the vibrant world of arts and humanities, delving into a PhD in performance and theatre studies while working on my craft, voice and body as an actor—were, in fact, deliberate, passionate choices I made based on the cards life threw at me, which I guess I played them the best I could. These drastic shifts may look confusing or even weird from the outside for people, but for me, they were just the steps I needed to take on my path to stay connected with my inner vision and to be able to continue acting. I’ve been on the stage since I was four, it’s just naturally in me; I have always been an actor. No matter the external changes, I’ve always been acutely aware of my true calling, and every decision I’ve made had a reason based on the circumstances and was for the sake of survival to keep this deep-seated passion firing in me and be simply “me”!

As an immigrant, moving from Iran to Italy and then to the U.S. was a substantial risk. I did all of that for the artist that is in me. I left behind a potential career in Tehran’s dynamic theater scene at a very young age, where I worked with renowned artists, directors, and coaches. I moved to Italy to get my Master’s in Engineering because that’s what I got a degree in back at the University of Tehran, and many of us know how the atmosphere in Iran is: You keep art on the side, and have your career at the core. Well, in fact, I did the other way around: I was acting way more than I was going to school in my undergraduate years, but anyway, when it came to leaving the country -for many personal, creative and sociopolitical reasons I had- my status with my undergraduate studies was good enough to bring me some admissions with considerable fundings from Quebec and Massachusetts to Bologna- and I picked Bologna! That was the first risk I took in my life that sounded like a rebellion to my family, where choosing a PhD in biomedical and chemical engineering was someone’s natural choice, rather than a Masters somewhere in Italy! However, I had made my choice. I packed and left for Italy to explore myself and the world around me. I initially didn’t know the language there, until I became fluent in it. I was exposed to Italian culture and it was eye-opening and it truly fascinated me. That decision might seem reckless, but it was a gut-driven decision. That period of my life was incredibly enriching; I soaked in diverse theatrical styles across Europe and met fantastic people, mostly on the roads, while being enrolled in a master’s engineering program! I grew immensely as a person and an actor. I think I stored a lot in my emotional tank and memory, as an artist.

Leaving engineering was another significant risk after immigration. In Iran, the societal expectation was to view the arts as a hobby, not a career, although I was doing it full-time. But during my Master’s in Italy, I realized life was too short to ignore my one true passion and what I have been dedicated my life to. I pursued further studies in the U.S., this time in what I love, embarking on a highly interdisciplinary PhD with a focus on theatre and performance studies, despite the financial challenges and lack of any sort of support in this world. I was all on my own, always. This path, then, not only equipped me with critical thinking and academic expertise in film and theatre studies, as I always felt insecure not having done it academically, but also allowed me to hone my skills as an actor through various projects and opportunities, including roles in short films and a feature. I went to Miami Acting Studio to learn how acting on camera is and took many courses, online, in person, and at University of Miami. I rebuilt myself as an actor in this new geography, step by step, brick by brick, keeping some old layers of myself and adding new ones. Recently, I’ve signed with a top agency in Miami for which I’m beyond grateful. I guess my diverse experiences and my uncommon life path make me who I am and bring a unique perspective to each character I play and the way I approach them.

In terms of acting itself, the risk is about navigating the fine line between bold choices and the fear of failure, as if you’re always walking on a thin rope in a loud circus while people are cheering from way down below. They’re staning on the ground, you’re not. You can fall, but you can also close your eyes and go ahead! I stay focused in my mind and true to the character until it’s time to get out of my mind and bring it into my body, and sometimes the other way around. My approach to acting is deeply intertwined with my propensity for risk-taking, which is a core part of my creative identity.

To be honest, I have fun taking risks: from moving across continents to exploring what “human,” this complicated being, is, until the audacity of leaving two engineering degrees and taking an uncommon approach to a PhD, and do what I enjoy! I thrive on taking bold, creative risks. It’s all about embracing those risks that resonate with my core, though, making every step of my journey uniquely fulfilling. Taking risks as an actor, requires you to be bold, brave, free, and also have some deep understanding of your desires and callings.

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?

Oh, nothing has been easy! But it has been fun, I confess. Navigating my path as an immigrant Iranian woman in the arts has definitely been a wild ride. From getting arrested for not wearing hijab properly on Tehran’s streets and dealing with the fear of just being myself out loud on the streets to all the shows that getting canceled at the last minute in Iran after months, or sometimes years, of full-time hard work and rehearsals,… it’s been beyond intense. Imagine working on a theater show for 11 months, pouring your heart into it, only to have it canceled right before opening night because of a controversial line or a background female singer in a musical. All gone! Since leaving Iran, one of my biggest personal battles has been to stop holding back my true self—something that took a lot of guts and effort. Writing helped me a lot in this journey.

