Hedyeh Tehrani was born at four o'clock on the fourth day of the fourth month of the year 1351/1972 in Tehran

 

How was she offered her first role in a film?
Like most Iranian film stars, she has not entered the trade through an acting school. As it happened, at the time she was related to Nasser Taqva'i, the renowned film director. He had suggested she should act in his film Chay Talkh (Bitter Tea). This was seven years ago and the atmosphere in the Iranian film industry was not very favourable. "And I was not really a fan of Iranian commercial films". She had been offered parts in other films that she had refused. But Taqva'i was a different story. The offer was accepted and the project started but for reasons that do not concern us the film never got finished.

So what did she do then?
"Well I have always been interested in painting and graphic arts and also interior decoration. I had decided to leave for Germany to continue my education in these subjects. I had prepared everything and I was about to leave when unfortunately I had a very bad car accident that nailed me to bed for six months. After my recovery, Mr. Mehrjou'i contacted me for the role of Leila in the film of the same name. We didn't come to an agreement, so I left. At this time Mr. Kianush Ayyari offered me a role in his film Budan va Nabudan (To Be or Not to Be). I accepted but he had one condition, namely that I should not accept any other roles in other films. While I was waiting for Mr. Ayyari's film to get off the ground (which it never did) I was offered many parts in other films. I had no option but to accept. I acted in Ahmad Amini's Gharibaneh(Like a Stranger in a Foreign Land), it was followed by Kimiai'i's Soltan (Sultan), and then Jeyrani's Qermez (Red), for which I was awarded a Simorgh-e Bolurin and it established me as a professional actress. At this point I went to England and stayed for a year there, where I improved my English.

"On my return I was offered many parts in different films; the ones I accepted were Showkaran (Hemlock) by Afkhami, .Syavash by Saman Moghadam, Party and Abi (Blue) by Hamid Labkhandeh, Zamaneh (The Age) by Hamid Salahmand, Kaghaz-e bi Khat (Unruled Paper) by Taqva'i,Khane'i Ruy-e Ab (A House Built on Water) by Bahman Farman'ara, Abadan by Mani Haqiqi, Donya (The World) by Manuchehr Mossayeri, Dokhtar Ironi (The Iranian Girl) by Mohammad Hossein Lotfi, .Jayi Baraye Zendigi (A Place to Live) by Mohammad Bozorgnia, and two short films." I take a deep breath; an impressive body of work.

Working with so many different directors must have been quite an experience. Which one has had the most effect on her?
"I have learned the essence of acting and cinema from Taqva'i. He has been a most influential teacher for me. I have also enjoyed working with Afkhami and Farman'ara."

Does she ever think about having a family, husband, children?
"Definitely, I do think about getting married and having kids and home-making. T love kids. It may not look it but I am a good-housewife. I like cooking and house keeping. But my getting married has to be for the sake of love, companionship and sharing. You see, I am an independent woman and I earn good money so I don't need to get married in order to acquire my independence or for the sake of material things."

What does she do when she is not acting in a film?
"I do interior decoration. I once had an antique shop but had to close it. Now I super vise renovation and restoration of antique objects."

What other awards has she won besides Simorgh-e Bolurin?
"Three times the Hafez bust from Donyay-e Tasvir monthly, the Pyongyang Film Festival award for the film Party, and a few nominations."


Dose she find any free time to read and dose she read books at all?
"Reading books is one of my favourite pastimes. I mostly read non-fiction including philosophy, Sufism, and books on religion. The last book I read was Zartosht by Hashem Razi.I have also started rereading Thus Spake Zarathustra by Nietzsche translated by Ashuri.".

What else does she do in her leisure time?
"I do Yoga and am learning Tai Chi."

Last but not least, what does she think about Shohreh Aghdashloo's nomination for the Oscar of best supporting actress?
"It is really an honor for any Iranian in general and for our film industry in particular. I would have loved to be in her shoes. I do hope she wins although the mere fact of being nominated is honor enough."

She drives me back to my office and I promise to send her the text when I have finished it.

 

The Reader, Monthly Magazine, Jun. 2004, Page 12-13