Today we’d like to introduce you to Wida Etemadi.
Hi Wida, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2018, I decided to leave my public relations career after 15 years to finally pursue acting. This dream, was a secret I held close to my heart and really didn’t share with anyone, except my husband and my son. They really encouraged me to listen to my inner voice and go for it as scary as it was to leave behind my public relations career that I was proud of. I wasn’t truly happy and felt like I wasn’t being my authentic self.
The biggest challenge is not having that stable, monthly paycheck and having to working side jobs, while auditioning. However, nothing beats the feeling of chasing a dream that I’ve put aside for so long. Finally, pursuing something that I didn’t really think was possible for me, but now as difficult as it may be I know that I am on my destined path.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Since 2018, there have been many ups and downs on this thespian journey. Including a pandemic and writers guild/actors union strike that both impacted my momentum. But along the way, I have made some great progress including joining SagAftra; building my dream team (shout out to: Matthew Cato-Fox at The Chasin Agency, Mandy Del-Rio at Citizen Skull Management and Susan Tolar Walters at STW for NYC and Atlanta); adding to my TV/Film credits; and learning as much as I can about acting and auditioning in a world of self tapes. I knew this path would be extremely challenging and competitive, but was not expecting the pandemic and also the current post-strike industry contraction.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an actor and I wouldn’t say that I’m “known” for anything that people would recognize me from (YET), but I have slowly added to my credits.
Most recently, I worked on a new project for AppleTV called “Imperfect Women,” that stars the one and only Kerry Washington! I’m a huge Scandal fan so that was an incredible experience.
Some of my other wins include:
• CBS’s NCIS
• ABC’s LA Law reboot
• Fox’s Game of Talents
• The lead in the film Before Dawn, Kabul Time, which qualified for Best Live Action Short in the 95th Academy Awards and screened at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and across select theaters nationwide
I’m only just beginning and I know I didn’t come this far to just come this far. I know there is more work and more training to be done and more wins to come.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’m definitely a risk taker! Leaving my public relations career after 15 years was a huge gamble with very little immediate reward. I think all my life I’ve been a rebel. My family escaped from Afghanistan in the late 90’s and we immigrated to America in the early 80’s.
I lived my early life and teenage years living under very strict rules that my parents set. They had the best intentions and did everything for us out of care and love. However, there were a lot of rules and I obeyed, until I hit my thirties.
I got a divorce, tattoos and started to live my life on MY terms. So, yes, I’d consider myself a risk taker, but I believe in life if you don’t take risks then you’ll eventually have regrets.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wida_etemadi/
Image Credits
Pamela Musgrave
Huebner Headshots
Molly Pan
TheActorsCollectiveLA (Mark Daugherty)
