I was always fascinated with science, and being Persian, it's instilled in us at a young age to follow something very academic in our career. Nazanin Boniadi More Quotes by Nazanin Boniadi More Quotes From Nazanin Boniadi I love being part of a project that imparts a positive message, is somehow educational or enlightening, helps to bridge differences, or inspires viewers in some way. I believe a lot of artists become activists because we rely on and value the freedom of expression and so we want to protect it. Nazanin Boniadi educational artist believe I was born in Tehran at a time when women's rights were deteriorating at a rampant rate. My parents didn't want to raise their daughter in a social, political, and religious climate that was growing increasingly oppressive toward women and girls, so they emigrated to London. But the struggle of the Iranian people was permanently etched in my social consciousness from a young age. Nazanin Boniadi daughter girl religious I think a culture can really be elevated through the arts, and it's always a dream come true when I come across roles that enable me to fuse my love of storytelling with my passion for activism and raising social awareness. Nazanin Boniadi passion dream art I'm inspired by strong, courageous women. My mother is the definition of a self-sufficient, independent woman whom I have always looked up to. I also greatly admire incredible women like Aung San Suu Kyi, and human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 4 years in Iran, simply for giving a voice to the voiceless and defending the helpless. And I'm in awe of the young Pakistani student and activist, Malala Yousafzai, for her bravery and resilience in the face of brutal repression. Nazanin Boniadi independent strong mother Our rights are interconnected and inseparable. When freedom of expression is threatened, the rights to freedom of association and assembly, of thought, conscience and religion, are also compromised. Nazanin Boniadi thought conscience freedom religion We all know in our hearts that forgiveness is the right thing; it's just a matter of being inspired to reach that place. Nazanin Boniadi place know forgiveness matter Women and girls, men and boys all share the right to live free of violence, which is, unfortunately, experienced by both men and women. Women and girls, however, disproportionately experience violence due to a deeply rooted global culture of gender discrimination. Nazanin Boniadi women experience men culture I retweet Amnesty International tweets a lot. It isn't just, 'This person is incarcerated unjustly.' It's also, 'This person was just released.' Those are the victories we work toward, so if we don't inform people of the victories, it does become doom and gloom. Nazanin Boniadi person just work people The way we remember people, even their beauty is all so subjective and a matter of perspective. Nazanin Boniadi perspective remember beauty people In real life, too, women love to be that girl who tames the bad boy. Nazanin Boniadi women girl love life For me, the struggle for women's human rights began the moment I was born in Tehran at the height of the Iranian Revolution, a time when the status of women was quickly deteriorating. Nazanin Boniadi me moment women time Belgian chocolate is my weakness. I like over 72 percent cacao, which shows you how much of a dark chocolate snob I am. Nazanin Boniadi i-am you chocolate dark Old-school Dire Straits songs are on heavy rotation: 'So Far Away,' 'Romeo and Juliet' and of course 'Sultans of Swing.' Nazanin Boniadi swing far songs far-away For me personally, I'm an activist, so I see a lot of turmoil and heartache in the world and tragedy. Nazanin Boniadi see me tragedy world I do think faith is important when it introduces positivity into your life and you see it with love in your heart because there's so many people who unfortunately use faith for detrimental things or to justify detrimental actions. Nazanin Boniadi faith heart love life I feel really connected to antiquity for some reason. Nazanin Boniadi some feel connected reason How often do we see a Muslim woman who is intelligent and independent, and has a voice of her own and is career-driven, on American TV? Nazanin Boniadi woman own see voice I was very successful, and I graduated with honors. And then I called my dad, who still lives in London, and I said, 'Dad, thanks for college, but I'm going to go act now.' It didn't go over very well. Nazanin Boniadi go thanks dad college It's bizarre to be given an award for being empathetic and kind, which is what we all should be. Nazanin Boniadi award which being kind I always say, as an actress, I get to portray the human condition, but as an activist, I get to change the human condition. Nazanin Boniadi human say always change