Traveling around and picking up new languages—I’m fluent in Italian and French, besides English and Persian, which I ended up teaching them at the University of Miami—really opened my eyes. My motto is “Stories are all we’re left with.” I believe in it. I’m all for a good story and how to tell it. After all these cities and countries I’ve lived in, I find it fascinating how, despite our different backgrounds, languages or the labels society sticks on us, we all share this incredible ability to feel, something that’s purely humane, and definitely not something AI can mimic yet! It’s this shared feeling that brings us together and really makes art happen.

This industry, eventhough tough to navigate, still has a long way to go when it comes to truly embracing diversity and inclusion, but it’s moving in that direction. What makes me stand out in the acting world, I guess, isn’t just my international training but also my endless passion for the deep understanding of characters within a story and an ability to really get into different scenarios. I carry the story with care, it’s fragile. I love studying all various aspects of it, meditating over it, and getting under the skin of the character. I was born to do it! My life’s been a bit of a rollercoaster—I’ve been an academic, teacher, writer, engineer, and of course, always an actor, living through so many different experiences. I believe all this makes me quite a unique presence on screen. I have been in too many social settings. I know many of them like the back of my hand.

I’m always learning, always. Whether I’m reading up on the latest from Backstage magazine, tuning into actor podcasts when driving, catching up with best-seller novels or industry books, or hitting up an acting workshop, I never stop honing my craft. I love trying out various methods and getting outside of my comfort zone. I do it with physical exercises, and I do it with different styles of dancing. And I absolutely love set life; as a real nomad, that’s where I feel at home the most. No matter if it’s a student project or a more professional production, I give it my all, nothing less! For me, those moments on set have been some of the best times of my life.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
For me, my journey is deeply intertwined with the support and inspiration from several pivotal sources. First off, my partner and my friends have been my rock. They’ve supported me through the highs and lows, always reminding me of my strength and resilience, while generously giving me their love and support. Whether navigating the complexities of life back in Tehran or adapting to new chapters here in the U.S., my friends’ encouragement and unconditional love and support have been indispensable. I truly couldn’t have persevered without their unwavering belief in me. I think I won the lottery in this! I’m beyond grateful for them.
Another profound influence has been the literature and films. The stories I’ve absorbed from novels and plays, and the insights from interviews with actors I admire, have been a wellspring of inspiration. These narratives and personal tales have not only shaped my artistic perspective but have also been a comfort during tough times. My passion for reading and writing began at an incredibly young age—I was crafting stories as soon as I could write, and this love of words has fundamentally sculpted who I am today.

I owe immense gratitude to my acting coaches in Iran, Europe, and here, who supported me during my moments of self-doubt and assured me of my talent—I’ve held onto those affirming moments tightly and I cherish the hard work. A special thanks to Ralph Kinnard for his belief in my potential. Likewise, my appreciation extends to my agent, Sabine, at Talent Direct Agency, who recognized something in me and gave me a chance when I needed it most. I’m also grateful to all the casting directors who have taken the time to watch my work and offer encouragement and heartwarming feedback, as well as to Michael Bush for his invaluable courses at the University of Miami’s theatre department.

Lastly, I must highlight the incredible women of Iran, along with the broader community of queer individuals, ethnic and religious minorities, and those with disabilities. Their courage in the face of adversity is nothing short of heroic. The “Woman, Life, Freedom” revolution in Iran is nothing short of extraordinary, and I deeply resonate with its cause. While I moved away from Iran at a young age, my own struggles seem modest in comparison. Nevertheless, these powerful movements inspire me daily and drive my efforts in advocacy through my academic research, activism, and art. Every day, I am in awe of the bravery displayed by the women, the queer community, religious and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities in Iran. They are, in my eyes, the truest embodiments of courage. There’s not a single day that I wake up not in awe of their level of bravery fighting against this Islamic Regime in Iran with nothing in their hands but passion, wisdom, love, and bravery. Their performance of practicing a free life had long made streets and cities in Iran more beautiful, I bet. Each of them is a brilliant performance artist that uses creativity to perform their magnificent , long-suppressed identity, uncensored. Their relentless spirit continuously fuels my inspiration as an actor every moment, and I dream of one day winning a prominent award so that I can wholeheartedly dedicate it to them. I believe that they deserve more recognition globally, and what is happening in Iran is the biggest feminist fight in modern history.

Website: https://www.yasaminrezai.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlineyas

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12961479/

Image Credits
Main Headshot Photo by Eric Campbell Photo 1: by Peyman Ghadimi from Hicha Art, from “Fehrest” rehearsals Photo 2: at Telemundo Photo 3: BTS of “Eternity Road” directed by Shahrzad Dadgar Photo 4: by Academia di belle arti Bologna Photo 5: BTS of “Baby Baby” directed by Mara Lattanzi Photo 6 and 7: BTS of “An Italian-ish Dinner” directed by Reily Frias Jr. Photo 8: headshot by Yor Bernal