Azita Ghanizada is starring in SyFy’s newest TV series “Alphas”. Azita also has a role in the upcoming show “Friends with Benefits”. Movie Mikes had the chance to chat with Azita about her work in TV and well as what else she is currently working on.
Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with the latest Syfy series “Alphas”?
Azita Ghanizada: I had auditioned for the role after getting a call literally the night before the audition. I think casting was resisting a little because the character was written to be very shy and conservative. I am kind of the opposite. When I went in I just did it with sensitivity and kindness to the character. The next day I got call telling me I got the part. I hadn’t even seen a full script yet. I got on the plane and read the full script about 10 times as the next day I was scheduled to do a table reading. I actually ended up sitting across from Jeff Reed who smiled at me during one point. After that I knew I would be ok.
MG: Tell us about your character on the show?
AG: I play the character of Rachel who is a conservative girl that still lives with her family and is very attached to her family life. Rachel is just an ordinary girl living in New York City and has the ability to hyper intensify all of her senses. She in turn uses her special abilities to help solve the crimes of secret government agencies.
MG: How far are you into the production on the show?
AG: We actually just finished shooting the 90 minute pilot and we go into production on the series around the beginning of April. The show should be premiering over the summer.
MG: You also guest star on the upcoming “Friends with Benefits”, tell us about working on that show?
AG: I had originally auditioned to be one of the regulars on that and through the process I got to meet David Dodkin. I really liked the idea of the show and when I came back from shooting “Alphas” they had asked me to come in and audition for one of the guest leads. I got to work with Ryan Hansen as well as Fred Savage who directed the episode. The whole cast is terrific.
MG: Can you tell us what it was like working one of my favorite show “Castle”?
AG: That has been one of my favorite experiences ever! They have to baby powder me into my outfit (Laughs). I mean what’s better than that? The costumes and sets are really great and I got to work with Nathan Fillion, who I am a huge fan of. Nathan is such a nice and kind person. I am a huge fan of that show. It was great to dominate Jon Huertas!
MG: You also have a movie coming out called “Blood Shot” which features one hell of a genre cast. Can you tell us about working with such great talent?
AG: We actually shot that film a few years ago and they have been doing a ton of work in post production. I did some additional work for it last summer and I really hope that it comes out soon. Think of a really wacky and extreme B-horror movie! I play an Arabian virgin that has to 
sacrifice her life in order to save the world from terrorists. Everyone was really fun to work with on that.
MG: Besides acting tell us about your involved with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and UN Refugee Agency?
AG: I am from Afghanistan, so for me to be able to create awareness about the injustices towards women that go on over there each day has been really great. I really want to shed some light on how everyone can make an impact on the refugees affected by four decades of war. Over the last year, I was asked to help create publicity for the UNHCR and I really wanted to give back so I was more than willing to be part of these organizations. I also have been a part of the Women for Women Organization which campaigns against the legal raping of women in Afghanistan. I want to be able to give voice to the women there dealing with this. We are planning a Women for Women March on March 8th of this year in New York and San Francisco and there will be over 100 brave women marching in Afghanistan despite the threats they have received.
