interview by JANA LETONJA

Sarah Shahi is one of Hollywood’s most versatile talents and her body of work continues to evolve with exciting new projects. She starred in the Warner Bros. Film ‘Black Adam; alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson and lead one of Netflix' most watched and buzziest series ‘Sex/Life’. Currently, Sarah is working on her first book and is set to star and in Hulu’s series ‘Paradise’, premiering on 28th January.

From NFL cheerleader to Hollywood actress, what inspired you to make such a significant career transition, and how did you navigate that change?

The stars gave me a wink when Robert Altman came to Texas to direct a movie called ‘Dr. T and the Women’, with Richard Gere and Kate Hudson. The cheerleaders were glorified extras for a couple weeks and he took a liking to me. It was at his insistence that I go to Hollywood and give it a go. When Robert Altman tells you to give it a shot, you listen.

You’ve had a diverse range of roles in your career, from action-packed films like ‘Black Adam’ to emotional dramas like ‘City on a Hill’. How do you choose roles, and what draws you to a project?

The script is my North Star when I’m choosing a role. It’s got to guide me somewhere exciting. I need to vibe with the character, even if it’s just a little spark. But I love doing things that are not on the page, so working with artists who are willing to play becomes an essential ingredient too. You have to be willing to flow.

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How has your cultural backgroundm having Persian roots, influenced your approach to acting or the roles you take on?

My background hasn’t played a factor in choosing roles. If anything, I think the goal is to become more colorblind. I hope being a minority and getting lead role helps that narrative.

‘Sex/Life’ became one of Netflix’s most talked-about shows. What was it like to portray Billie Connelly and delve into themes of female identity and desire? How did you prepare for such a complex role?

I prayed. A lot. No, seriously, ‘Sex/Life’ is a very relatable show. It didn’t take much for me internally to play a woman who felt like she wasn’t living up to her full potential. Society has done an incredible job of boxing women in, and we literally have to train ourselves to go get the life we want. And it was a privilege to be the face of the battle cry.

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How did you feel about the public’s reaction to the show, especially the discussions around female empowerment and relationships?

I loved the public’s reaction to the show. It ran the gamut, people either broke up or had really great sex. Art is meant to make you talk, to think, to have discussions. And it did just that.

As a producer and star in the upcoming film ‘The Hollys’, how has the process of producing your own project differed from your acting roles? What new skills or insights have you gained?

Right now, I’m involved in all the attention needed in LA due to the fires. I have friends whose lives were burnt to a crisp. Helping the firefighters and volunteering through various organizations is very important not just for the people, but as a mom, it’s my obligation to lead my kids by example. They are being raised with the awareness that it’s important to give back to others. I’m also heavily involved with St. Jude Children’s hospital. They’re a remarkable organization that leans on donations. Their mission is to advance cures and prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. No family or patient pays a penny, and they take all the families that have lost hope. The people there are nothing short of angels.

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You’re currently working on your first book—can you share a little about what it’s about, and what prompted you to take on this new creative venture?

I’m really excited about my first book. It’s called ‘Life is Lifey’ and was inspired by my own transformation while I was on ‘Sex/Life’. Anytime someone would ask me how I was doing, I’d answer “You know, life is lifey.” It’s no secret I used to be married, and was with the same man for nearly twenty years. We were kids when we met, and then we grew up. The book is a one-stop shop for all of my hard earned lessons on how to navigate your truth. It’s funny, raw, and meant to inspire you to go after the things you want in life.

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How do you manage to juggle acting, producing, activism, and personal life? What’s your approach to maintaining a healthy work-life balance in such a demanding industry?

I’m still learning about balance. My problem is I want to be a hundred percent everywhere for everyone all the time. I have an amazing nanny who helps with the kids if I can’t be there, and then it’s just playing good ol’ fashioned tetris with my time. And when I can involve my kids in my work, I do. But a lot of times I’ll work before the kids wake up or after they go to sleep. My oldest is now fifteen and it’s gone by so fast. I don’t want to miss a thing. They’ll never be this small again.

Next up, we will be seeing you in Hulu’s series ‘Paradise’. What can you tease about this series and your role in it?

‘Paradise’ is a brilliant mystery thriller created by Dan Fogelman. It’s a show with so many layers. Just when you think you have it figured out, it turns you upside down. I’m a therapist trying to make sense of everything. All the characters see me, so I’m lucky that I get to have connective storylines with everyone. I play the bright light in a dark world.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent SARAH SHAHI
photography RETO STERCHI
styling JENNA FILINGERI
makeup ALLAN AVENDAÑO AT A-FRAME AGENCY
hair CHERILYN FARRIS AT HIGHLIGHT ARTISTS
makeup assistance RUBY VO
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial production and interview JANA LETONJA

IN CONVERSATION WITH SARAH SHAHI

IN CONVERSATION WITH SHEA MARIE

IN CONVERSATION WITH NORA FATEHI