Mozhan Marnò, multifaceted talent and global activist

Mozhan Marnò, a multifaceted talent born in Los Angeles to Iranian parents, has carved a successful path in the entertainment industry. She is best known for her work on shows, such as The Blacklist, House of Cards and more recently, Fleishman is in Trouble. Beyond acting, Mozhan is an accomplished screenwriter and playwriter and received rave reviews for her one-woman show, Nine Parts of Desire, in which she portrayed nine different Middle Eastern women. Mozhan’s life has been a journey across cultures, having called France, Germany, Sweden and Argentina home at various points, and she speaks an impressive five languages.

Mozhan utilises her platform to raise awareness about the plight of Iranian women and is a fervent advocate for an end to the executions that followed demonstrations in Iran, where people have been fighting for their freedom. Fresh from her visit to Antigua, The Citizen caught up with Mozhan to delve into her experiences, activism, and compelling journey through the world of entertainment.

Can you tell us about your journey into acting and what inspired you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?

I am an only child and spent a lot of time by myself when I was small. Therefore, I ended up reading a lot, writing in a journal, playing piano, and daydreaming. I was always drawn to storytelling in some shape or form. I stumbled upon acting in junior high school - I got a tiny part in a school play - but soon found out that I really liked it. That’s how it started. And I suppose it never stopped!

Your performance as Samar Navabi on The Blacklist received critical acclaim. How did you prepare for this role?

I read up on FBI training, I had gun and weapons training, some fight training, and then there was all the character background study that I do for every role; all the things that contribute to who this character is at the moment they enter the storyline of a show.

I met such kind people everywhere I went. And it’s absurdly beautiful.

Leaving a successful series was a brave decision. Why did you decide to do it?

After doing nearly 100 episodes of a show, I wanted to experience something new and explore a new character. The producers totally understood and graciously let me out of my contract.

You made a video with over 50 celebrities protesting the executions in Iran, including Cate Blanchett, Samuel L Jackson, Jason Momoa and Selena Gomez. How do you see the role of artists and celebrities evolving in shaping public opinion and driving change?

With the situation in Iran in particular, our main goal was to raise awareness about what was happening. Donating wasn’t really possible; it’s hard to get money to people in Iran. For a very long time, the American press was lagging in coverage or was simply inaccurate in how they covered it. We in the Iranian diaspora felt it was up to us to spread the word. And for better or worse, people pay attention to celebrities. We brought a lot of attention to the situation in Iran with that video, which was our goal.

What message do you hope to bring to the world about what is happening in Iran?

I think that very often - and I’m guilty of this myself we regard conflicts in other, far-away lands as having nothing to do with us. But we really are one world - we are seeing this now with the crisis in Gaza - and the repercussions of a political conflict in one country are very often felt all over the world. That’s what I’d love for people to think about more. Every single thing reverberates and eventually, in some way, directly or indirectly, affects everyone. I’d also love for people to distinguish between the Islamic Republic of Iran (the government) and the people of Iran. The people of Iran want an end to this tyrannical government. They want their basic freedoms. The government in no way represents them.

Can you tell us about your recent trip to Antigua?

It was unbelievable! I had the good fortune of crossing paths with Dean Fenton, the Director of Tourism for Antigua & Barbuda, and he essentially arranged the trip for me. I stayed at Blue Waters Resort & Spa and had an incredible time there. I met such kind people everywhere I went. And it’s absurdly beautiful.

What stood out for me was the sense of community. Everyone I met seemed to have a very strong community of friends and family.

What stood out about the island, and was there anything that surprised you?

What stood out for me was the sense of community. Everyone I met seemed to have a very strong community of friends and family. This is something that, sadly, many Americans don’t have. I asked one Antiguan woman if she knew anyone who suffered from depression - she had to think long and hard about it and finally thought of one person! I told her practically everyone I know in New York suffers from depression, at least sometimes. That can’t be random!

What’s next for you?

Once the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) strike is over, I will begin production on a Netflix mini-series called Zero Day, starring Robert DeNiro - someone I’m told often comes to Antigua!

Photocred: Bert Kirchner