Page 12 - The Houstonian Review - Fall Issue 2022 | Sintia Solis

Lisa Alavi is an American actress, artist, humanitarian, sister Sara Alavi in Les Gaddis’ psychological drama film
and entrepreneur of Persian and American-European Confessions, where we share the role of dissociative
descent from Houston, Texas. She is making her mark in personality disorder character splits Toni/Parisa/
the South as an actress in high demand. Stay tuned; she Sophie/Jacqui. This was a dream role to play. This is in
is coming to some of your favorite streaming networks. post-production. I was an Associate Producer and did
How did you become involved in acting? some light camera work for What Do We Know About
Refugees?, where my sister Sara Alavi sat down with
Since grade school, as far back as I can remember really, refugees and others on the inside to uncover the real
I had a knowing inside me that I wanted to act in film. statistics, truths, stories around the refugee & forced
I’d see child actors in films doing serious emotional migrant conversation to better create compassion and
roles and think I can, want, need to do that. I’m meant understanding. I did a horror movie playing Layla in
to do that. I feel it. It was just always inside me. Where I Franky with Shannon Washington, on streaming. I made
am now and what I’m doing, I saw it before, but I didn’t cameos in both Anubys Lopez’ film Aged as Vivienne
know the path to now. In middle school, I took a theater Bloom and Dakarai Akil’s The Hooper as Alyssa, a me-
class & had a teacher Mrs. Holt that saw what I could do too survivor.
and believed in me, championed me really, which gave
me the confidence to go to an open cold call audition, What are your dream roles?
where I was scouted by a manager in LA who repped As far as genre, I love psychological and intellectual
other known names my age at the time. He told me written scripts that make you think, films like Double
don’t change anything in acting, stay raw & natural as Jeopardy, Primal Fear, Eyes Wide Shut, The Interpreter,
you are. He said “ don’t let anyone touch you”. It is my Blood Diamond. I love Nicole Kidman’s range of work.
reminder to always embrace my human, faults, quirks- I also love great romantic love stories with passion and
just be present, grounded, in the moment. Go to the buildup or deeper message driven stories like Legends
feeling. He wanted me in LA but I was still young and of the Fall, Meet Joe Black, Memoirs of a Geisha. I love
our family close, so I decided to focus on Academics. I comedies and dry humor. I also love foreign films
graduated from University of Houston on Academic like Incendies ( Villeneuve ), Black Book ( Verhoeven),
Scholarship with a Procurement & Sourcing major, Bellucci’s diverse range of foreign language films, and
French minor. After university, I worked in oil & gas, Asghar Farhadi & Abbas Rafei for Iranian films. I’d love
then luxury watches, then online start-up dabbling, still to do some foreign films. I want to do films that make
trying to find alignment with my heart & passion. The people love, laugh, cry, really feel, think, connect- share
inner voice was getting louder again. People started an experience or discovery, fall in love or break our
asking me to collaborate or be on their projects with hearts together. Human stories.
modeling, then a music video, I started drawing &
painting again, and ultimately the universe conspired Who is your biggest inspiration?
and I found my way back to acting. I can say I am truly My parents are my biggest inspiration. They are also
in alignment now and I’m glad to be an adult with the our biggest supporters and believers that anything is
life experience approaching the industry now, gives a possible. My dad came to America from Iran with only
more grounded perspective. It’s easier to say yes and $200 in pocket, a one way ticket, and minimal English.
no, move from a place of alignment and goals then Through hard work & belief, achieved his PhD. My mom
a place of need or pressure. Acting and creating art went from working at McDonalds & sewing her siblings’
are my passion, but I can evaluate like a business too, clothing to putting herself through medical school,
switch the hat. I think that’s important for anyone in the becoming a doctor, one of 2 women in her class at the
creative industry.
time. They supported each other in their dreams, grew
What are your upcoming films and projects? together, and have been happily married over 50 years.
Where can we find them? They are an example and inspiration on many levels,
always showing infinite love, belief, respect, & support
I have a couple projects coming out this year with of one another and us. They have always inspired us
Writer & Director Courtney Glaudé. I have a major to continuously grow and do everything in our heart.
supporting role in Courtney Glaudé’s The Reading ( They have always taught us if we can believe it, we
Executive Producer Lee Daniels), a psychological thriller can achieve it. They have always lead with love & by
starring Academy Award Winner Mo’Nique, in which example, and do everything in our heart. They have
I will be playing her in-law and right hand, Ashley always taught us if we can believe it, we can achieve it.
Leeden. Details of release coming soon. I play Brittany They have always lead with love & by example.
in Courtney’s anthology series Amygdala, also releasing
later this year. I am a co-lead with my amazing, talented

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