They are saying we’ve reached “Peak TV”—an period the place our gobs and gobs of streaming choices has grow to be not possible to maintain up with. If that’s true, then that makes Natasha Behnam’s breakout efficiency on Max’s The Ladies On The Bus an actual diamond within the tough.
The Southern California-born Behnam is a queer, first-generation Iranian-American star who adopted her ardour for the humanities to varsity the place she studied movie and tv, inevitably winding up on the coronary heart of all of it in Los Angeles.
There, she lower her enamel within the metropolis’s comedic establishments like UCB and The Groundlings and flexed her comedy muscle groups. Earlier than lengthy, she was reserving roles in some tv favourite throughout a variety of genres, from Loopy Ex-Girlfriend to You to Mayans M.C.
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However this yr’s dramedy The Ladies On The Bus—the story of 4 political journalists on the path of a really dramatic presidential marketing campaign—represents her largest function but, and it’s the right showcase for Behnam’s abilities. As Lola, the TikTok-obsessed Gen Z reporter with an activist’s spirit, the actress brings a lot of herself to the function: her radiant appeal, her thoughtfulness, her heat coronary heart, and, sure, her TikTok obsession.
Very like Behnam, Lola additionally comes from an Iranian-American household, who get a highlight in collection standout episode “She Was In opposition to It, Earlier than She Was For It.” Being a part of one of many first and solely Iranian-American households on TV was an expertise she might solely describe as “sacred, particular, and surreal,” chatting with the true energy of illustration on our screens.
Absolutely solely massive issues are forward for this rising star, so we had been keen to take a seat down along with her for the most recent spherical of our rapid-fire Q&A series, Dishin’ It. In our dialog, Behnam opens up about essential classes realized from the set of The Ladies On The Bus, the film character she had the largest crush on, and the way TikTok helped affirm her queerness.
Is there a chunk of media—whether or not a film, TV collection, e book, album, theater, online game, and so forth…—that you just take into account an enormous a part of your personal coming-out journey, or that has performed an essential function in your understanding of queerness? Why does it stand out to you?
I believe this may sound foolish, however really, TikTok was so useful in affirming my queerness. Throughout COVID when TikTok was virtually all we had, I clearly ended up on “queertok” and it was so cool to see what number of completely different sorts of queer folks had been making content material about their experiences. It was so assorted and enlightening and actually made me really feel a lot extra linked to the neighborhood in a approach I hadn’t skilled but.
You’re one of many stars of Max’s The Ladies On The Bus, which—amongst many different issues, looks as if such a cool alternative to work with so many proficient, skilled co-stars and filmmakers. What’s one thing you realized from that set that you just hope to have the ability to apply to your profession transferring ahead?
Be ready, know your stuff, and ask questions. You’re allowed to care about each single facet of your artwork. Concurrently… take it straightforward. Lots of people come collectively to make movies or tv however, generally it’s important to let go and simply circulation with what works for the group.
Since your character, Lola, is an enormous TikToker, we’re curious: If TikToks may very well be nominated for Oscars, what’s a TikTok you’d nominate for Finest Image and why?
Any video that Joe Citadel Baker makes must be nominated for an Oscar. He’s so humorous. There’s this video he posted from about 3 years in the past the place he’s a sommelier explaining the vibe of a wine to a desk of consumers and it goes so loopy.
@joecastlebaker Sommelier smells one thing shocking in a wine
In one of many standout episodes of The Ladies On The Bus, we’re launched Lola’s Iranian-American household, which you’ve described as “sacred, particular, and surreal.” What facet/element of that episode and storyline would you say you had been particularly proud to depict on display screen and why?
I used to be so proud to depict a center jap household that wasn’t certain by the everyday western stereotypes. The story was not about our ethnicity in any respect, it was about {our relationships} and what was happening with Lola. Being Iranian and talking Farsi was simply regular for them, not a speaking level or a political assertion. I used to be so proud, and grateful, that we obtained to exist in ease.
The place’s one of many first areas you possibly can keep in mind that made you are feeling part of a queer neighborhood?
I lived in New York for a couple of months after I was 21, and I spent numerous time with my finest buddy Cameron, who I grew up with. He had this big neighborhood of queer associates they usually all welcomed me in so lovingly, and it modified my life. I had by no means felt so seen and so stunning than round all these various & gender expanded folks. In a approach, I realized what magnificence was throughout these months. It was divine.
@natashabehnam i really like queer #ihavepurse @terry hu #wlw #jojosiwa #lgbtq #queercouple #queer #ethelcain #robyn #loveliesbleeding ♬ Sun Bleached Flies X Dancing On My Own – icarus lemaitre
You come from a background in comedy and improv, and have gone by way of coaching at UCB and The Groundlings, so what we wish to know is: Who’s the funniest particular person you’ve ever met and why?
That is so onerous as a result of I do really feel like I’ve met a few of the funniest folks ever (T gawd). However on the finish of the day, I’ve gotta say my finest associates Danya Jimenez & Hannah McMechan are actually the funniest folks I’ve ever met. They’re totally from one other planet.
Who’s a fictional character you had a crush on at a youthful age (or perhaps nonetheless do!)? What do you keep in mind loving about them?
I had the BIGGEST crush on the lead character Haley within the 2006 HIT FILM Stick It. That character was performed by Missy Peregrym. Oh my goddddd she was so cool and easy and HOT and she or he had the entire, “dangerous woman on the surface, softie on the within” factor happening. I cherished it…
@natashabehnam On the carpet for Diamond within the Tough, streaming on creator + now!
Who’s a queer or trans artist/performer/creator that you just assume is doing actually cool work proper now? Why are they somebody we should always all be taking note of?
ALOK!!! They’re so good, proficient, and sensible. I believe they channel some actually divine dharma of their work whereas concurrently making it so accessible to everybody. I’m obsessed. I’ll additionally shout out Brandon Kyle Goodman, who I believe is placing out a lot GOOD into this world, which we want. I believe they’re each actually tapped into the Backbone of what we’re doing right here on Earth… I see you each!!
The entire first season of The Ladies On The Bus is now streaming on Max.
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