Seguing from a successful modeling career to acting, Nasanin Nuri was born in Persia but moved to Switzerland when she was 5 years old. She studied acting at the William Esper Studios in New York then acted and voiced the award-winning short film ”Where am I.” When not in front of the camera, Nuri can be found working out and punching an MMA bag at the UFC gym in New York.
In the science fiction action thriller “Forbidden Power,” Nuri is the seductive Veronica, a Native American woman who has a one-night affair with tech executive George (Lincoln Bevers). The sex empowers him with mental and physical abilities that far exceed his own. In this one-on-one interview, Nuri reveals her passion for acting and the challenges she faced in portraying the mysterious Veronica.
You have a very successful modeling career, what made you decide to segue into acting?
Nasanin Nuri: When I moved to New York City, I was kind of lost and didn’t know what to do. I stumbled onto this acting school, auditioned for it and was accepted. As soon as I started the program, which was a serious two-year program, I realized how much I love acting.
At the meteor crater where Veronica got her powers as a child
I’m sure you get many scripts. What drew you to this action/thriller?
NN: I loved the fact that Veronica comes off as this very sweet girl yet she’s this evil person. I thought it was very challenging to portray a person who doesn’t feel love and can’t understand what that is.
Did you audition for the part? What was that like?
NN: I have a profile on the web and one of Paul’s (Kyriazi) friends was responsible for casting. He contacted me but I didn’t really audition for it. He’d seen the work I’d done on my profile. So it came down to me and two other girls. They wanted someone who really looks Native American, so they asked me to send in a photo. So sent them one with a feather in my hair. After seeing that, they offered me the role of Veronica. We Skyped for about an hour—I was in Japan—and they explained the role to me.
What did you find most challenging in playing Veronica?
NN: I think that moment when she asks George what love is.
How are you like Veronica and how are you different?
NN: I’m a very loving passionate person. That said, I felt that a bit of Veronica was always inside me. It’s funny, I have a Native American tattoo—a dream catcher. I think I can be very sweet and persuasive if I want something, but I also have this slightly dark and mean side. I loved being in that makeup where I looked like a monster running around set scaring everyone.
Actors often have to reach deep to find their character. What did you draw from to portray such a mysterious vixen?
NN: I didn’t have anything specific to draw from. Before going to Seattle, I was on vacation with my best friend in Colorado and we went hiking and I saw a lot of interesting places and museums. I felt the whole culture was very mysterious. So even then, I started building my character.
I noticed you do MMA and serious workouts at the UFC gym. Is that a regular routine and why MMA?
NN: It’s just a way to keep myself in shape. I need something that challenges me and I think MMA is very challenging. I have to push myself. It was also fun because as Veronica, I had this one scene where I’m choking my partner. I told Paul, if you want to add some MMA for me, please do it. I would have loved to fight with Harry Mok.
Do you see yourself in an action film with lots of MMA and fighting scenes?
NN: Yeah, that would be a dream for me. And I think that’s one of the reasons why I do MMA. Last weekend, I filmed a short with a group of talented people about women’s fights. I do some stunts in the UFC gym.
Can you talk a bit about your Persian roots and your life in Switzerland?
NN: My parents moved to Switzerland when I was 5 years old. So I would say I have more of a Swiss heart beating in my chest than a Persian one. I love Switzerland, the food, the nature. But I definitely feel at home here in New York City.
Nasanin Nuri-photo by Jordan Matter
What’s next for you? Any film or TV projects coming up?
NN: It’s pilot season so it’s very stressful with so much memorizing for auditions. Just the other day, I had two big scenes and I had to memorize everything overnight. You do all that work and you go in there for 10 seconds. Then you leave and you don’t get any feedback. It’s frustrating.
Check out the “Forbidden Power” trailer
Alex A. Kecskes is a published author of "Healer a Novel" and "The Search for Dr. Noble"—both now available on Amazon. He has written hundreds of film reviews and celebrity interviews for a wide variety of online and print outlets. He has covered red carpet premieres and Comic-Con events for major films and independent releases.
