Not Just An Act: Vishka Assayesh

Vishka Assayesh is a Persian actor and artist who blends Persian art with Western influences in her work. Born in Iran and educated in London, she decided to leave Iran for good in 2023, relocating to Paris with her family – a bold move that profoundly changed her life and significantly influenced her acting career. Assayesh speaks with Christian Bracht about her work, especially her leading role in the film Haft Rooz (English title Seven Days) by German-Iranian director Ali Samadi Ahadi, and compares her life in Iran with her current life in Paris.

CHRISTIAN BRACHT: Your life changed drastically last year. How have you found balance during this time?

VISHKA ASSAYESH I: am a positive person, and I love challenges. When I reflect on my life, I realise I have always been like this. I have always enjoyed facing adversity and setting ambitious goals for myself. I always think, ‘If it is a difficult task, I must do it.’ This applies to my life and work, whether in sports, film, theatre, and so on. Challenges have always excited me; they give me the energy to push harder and succeed. I do not know if you are aware, but I am also a mountaineer; I love climbing to the summit. It is a lesson to me: when you encounter hardships when hiking up a mountain, you either have to turn back, or you have to push through. For me, turning back is never an option, so I continue, no matter what. If I cannot overcome the difficulty, I will find another way to conquer the summit.

CB: The theme of our issue is ‘balance’. How do you personally define this term, especially given your recent experiences?

VA: I believe I must be in tune with myself: I need to listen to my heart and my body. That is the only way I can find balance within. Balance is not just about work and life; it is much broader. Life includes friendships and a sense of fulfilment. I have often asked myself what gives me a sense of fulfilment – whether I can find it in my career or other things. To discover what is important to me, I listen to my heart and pay attention to what my body tells me. I always trust my body. When I exercise, if my body says, ‘Please stop,’ I stop.

CB: Your decision to leave Iran must have been difficult. How do you balance your responsibilities as a public figure with your personal convictions?

VA: I definitely feel a certain responsibility as an artist and as a public figure. I am very grateful for where I am. I am not well known here, but in Iran, I am. I had a great career thanks to all my projects and my amazing fans. My strong connection to my fans is the reason why I make decisions not only for me but also for them. I know their struggles. I will stand in solidarity with them. 

CB: Why do you feel that responsibility?

VA: I have lived in Iran all my life and worked there as an actor for over 30 years. We adhered to the laws, which meant wearing certain outfits or behaving in specific ways. On stage, we always tried to work around these restrictions and censorship, but there came a point where it was no longer possible. I love my job as an actor – being on stage and performing – but I became increasingly upset; my anger reached its peak with the murder of Mahsa Amini on 16 September 2022. I could not give the viewers what I wanted, and I could not receive the audience’s energy anymore; the exchange of energy just was not happening. I needed to change something, and what I can do is show resistance. So, I stopped working. If I had to wear a hijab in front of the camera from now on, who would I be? What message would I be sending to the mothers and fathers who have lost their children? It would imply that I had given up, that I no longer cared, and that I was just blindly earning my money. To me, it was clear that I could not do that. I decided that I had to leave my country. It was not a hard decision to make because, for me, there was no other way. The current situation in Iran is a wake-up call. Sometimes, things happen in life that shape you. Suddenly, you wake up and realise you cannot accept it any longer; you must do something for yourself.

CB: In your new film, you play a women’s rights activist. To what extent has this role influenced your perspective on personal freedom and social responsibility?

VA: It has taught me a great deal. Although I have lived in Iran, I have faced a lot since childhood. When the revolution happened, I was only nine years old. So, I grew up in a harsh and violent school system. The only safe environment was at home. Back then, we were not allowed to listen to music; nearly everything was forbidden. I grew up with a lot of fear and only learnt how to follow rules. When I arrived in Paris last year, the first picture of me without a headscarf went viral. I did not even post it myself, as my Instagram account was deactivated at the time. You cannot imagine how scared I was when that happened, even though I knew I was now in Paris and there was no danger around me. But still, I was terrified of what could happen.

CB: How did you overcome this fear?

