“What if I were you?” Fereshte Hosseini’s voice carries an urgency, as if she poses the question to herself as well as the world.
“I wanted to earn respect,” the actress says – her words testifying to a lifelong battle for recognition.
Hers was an arduous journey to rise above the poverty that shaped her upbringing and to confront the prejudice endured by Afghan migrants in her adopted country.
Each of Iranian actress Fereshte Hosseini’s roles needs to comply with Iran’s strict dress code for women, even those in overseas productions. Photo: Instagram/@fereshtehosseini
Hosseini, 27, is married to fellow actor and Iranian superstar Navid Mohammadzadeh. She credits her husband’s support and inspiration as key motivators in her perseverance in her career.
When Hosseini enters the cafe where we agreed to meet, in central Tehran, she is wearing a black jumpsuit, her face hidden by sunglasses that shield her from prying eyes.