With the third season of Tyrant now airing on FOX in the UK, new face Afsaneh Dehrouyeh gave us some time to answer some questions about what viewers should expect from the new episodes, what it's like being on the set of such an ever-changing series and more!
Afsaneh Dehrouyeh / Credit: Karina Lidia
What can you tell us about the third season of Tyrant and your character, Mahdiya?
The third season is definitely my favourite so far. The stakes are always so high for the characters and there are lots of new relationships, which allow you to see a different side to some of the regular characters. It's a brilliant portrayal of how power can affect one's judgement and their morals.
Mahdiya is a student at university. She's incredibly fearless, determined and very mature for her age. When we meet her in Tyrant she is coming to a breaking point in her life, she is trying to find a way to make an impact on the world through something she believes in… You'll have to tune in and see how this affects her actions! Her journey is incredible and I can't wait for people to see it.
Can you tell us a little bit about a typical day on the set of the show? If indeed there are any 'typical' days!
My experience was different every day; especially because Mahdiya's circumstances were constantly changing, so every time I was on set there was something new. I got lucky because it meant I got to experience working with lots of different actors that I had no idea Mahdiya would get to meet, and also work on a lot of exciting sets.
This is your first major TV role - what did it feel like getting on the set and really getting to work on the series?
I had never done TV before and made it an aim to get a job in TV in the year after graduating from Drama School. However, I would never have expected the first one to be a recurring role in a US series that I admire for so many different reasons, working with people I have respected and looked up to for years. It took a while for it to sink in, the first day on set was a surreal blur. Even once I got used to it, I would still have moments where I would think - 'Is this actually happening?' It's very strange when you dream about something for years and then it actually becomes true, because it just feels like another dream.
What was the chemistry like with your fellow cast members?
The Tyrant cast are a very close family and welcome everyone in with open arms. It would be so easy for them to get cliquey but it's completely the opposite. Whether it's an actor that has come in for one day to say one line, or they're staying for the whole season, everyone was treated the same. I couldn't have asked for a lovelier group of people to work with on my first major TV job. Naturally, you bond quickly with people that your character is close to. James El-Sharawy and I play siblings, and it was amazing how fast we ended up having a bickering brother and sister relationship.
With the season a little ahead in the US, how have you found the response from fans so far in the States?
The fans seem to be really enjoying all the twists and turns so far. There have been some particular moments where fans have been frustrated by a plot, but I think a good show should make you want to shout at the TV and bring out a variety of emotions. You're supposed to care about them so much that you get angry if their fate is not what you wanted for them. Their journey can't always be fair, because life is not always fair.
How difficult would you say the world of acting is to break into as a British-Iranian female?
The world of acting is difficult to break into whoever you are. It's just for different reasons. For me, there are fewer opportunities and if something comes up you have to make sure that it has been written well and it's not just a stereotype character or offensive in any way. You want to know it's not something you'll watch after the edit to realise they have glamourised something you don't believe in. There are definitely a lot more opportunities available for me in US projects; auditions for British productions are rarer for me at this stage.
Do you think that representation on television of women and people of different heritage is still something that needs some major work?
We need to see more roles written for women that are more than just the love interest or a hot body that will be a hit at the box office. We need to see more ethnic women getting parts called Amy and ethnic men getting parts called Tom. Roles for people of different heritage still tend to be one-dimensional stereotypes. I'm not sure that there is much I can say on the matter that isn't obvious already. But change is not happening as quick as it should so unfortunately we still have to keep on raising these predictable opinions.
What do you think of television and the different ways in which it is consumed?
I think it's fantastic that there are more ways to watch film and television and I think that the industry is doing a great job at adapting to these changes in how people are choosing to tune in. It also means that there are more opportunities to get work, because suddenly there is a whole new batch of shows being cast for companies like Netflix and Hulu, and what's more the material is brilliant.
What's your dream role? Are there any roles out there you've seen played and wished you were the person in the driving seat?
I have always wanted to play an intelligence officer. I love watching actors play them because they are such passionate people and I admire how they always trust their gut no matter who doubts them. Their stakes are always so high when you watch them in film and TV and I think that would be a great challenge. I would also love to play an inspirational figure in a true story, someone who has provoked a positive change for society.
There are plenty of roles that I woild have loved to play, like Carrie Mathison in Homeland or Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook. But I think that those women were the ones who were supposed to play those parts (Claire Danes and Jennifer Lawrence respectively), and I'm focused on finding the ones that I'm supposed to play.
Do you have any definitive aims or goals for your career moving forward?
I have a long list of aims for my career full of goals I set for myself, people I want to work with and roles that I want to play. I don't want to talk about them too much because I feel like that would ruin the magic! I always like to be thinking one step ahead and I always will.
Finally, what's next for you?
I co-wrote and acted in a short film called Only Human, which is currently in post-production. It's about two women living life a century apart; they both deal with the struggles of being left behind by a younger sibling who has run away to a hostile environment. We will be submitting it for film festivals very shortly. I am now acting in a short film titled Pegah, written and directed by Javid Rezai, where I play the lead role. It's about a young British-Iranian woman and how moving onto the next chapter of her life affects her identity as well as her relationship with her traditional family.
Tyrant season 3 airs Fridays at 10pm on FOX UK.