VA: When the role was offered to me and I read the script, my first thought was, ‘What am I going to do?’ As I read the script, I felt more and more connected to the woman. I somehow related to her. I am not a fighter like her, and I am not as brave as her, but she gave me strength. I began to consider how I could be a voice for Iran and what I could do as an artist. After all, you must do what you are good at; otherwise, it is just an act. I knew I could not suddenly become a politician – I do not have the knowledge for that. What I do have is a knowledge of art. The strange thing is, people in Iran think that once you are out of the country, you are nobody. Obviously, I am entering a vast field with more competition, but I know I will find my way, even if it takes time.

CB: How do you reconcile your Iranian identity with your new life in Paris?

VA: I live here now, but I prefer to call myself Persian. Persian culture is incredibly rich. I learnt everything about it from my grandfather – the music, the poetry, the books. My grandfather was a writer, and all that family history is within me. Now I am here in Paris, a place filled with love, art, and music. Here, I can do things I was not able to do before. I love to dance, perform, and so much more. Being here gives me a lot of energy.

CB: The film tells the story of a seven-day release from prison. How did you prepare to portray this?

VA: I was approached for the role because I had just left Iran; I was fully aware of that. When I read the script, I started studying a few very famous women’s rights activists. I watched their videos, listened to their speeches, and tried to connect their messages to my personal experiences. Although I have never been to prison, many of my friends have. Back then, you were sent to prison for pretty much anything, but I was lucky and never got caught. The director, Ali Samadi, told me he wanted someone who had just left Iran to really feel the role. To prepare and understand the character more deeply, I allowed myself to experience a range of emotions. Even before I began this research, I was already about 60 percent there; the rest came from studying the characters. However, it was quite stressful. When we started filming, I felt as though it were my first movie because I knew I would be facing a much broader, more international audience. I felt a huge sense of responsibility. It was also the first time I acted without a headscarf, which added to the pressure.

CB: The film explores the difficult choice between family and personal beliefs. How does this theme resonate in your own life?

VA: I was in Iran when I received the news that I was banned from leaving the country. At that time, my son and husband were already in Paris. I was filming in Iran when a colleague informed me, ‘You cannot leave the country anymore.’ I could not believe it. I had only posted an Instagram story saying, ‘Please stop killing people.’ The thought of not being able to see my son broke me at that moment. Fortunately, my mum, sister, and the rest of my family were still there. That was the final blow that made me realise I could not continue like this. I waited until I got my passport back and then left.

CB: How has working with German-Iranian director Ali Samadi Ahadi influenced your perspective on balancing different cultural backgrounds?

VA: Ali is an incredible director – he is so in control and very calm. In this film, we had people from three different cultures: Iranians, Germans, and Georgians. Everyone put their heart into the project, even though we did not all speak the same language. The cameraman and sound designer were German; the production manager was Georgian. On set, people spoke German, English, Georgian, and Farsi. It was a complete mix of languages and cultures. The amazing thing was to see how much energy everyone put into this movie. Even though it was a low-budget film, we wrapped it up in 26 days. Everything was so organised. I love this, because a film like this would have taken about 65 days in Iran.

CB:   Germans are fast.

VA:   Yes, it is so German! I said, ‘This is such a German attitude.’ I love it. Being organised like that, on time, and in control. But what I valued most was that everybody had so much love for everybody on set. It was important to tell this story and get it out in the most perfect way. My Iranian colleagues and I were not acting; we were just showing our real emotions.

CB:   How do you mentally prepare yourself to present your story to an international audience?

VA:   I am super excited and nervous because this is going to be my first premiere outside of Iran. It is crazy to think about being at the premiere without worrying about any restrictions. I think I will be really calm. It is such an amazing feeling not having to worry all the time. You have no idea how hard it is to constantly censor yourself. This story, though, is not only about Iranian women; it is about motherhood and a woman fighting for her human rights.

CREDITS

Photography: Peter Kaaden
Styling: Iulian Caraman
Hair & Makeup: Axelle Jèrina (using Makeup by Glossier)
Creative Direction: Hannes Aechter
Production: Jule Nötzel
Photo Assistant: Florian Wellnhofer
Styling Assistant: Leonie Sosnizki

As featured in SLEEK 82 – BALANCE. Available in print and digital here.