Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Education: BFA in Textiles from FIT, Licensed Massage therapist, Graduate from Maggie Flanigan Studio (2 year Meisner conservatory)
Select Credits: Recurring Guest star on USA network drama “Falling Water” , Madame in Outlier’s production of Jean Genet’s “The Maids” , Samantha in Dewey Moss’s “ Death of The Persian Prince” and Co-star on season 1 of “Madam Secretary”
Why theater?: A one of kind experience with your costars and the audience….a full emotional experience that touches every person who watches it
Who do you play in The Maids?: I play Madam, the much talked about “hero/villain” of The Maids
Tell us about The Maids: To put the story in a nutshell: we all, high and low, play roles, different roles for different people, but we all play, and we judge others based on our view of life, which inevitably leaves us open for judgement and misunderstanding to a point
What is it like being a part of The Maids?: Ben Gunderson, the director, has been an incredible director in guiding all of us to find who we are in the play and we are to each other…. All 3 of us, James, William and myself have found our characters in relation to each other and with each other’s help. It has been a magical experience that shall be greatly missed.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I like theatre with a conscience, a social message and truth. I like theater that makes you think, long after you have left the theater…as to who inspires me, the list is too long to even start, but in a general way: any actor who is bold, truthful and daring is someone I look up to.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: I would love to play Regina in Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes” and Martha in Edward Albee’s “who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
What’s your favorite showtune?: "My Man" from Funny Girl…what can I say. I’m a softie at heart
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Maggie Smith
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: I don’t know who would play me, in a parallel universe maybe Penelope Cruz, and I like it to be called “The Bitch is Right”
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: American Psycho…I love 80s music!!!
What show have you recommended to your friends?: Again, I’m an 80s child at heart and forever, so it would have to be the soap de soir "Knots Landing" … I mean So. Cal. Tan before Baywatch!!
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Evening Soaps of the 80s, on my couch
What’s up next?: Auditions for TV, films and theatre for more juicy, strong “bitch” roles
For more on Pooya, visit www.pooyaland.com
