We were lucky to catch up with Melina Farahani recently and have shared our conversation below.

Melina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

For much of my life, I felt a pull toward creativity, yet I hesitated to fully embrace it. I’ve always pondered the question, “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” This quote originates from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. For me, the answer was always an actress, but even that wasn’t enough to stop my fear. The image of the struggling artist discouraged me from fully pursuing my artistic passions; I valued great things and luxurious experiences, and I didn’t believe an artistic path could provide them.

So, I pursued a degree in chemistry and later earned a master’s in environmental systems engineering from University College London. During my studies, I found myself increasingly drawn to the creative aspects of my academic pursuits. I sought out parallels in my STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degrees. Chemistry requires us to anticipate how chemicals interact with biological systems, the interactions between various elements and compounds is much like how an actor must understand the nuanced dynamics between characters and their environment. Similarly, in environmental engineering we consider the social and behavioral factors influencing environmental decisions. This deepened my conviction that even in pursuits seemingly distant from acting, I was desperate in finding connections to my passion.

Towards the end, whilst writing my thesis, I booked an independent film. Till this day, I can say the best days of my life were on that set. Subsequently, I encountered a variation of Eleanor Roosevelt’s question: “What would you do if you knew you would fail?” The problem with the original version it made me focus on wealth or status, which aren’t true sources of happiness.

I realized that if I’m doing something I love, success becomes less of a goal. It dawned on me that I’m in love with the process of being an artist. This revelation, coupled with my academic pursuits and film experience, clarified that the only thing I’m willing to fail for is being an actress. The image of the struggling artist no longer intimidated me; instead, it represented the opportunity to wake up every day and do something I enjoyed, without worrying about failure or struggle.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For as long as I can remember, I was always playing pretend. My mom, a videographer, documented my every move and directed me, giving me little scenes to play out. I didn’t really know what this career of ‘playing pretend’ was. After all, I was only a kid, believing that I could be anything I wanted – a superhero, a mermaid, or a girl in different circumstances and scenarios.

I am Persian, but since the age of 4, I moved from Iran to Dubai, and from the age of 7, I was raised in London, where I started going to school. Despite being shy in school, my drama class got me out of my shell. While I always strived for great grades and worked very hard, my drama classes didn’t feel like work for me. After being in school productions, my drama teacher encouraged me and told me about open castings and acting classes in London. So, I joined the Sylvia Young Theatre School. However, acting was always a part-time priority because coming from a Persian background, STEM subjects were always the number one priority. Although my mother is my biggest supporter and number one fan, I felt a sense of obligation to maybe finish my studies and then pursue a career in the arts if I still really wanted to. So, I studied and got my degree. I was also booked with an agency and would get little auditions.

Then, I got accepted to be part of the National Youth Theatre (NYT) London. That was huge – an honor to be part of the greatest alumni like Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig, Daniel Day-Lewis, and so many more. I remember when I got in, I was so proud of myself. At that moment, I felt like I was on the right track. I kind of felt good enough. I mean, I was only 18, but after getting so close and getting callbacks and not booking anything, it made me question if I had talent or was good enough. NYT became my family and really nourished me as an artist. I got to work with the most incredible people that opened my eyes to the artistic world. I was then in productions in London, performing in theater productions such as playing Celia in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at Pleasance Theatre and portraying Maureen in “Katzenmusic” at the Royal Court. One of my proudest achievements was starring as Sheila in the independent film “Bitter Tears of Zahra Zand.” I’m also currently working on a Netflix cartoon series, which is also an incredibly fun achievement that I’m proud of, and one that I never thought I would have the opportunity to do. I booked my first film towards the end of my master’s degree and did a few short films after that.

