We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Deana Taheri a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Deana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

In 2016, I applied to New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, as an actress. Within the studio system, I spent my first three years studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute where I gained a foundation in Method Acting. I then spent my final year at Stonestreet Studios, which specialises in film and television. This is where I developed my love for creating my own work. This came at an important moment as the world was falling into the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the frustrations that came with the industry pause, I could focus on creating my own work, which has now become the core of who I am as an artist. I am currently furthering this pursuit at The New School in their Contemporary Theatre and Performance MFA which has been developed especially for multi-hyphenate artists. Different from my undergraduate education, I am personally in a far more attuned position regarding my goals and aspirations in and out of the program. This is allowing me to cater my Masters degree to suit my individual needs and to connect with peers and professors who can specifically aid and enhance my growth as an artist.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have always been committed to performing arts and was lucky enough to hardly spend a second questioning what industry I wanted to be in as a professional. I started my career in theatre as a young actor, then delving into film, television, webseries, and voiceover as an adult. I began my career as solely an actor; however, I now consider myself a multi-hyphenate artist. Though performance is still at the forefront of my work, I have become an avid writer with one award-winning short film under my belt, and one very exciting one in post-production. I have also acted as producer on a variety of projects, some of which have received critical acclaim, and this has opened a new door of interest for me. As a creative, I want to create and participate in work that tackles important topics with sensitivity and a quick sense of humour – something I am particularly invested in as a woman in this industry. My most recent work includes webseries “Piss Party” on YouTube, a story of a New York pop-punk band who reach fame by peeing their pants when reaching musical divinity; narrating the role of Angel Rahimi in Alice Oseman (Heartstopper)’s New York Times best seller “I Was Born For This”; and my current project in post-production, which I wrote, acted in, and produced, “Bill” about a woman murders her sexist husband and turns his corpse into a puppet of the perfect husband. I was also for Hawaiian Tropic’s summer rebrand in 2023!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me it is, without a doubt, the opportunity to connect. Living between the US and the UK, I have had the unique chance to connect and collaborate with creatives from all over. Meeting and working with people from all different backgrounds and experiences is always so rewarding and never fails to remind me that artists are passionate on every single square inch of the earth.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2021, I moved back to the UK from the USA where I had completed my undergraduate degree. This created the challenge of reestablishing myself in a “new” country and getting involved in the creative world where I had little to no pre-existing connection. Though this was highly daunting and very stressful, I am so grateful for the connections, friendships, and partnerships I have since made with a variety of people in the UK. Without conquering the challenge, “Bill” would not exist in the form it does, and I would not have been the choice for “I Was Born For This” due to location. Now, being back in the US for my MFA, I am excited to continue being an artist who can truly transcend borders and connect creators from all over the world on meaningful projects.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @deanataheri