We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Iskander Al Bassam. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Iskander below.

Iskander, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Most people, and I made this mistake too, tend to categorize emotions in rigid ways when they first start acting. They treat anger, sadness, or happiness as if there’s only one way to express each, and they push those emotions to exaggerated extremes. There’s a common misconception that more visible emotion means better acting—that the louder you cry or the more tears you shed, the more effective your performance becomes. This perspective was something I held for a long time, and it took a significant amount of time and effort to shake it off.

About three years ago, when I transitioned from theatre acting to screen acting, I couldn’t understand why my performances didn’t feel right. No matter how much emotion I showed, it looked fake on camera. It took a lot of training and reflection to learn something that now feels so simple: the best actors aren’t focused on showing emotion—they’re focused on being honest with themselves and with their audience. Real acting isn’t about pushing emotions but about truly living them.

I think the beauty of acting lies in the fact that everyone—and I mean everyone—if they stay true to themselves, will have a different take on a line or monologue. Our life experiences shape the way we view things, react to things, and respond to certain words, which in turn shapes the way we act. If I had known this earlier and simply trusted myself more, I believe I would have made progress as an actor much sooner. But then again, I love the process of learning, failing, and getting better—that’s what life is all about.

Iskander, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Iskander Al Bassam, I am 18 years old and I am of British and Kuwaiti heritage.
Both my parents are in the business of theatre and film, both are directors. This is not to say that this is why I decided to become an actor. In fact, when I was a young age, I was repelled by everything that had to do with theatre, I just liked watching movies. I only decided that I wanted to become an actor after I accidentally joined a theatre class at my high school in france. In paris I also spent quite a lot of time modeling, this was the first time that I was encountered.with the harsh realities of a tough industry—facing rejection, battling feelings of inadequacy, and dealing with the insecurities that come with being constantly evaluated. It was a taster of what the acting industry would later feel like.

I recently moved to LA to study acting at the University of Southern california. It was the biggest risk that I have taken in my life. I’d never been to LA before, I didn’t know anyone there, and didn’t know if i’d be met with any success. This was compounded by the fact that, where I come from (Kuwait) most people dont really involve themselves with the theatre and the film industry, its very rare for a kid to go to the US to study theatre, most of them go to study business or finance, its because its seen as more lucrative. But I’m glad I came here, I think, however tough and cutthroat LA might be, it builds character.

What sets me apart, I think, is my identity and background, which I hold dear. Being of mixed heritage, speaking Arabic fluently, and having a distinctive physical appearance—white blonde hair combined with a connection to Arabic culture—have always been integral to who I am. I remember a casting director once telling me that the most important and valuable asset an actor can have is being different. Embracing one’s uniqueness, rather than trying to fit into conventional molds, is the best advice I could give to any young actor like myself.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is a book that I recommend to pretty much everyone. Aurelius was a big follower of stoic philosophy. One of the most important strains of stoic philosophy advocates that basically there is no point in stressing about the future or about things that have already happened- “Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.” – because they are out of your control. This philosophy really helped me when I was starting out as an actor, doing my first auditions, waiting for a response, overthinking about if i had done well enough in the audition room, if i fit the part. All these things, I came to realize, were out of my control, and so, to worry about them is actually completely futile.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

NFTs are like buying the moon and then realizing everyone else can still see it for free.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: iskander_al_bassam
• Other: https://elitemodelmanagement.com/paris/development/10674-iskander-al-bassam.web

Image Credits

Stephania Rosini