Planting Seeds: How Azita Ghanizada is Shaping Hollywood’s Future

By Simi Kaur Baidwan

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“We’re planting the seeds of these trees that are flourishing. I mean, it’s been 8 years now since that success, and I never wanted to run a nonprofit or to do this coalition. I was just an actress who out of necessity had to fight for status and then had to educate people.”

- Azita Ghanizada

From navigating life as a political asylum seeker to becoming a prominent figure in Hollywood, Azita Ghanizada’s journey is a testament to unwavering determination and a fierce commitment to authentic representation. As one of the first Afghan woman to headline a U.S. television series, “Alphas,” Ghanizada has not only built an impressive acting career, sharing the screen with acclaimed talents like Rachel Weisz, Mahershala Ali, David Strathairn, and Sam Shepard, but she has also become a pivotal force for change within the entertainment industry. Named as one of the “Seven Sundance Breakout Actresses You Must Know” for her work in “Complete Unknown” and her role as Rosalyn Noori in NBC’s “Suits LA”—Azita Ghanizada is on quite a trailblazing path.

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Beyond her on-screen achievements, Ghanizada’s impact resonates deeply through her advocacy. She founded the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition in 2017, an organization instrumental in establishing the Middle Eastern and North African designation under SAG AFTRA theatrical contracts—a groundbreaking achievement that predates the U.S. Census adopting a MENA category. As an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and a global ambassador for Women for Women International, Ghanizada continually leverages her platform to fight for those facing oppression and gender violence.

Ghanizada vividly recounts the early advice she received to change her name, a suggestion she ultimately rejected, realizing that her identity was her “superpower.” “It’s the slower path,” she says. “It’s the slowest way towards success, but its the most honest. It carries a lot of integrity, and it’s the most authentic, which is such an important quality to me, and I do think that most of the immigrants I know are so hardworking and do have a tremendous amount of integrity.”

Ghanizada describes a pivotal moment in her career between 2013-2014 when, despite her success on shows like “Entourage” and “Alphas,” and frequent auditions for major projects, she was suddenly deemed “not diverse” by casting directors. This perplexing shift, where Middle Eastern actors were categorized as Caucasian due to U.S. Census classifications, spurred her to action. She says this led to her realizing the urgent need for advocacy and ultimately founding MAAC to create a recognized status for the MENA community in Hollywood.

Ghanizada further details the impact of MAAC, emphasizing that while direct changes are gradual, the organization has planted “the first seeds” for greater representation. “The impact is the first seeds,” she says. “We’re planting the seeds of these trees that are flourishing. I mean, it’s been 8 years now since that success, and I never wanted to run a nonprofit or to do this coalition. I was just an actress who out of necessity had to fight for status and then had to educate people.”

She points to examples like Ramy Youssef’s role in “Poor Things” and Rami Malek’s Oscar win for “Bohemian Rhapsody” as indicators of progress. MAAC’s work has fostered community by creating spaces for MENA creatives, educating the industry, and establishing groups within major organizations like the Writers Guild, SAG-AFTRA, Netflix, and The Academy. Despite these strides, Ghanizada acknowledges that the journey for true representation is ongoing, noting that MENA actors still account for only 1 percent of broadcast television roles.

In this candid interview, Ghanizada reveals the profound influence of her immigrant background on her career and her fight for change. She opens up about what she says is the “ferocity to our need to make sure that we project the correct image, and that we take care of the people in our lives, and that we succeed” — a driving force she attributes to her immigrant experience. Join us on AMAZING TV YouTube Channel with our Editor and Director, Simi Kaur Baidwan, for the full interview as Azita Ghanizada shares her powerful story of resilience, advocacy, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity in an industry that still struggles to see and celebrate its diverse talent.

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