Immigration Impacts Iranian Career | Shabnam Tolouei | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Shabnam Tolouei, an award-winning Iranian actress, discusses the challenges and freedom she experienced after immigrating to France.

Transcript

SPEAKER 1: And I'm really honored to be hosting Shabnam Tolouei here today to discuss the impact of immigration on professional career. Shabnam is an award winning Iranian actress, theater director, and playwright. She's won multiple awards from the International Fajre Theater Festival, which is the most prestigious venue for theater in Iran. In 20... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 The Iranian government's restrictions on actresses led Shabnam Tolouei to relocate to France to regain her artistic freedom.
• 👍 Immigrants may struggle with feelings of not being able to prove themselves or having to start from scratch in a new country and culture.
• 🤳 Identity and self-discovery are important aspects of immigration, with individuals questioning their beliefs and building new senses of self.
• 🗯️ The Iranian women's rights movement is progressing despite social and political challenges.
• ✌️ Happiness is found within oneself and can be achieved by being at peace with who you are.
• 🎭 Overcoming stage fright and the challenges of performing are ongoing struggles for Shabnam Tolouei.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Shabnam Tolouei's professional career in Iran come to a halt?

Shabnam Tolouei was banned from working by the Iranian government due to her religion, impacting her successful career as an actress.

Q: What difficulties did she face as a female actress in Iran?

In Iran, female actresses were restricted in their performances, with limitations on showing their bodies or engaging in certain actions. They had to rely on facial expressions for acting.

Q: How did her experience as a female actress change when she moved to France?

In France, Shabnam Tolouei found intellectual freedom and the ability to express herself fully through her work. She no longer had to adhere to strict rules and red lines imposed on her in Iran.

Q: How did Shabnam Tolouei overcome the challenges of immigration?

Tolouei believes in taking personal responsibility and not staying in a state of sadness or disappointment. She focused on the present moment and the opportunities that lay ahead, eventually overcoming her initial struggles.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Shabnam Tolouei had a successful career as an actress in Iran before being banned by the government due to her religion.

• She relocated to France to restart her career and found intellectual freedom and the ability to express herself.

• Tolouei believes that while there are challenges for immigrant women, the most important aspect of one's identity is being a human being.