Then, I made the leap to Hollywood. Now, as a student at the Stella Adler Art of Acting Conservatory in LA, I’m immersed in a world where dreams are crafted into reality. Each day, surrounded by fellow artists, I’m refining my skills. I’m not just pursuing a career—I’m living my passion and creating a legacy that will inspire others to follow their dreams, no matter how big or daunting they may seem.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Whether in movies or on stage, the reward comes from touching audiences deeply by pouring your heart into the work. I wrote, performed, and produced a solo show called ‘The Godmother’. The process of bringing it to life and rehearsal was transformational for me as an artist and as a human. Like a DNA strand, growing as an artist or a human, they are linked – you can’t do one without the other. The most rewarding part of being an artist is leaving that legacy in people. I remember after the show, people came up to me and were truly moved; some in tears, some surprised and shocked at how they could be transported. I had people come up to me in tears, left wanting more and feeling like they could empathize with my character. A character that perhaps is very villainous, but they saw the humanity in it. The essence of being an artist lies in giving your all without holding back. Richard Green, one of my greatest teachers, always emphasized the importance of generosity of spirit—giving a performance rather than taking. Every time I step onto the stage, I owe it to my audience to give everything. As an actor, the only limits are those we place on ourselves, constraining our minds and imagination. Breaking free from these constraints is incredibly rewarding, allowing me to embrace vulnerability and be fully seen. This career path fosters a sense of limitlessness, empowering me to transcend setbacks and widen my perspective. Sharing this journey with an audience, revealing the depths of my being, is a transcendent experience. Great performances have a lasting impact, and being able to create magic for an audience is truly special.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Can you tell us the story of how you built your audience on social media? Any advice for those just starting to build the social media presence?

During the pandemic, I found it really easy to study and work at home. I had all the time I needed without wasting it on commuting in London. The pandemic was very productive for me.

At that point, I believe TikTok was starting to be the new thing, so it became one of my main creative outlets. I started to write and do little trending skits, from voiceovers to acting skits and lip-syncing.

Consistency was the number one factor in growing my social media account. It’s a lot of work, almost like a full-time job. I was posting more than three videos a day and had my week planned out, scheduling content for each day at different times; the morning, afternoon, and evening.

I managed to grow over 10,000 followers in less than two months, and from then on, it was a snowball effect. I reached over 350,000 followers, which in turn increased my Instagram following as well.

While some may see social media as a mere distraction, for me during the pandemic, it was a savior. It became a canvas for self-expression and connection. Each day, I approached it with purpose, knowing my art could inspire or bring joy. To this day, it remains a valuable platform for connecting with others and sharing my creations.

In the world of show business, I value the craft greatly. However, I also recognize the importance of treating it as a business, with myself as the brand. Managing my own brand through social media was empowering. This mindset helped me grow my followers authentically. I focused not on numbers for validation, but on building a community of like-minded individuals who appreciate my artistry.

The thought of having to post every day in a way made me more creative. It made me more aware of the things that were going around me, and in a way, everything seemed to be inspiring. There would have been certain conversations that would have sparked something or even a location.People from all over the world started giving me TikTok ideas and helping me out with content they liked to see from me. As my following grew, concept creation became less daunting.

I would only watch TikTok videos with the intention of getting inspired, not just aimlessly scrolling my life away. I was looking for trends and treating it more like a business.
I always made an effort to set boundaries for myself, dedicating specific times to watch videos throughout the day. Just like in life, maintaining balance is crucial. Admittedly, there were times when my own boundaries became a bit blurred. However, I tried to remain mindful and worked to realign myself. I firmly believe that art is a sensitive matter, and sharing oneself with millions of people with just a simple click is not easy.

I did TikTok lives one or sometimes a few times a week. That helped me engage with my audience and attract more audiences. It was a great way to share myself with the world and for people to get to know me and my personality, not just the art that I create. They got to know a little more about the person I am. Additionally, I allocated times to responding to comments. Not all of my comments were nice, of course not. But truly, the very few bad ones never truly affected me. I always thought engagement is engagement. Also, I tried not to allow others’ opinions to hold value. I always said that someone’s opinion can only affect me if I see that person as a high-value individual whose opinions matter. Therefore, how can I get affected by someone’s comment on a video when I don’t even know them? I became aware that people will talk regardless, and in this field, I knew that I was always going to have people that love me and some that hate me. I knew that I can only be responsible for how I feel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/melinafarahani
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinafarahani/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/melina-farahani-9b998a108
• Other: TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@melinafarahanii?lang=en IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8702985/

Image Credits
@hullisbeautiful @thatdapperphotographer @scottdennis_photography