Negin Mo’tazedi: “I Don’t Crave Lead Roles / I’m Not a Comedian”

According to cinemadrame News Agency, Negin Mo’tazedi, currently busy playing a role in a cinematic project titled “Zero to Hundred” (Sefr ta Sad), directed by Mohammad Rasouli and produced by Milad (Reza) Al-Ahmadi, stated in an interview: “My first screen work dates back to 2007 when I was 22, and I acted in a cinematic work directed by Saeid Asadi. Before that, I was involved in theater, though not professionally. I studied architecture and did student work. I mostly did theater to be present, but my goal was screen acting.”

She continued: “I had auditioned at various offices until Hossein Khozouei contacted me and said I had been chosen for a lead role.”

Mo’tazedi spoke about her most prominent screen work: “From the public’s perspective, it’s definitely Mehran Modiri’s ‘My Villa‘ (Vila-ye Man), and I love it very much myself. The work I personally liked and acted in was ‘Crossing the Sorrows‘ (Gozar az Ranj-ha) directed by Fereydoun Hasanpour. Another work by this director called ‘Koubar‘ (Mountain Rain) and Mehran Modiri’s ‘5 PM‘ (5 Asr) are other works I like.”

The actress, who has worked in Modiri’s “Jok Kardam” (I’m Kidding), “Dar Hashiyeh” (On the Sidelines), and “Oscar,” responded to the notion that Modiri has a specific method for casting actors in his projects: “If that’s the case, it’s due to the bad luck of his actors. Because Modiri is unique, and I wish to work with him again and hope this bad luck doesn’t befall me.”

Regarding whether she considers herself a comedian given her comedic works, she stated: “Not at all. Even if I acted in comedy works, I played serious characters in a comedic situation. I was placed alongside comedy actors, but if you want to see comedy in acting, like in ‘Shahrak-e Jim’ which I worked on, I don’t think I can consider myself a comedian at all.”

Mo’tazedi also addressed how much these roles in comedic situations can be seen in a comedy work, answering: “Like ‘My Villa,’ this work was a very good experience for me. Being alongside other actors who were masters of this craft, playing the role of a modest and charming girl, was good and created a good experience. But it’s a scary job and requires a lot of courage.”

She also spoke about her acting aspirations and which year and director she envisions herself working with: “As for which director, I don’t know. There are many directors I would love to work with. I’d really like to work with Saeed Roustaee and Reza Attaran. Soroush Sehat and Mani Haghighi are renowned directors, and I think collaborating with them would be pleasant and ideal for any actor. My aspiration is to act one day in a performance where I feel it’s my hundred percent and my best, and this performance will remain in the memory of the people and the history of my country’s cinema.”

The cinema and television actress commented on why cosmetic surgery prevents newcomers from entering projects, while established actors also have cosmetic surgery but are not criticized: “If we want to talk about beauty, this issue is very personal, but when you’re on screen, it’s no longer personal. People are allowed to comment on it, accept it, or reject it.”

She added: “Everywhere in the world, actors try to improve their appearance and become more beautiful, and they try to maintain that beautiful face. It’s a choice, but if it’s reasonable and proper, and the person doesn’t become mentally obsessive, it’s acceptable and likable, and it’s not something to be defensive about.”

She also discussed her most challenging acting role: “I think it was the role of Marjan in ‘Crossing the Sorrows.’ Because it was written very accurately, and I loved it intensely. All the reactions I gave in the film were understandable, acceptable, and believable to me. That’s why being with this role was very pleasant for me.”

Mo’tazedi was asked how important payment is to her, to which she replied: “Very much so.”

When asked if there was a role she liked but the payment was low and she didn’t accept it, she answered: “Yes, there has been. Something in a project has to be very appealing to you to accept that role. Either the role is excellent, or the team, or the payment is excellent. Sometimes you like the role but don’t like the team or the payment. In that case, cooperation doesn’t happen.”

When asked what she would say if offered a lead role in a project with no payment, Mo’tazedi said: “I have played my lead roles, and I don’t crave playing a lead role that much, but nothing for nothing is like going to a butcher to get meat but saying you won’t pay. That’s impossible. This is my profession, and my livelihood comes from this job. Everything I have is this job. I absolutely would not accept it. Because of my payment and because I have worked hard in this profession for 23 years and eaten its dust. I didn’t enter it without reason. I was rank 13 in university, and I think there are many reasons to feel that where I stand now should not be for free.”

Regarding what bothers Negin Mo’tazedi in cinema, she stated: “Rudeness, rude, demanding, and overly demanding people.”

Mo’tazedi was also asked if she had ever gotten extremely angry at cast and crew on a project and abandoned the work. She replied: “Never abandoned, because I am committed to my work, not to people’s behavior. But yes, people’s behavior has bothered me, and I have reacted.”