SNLalumNasim Pedradis known for her spot-on impressions of the Kardashians and Bedelia, the awkward teen a bit too in love with their mom, as seen in this clip fromSaturday Night Live’sYouTubechannel. What’s more, her comedic abilities don’t stop at the belovedsketch comedy show. Pedrad became a series regular onNew Girl, playing Aly, a straight-forward woman who adores Winston. She then played the sassy and overprotective handmaiden of Jasmine, Dalia, inGuy Ritche’s movieremakeAladdin, practically stealing every scene despite being a secondary character.
Outside of acting, the Iranian-born actress has been outspoken about her experience in and out of Hollywood. In an interview onThe Kelly Clarkson Show, she explains how her family immigrated from post-revolution Iran and the assimilation that she and her family went through once being reunited in the United States. Pedrad‘s family is, of course, not the only family that made the long trek to the United States after the Revolution. When people like Pedrad come into Hollywood and become household names, they bring a new set of stories to the sea of white narratives that dominate Hollywood. Here’s how the comedian is challenging racism and misogyny in Hollywood.
When actors break away from the role that first brought them into the spotlight, they often try to diversify their career, whether it’s through more, diverse acting projects or other avenues behind the camera. Rather brilliantly, Pedrad has accomplished more by merging various roles behind the camera, relying on her comedic prowess and heritage. In an interview withVanity Fair, Pedrad recalls how her showChadcame about: “I had never seen a half hour comedy centered around a Middle Eastern family. And so much of the representation of Middle Easterners on TV that I did see was predominantly negative. I quickly realized the parts I’d want to play weren’t available to me because they weren’t being written, and that if I wanted them, I would have to write them myself.”
By taking the reins of her career and using her stance in the world of comedy, Pedrad created a show focusing on an Iranian teenage boy who is trying to fit in with his American classmates. The plague of many immigrants and their children is having one foot in tradition and one foot in society at large. Pedrad revealed toInterview Magazine, “I just pulled a lot from my own life and my experience as an immigrant kid caught between two cultures.” The emotional toll of being torn between two worlds is often ignored when themedia portrays Middle Easterners. For Pedrad to use her own life to show the desperation of immigrant kids and kids of immigrants to fit in brings diversity to Hollywood’s typical portrayal of Middle Easterners.
Related:From Aladdin to Ms. Marvel, the Significance of Iranian & Pakistani Women Representation
Full-Circle Moment for Pedrad
One reason representation matters is because it helps us celebrate our cultures. Many immigrants and children of immigrants often only see themselves depicted one way, or that their life is traumatic because they are not born in a certain country. This phenomenon’s impact on people of color can even prevent them from pursuing certain careers or opportunities when they don’t see themselves represented the way white men and women are portrayed. Disney’s animated classicAladdingave audiences more than an outspoken woman protagonist with long black hair and naturally tanned skin with Princess Jasmine. The princess of Agrabah was indeed a positive representation for girls of Persian and Arabic descent. In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, Pedrad spoke on the significance of playing Jasmine’s handmaiden Dalia: “I can’t even tell you the amount of full circle moments relating to me being in this movie. I’m Iranian-American and so for me, growing up a child, there weren’t many portrayals of Middle Eastern cultures in Hollywood at the time so to see that in the animated version as an Iranian-American girl and identify with it was hugely impactful.”
This full circle moment for Pedrad signals better efforts by studios to not only tell diverse stories but to hire actors who are personally connected to those stories. Many of the actors inAladdinare either from or of Asian or African descent, meaning the portrayals of the characters shows audiences that the people from these continents are not the negative stereotypes historically portrayed throughout film and television.
Related:Why Ms. Marvel is the Muslim Representation We Need in 2022
A Voice For Iranian Women
In an interview withVariety, Pedrad said, “My heart is with the Iranian people. I was born there, I have family there, so I think the people of Iran are not dissimilar to us in that they want what we want: They want freedom, and they want peace. I am so in awe of their resilience and strength as they continue to stand up against this regime and fight for their basic human rights. I fully support them.” This solidarity during an unpredictable political climate is part of the legacy many Iranian women carry. At a time in Hollywood when actresses and actors speak against injustices more frequently, a woman’s voice is all the more potent in the uphill battle against misogyny and racism. While Pedrad is in a powerful position to write characters portraying her experiences as an Iranian-American, she is laying the foundation for other women of Iranian descent in Hollywood and the world at large. Many women in Hollywood move between acting, writing, producing, and directing to share their experiences. Yet, some take this a step further: they hold the door open for others like them to tell stories that are positive, comedic, and relatable.
