Born in Tehran, Iran, and raised mainly in Germany, Elnaaz Norouzi began her career in Bollywood and is now establishing herself in Hollywood. Having lived and worked across diverse cultures, Norouzi brings a unique perspective to each role. In The Fix, she takes on one of her most challenging and layered roles yet as Zara in a high-stakes action thriller. The film follows a group of former CIA operatives attempting a dangerous rescue mission in Tehran to atone for an unsuccessful mission in Afghanistan. In this interview, Norouzi discusses what it was like embodying a character whose morals and beliefs differ from her own. She also shares what drew her to The Fix and what it was like working alongside co-stars Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi.

You’re starring in the action thriller The Fix. What drew you to the project and made you want to take on this role?

First, it was a really great script. It was set in Iran; I got to play an Iranian-American woman with so many layers, and Guy Moshe is a director I really wanted to work with. We had wonderful producers attached, and, of course, knowing that Zachary Levi and Liam Neeson were part of it made it even more exciting. For me, it was just the full package.

Your career has spanned from Bollywood to Hollywood. How have these two distinct industries shaped you as an actor?

I think as an actor, you're constantly learning. Every set, every director, every co-actor teaches you something. I've had the privilege of working in Bollywood and Hollywood and with people from completely different backgrounds and approaches to filmmaking. That exposure has taught me so much and made me a much more adaptable actor. I'm really grateful that my career has allowed me to experience both worlds.

What was your experience like working with Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi? Did you learn anything from working alongside them?

How can you not learn when you're working with actors like Zachary and Liam? They both have so much experience and have done incredible work. I learned a lot simply from watching how they approach scenes, how they prepare, and how they are on set. That's one of my favorite things about acting: you're always learning from the people around you.

Being born in Iran and building an international career, did your roots influence your perspective while working on The Fix?

Absolutely, but interestingly, I actually had to learn how to let some of that go. I was born in Tehran. I understand Iran, and I obviously have my own experiences, beliefs, and feelings about the country and everything that has happened there. But I couldn't bring my personal judgment into Zara. I had to understand her —why she thinks the way she does, why she makes the choices she makes—without judging her through my own experiences. That was difficult at times, but it taught me so much as an actor.

Looking back on your journey from the beginning of your career to where you are now, what are you most proud of accomplishing so far?

Honestly, I'm proud of the entire journey. I was a refugee child. My family fled the dictatorship I was born under, and we moved to Germany. I didn't speak the language, and we had to build a new life and integrate. Education became incredibly important to me, and I think being a good student — not only in school, but also a student of life — has carried me through everything. Then I moved to India as a very young woman and somehow found my way into Bollywood, which is not an easy industry to break into. Even while I was working in India, I never stopped auditioning in Hollywood and working toward this part of my dream. So when I look at where I started and where I am today, I'm very proud that I just kept going.

The Fix is an action thriller involving former CIA operatives and a dangerous rescue mission in Tehran. What was your experience like stepping into such an intense and high-stakes world?

I loved it. I love thrillers, and I love being part of a world where the stakes are high, and you're constantly wondering what's going to happen next. With The Fix, there is danger, emotion, romance, deception, explosions, and guns on set — so much happening all at the same time. As an actor, that's such an exciting world to step into. It was not an ordinary set! I loved being part of the experience.

You represent a new generation of women who are powerful and influential in their own right. What does it mean to you to have an impact on and inspire those who look up to you?

It means a lot to me, and I don't take it lightly. When I was younger, I looked up to actors and singers and watched how they lived, what they stood for, and how they carried themselves. So I'm very conscious that somebody might be looking at me in the same way today. I try to be a good role model, to stand with people and with justice, to be kind, and, at the same time, to be really good at what I do. I think you can be ambitious and powerful without losing your humanity.

You play Zara, a complex and emotionally multifaceted character in The Fix. How did you approach bringing the different sides of her personality to life?

Zara was honestly one of the most difficult characters I've ever played because she has so many layers. She thinks very differently from me and handles situations in ways I had to work hard to understand. I read a lot, spoke to people, and did extensive research because I wanted to understand how somebody like Zara thinks rather than simply imitate something from the outside. I'm also playing a college student for the first time; later, she pretends to be Tucker's wife. There's this emotional relationship developing between them — and then there are other sides of Zara that I can't tell you about yet. So there was constantly something underneath what you were seeing. She was a very special character for me.

You’ve worked across different cultures, languages, and industries. How has that shaped you and the way you approach your work, and what have you learned from each experience along the way?

It's helped me understand people so much better. I've lived and worked across very different cultures, and I think I've taken something from each. India taught me patience. Iran gave me emotion and a very deep connection to where I come from. Germany, where I grew up, gave me discipline. Working internationally has taught me to adapt and understand that there isn't only one way of doing things. I feel like I'm carrying all of those worlds with me now as I take on Hollywood.

What do you hope audiences take away from The Fix and your character, Zara, after watching the film?

Playing Zara actually taught me a lot about tolerance. As Elnaaz, I came in with my own strong beliefs and my own understanding of Iran and the world. But as an actor, I had to put that aside and understand why Zara believes what she believes and why she makes the choices she makes. You don't have to agree with someone to try to understand where they're coming from. I think that's something we need much more of in the world right now. If audiences come away from Zara questioning their first judgment of someone, I think that's really interesting.

Looking ahead, what are you hoping to accomplish next in your career, and what kinds of roles or projects are you excited to take on?

I definitely want to do more action. I've been training in mixed martial arts, and I would love to finally put that to use in a full-on action film. I love thrillers; I'd love to explore horror too, and I'm fascinated by psychologically complex characters — someone living with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, for example — where preparing for the role would require a completely different level of research, responsibility, and understanding. I've always loved a challenge. Mediocrity has never really existed in my vocabulary — whatever I do, I want to push myself and give it everything I have. And honestly, getting to lead a full-on action movie would be an absolute dream.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Elnaaz Norouzi
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Aaron Jay Young
Fashion Stylist: Shubhi Kumar
Hair + Makeup: Hanisun
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Ali Rosoff, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine

Elnaaz Norouzi Thrills Audiences