Iranian & Swiss Actress Lara Wolf as Queen Berenice opposite Anthony Hopkins in Peacock’s “Those About To Die”

Photo Credit Sharon Daniels

Lara Wolf is a multilingual actress with an international edge: she was born in Tehran, raised in Zurich, and now lives as a naturalized New Yorker in Brooklyn. She studied Psychology at the Univerisity of Zurich, and simultaneously worked as a television host and fitness model for StarTV, before she relocated to the United States to train at the Lee Strasburg Theatre and Film Institute.

Her upcoming major role is in the Peacock Original Those About to Die (premiering on 7/18), for Mundane Mag. Those About to Die, directed by Roland Emmerich, is an epic “sword-and-scandal” series that explores the dark side of the ancient Roman Gladiator Games, exposing the dirty (and bloody) business of entertaining masses and drawing parallels between the ancient gladiators and modern forms of entertainment. Wolf plays “Queen Berenice”, the Judean Queen who is romantically linked to Titus Flavianus (portrayed by Tom Hughes) and appears in 7 of 10 episodes.

In addition to her upcoming projects, Wolf has also appeared in various hit TV series, such as ABC’s Quantico, Amazon’s You Are Wanted, Blue Bloods, as well as films like The Performance, Hot Air, and These 3 Waters (which she wrote in addition to starring in). A classically trained actress, Wolf’s ability to transition seamlessly between styles and genres has helped build a lengthy resume of diverse roles that keep her constantly moving. In addition to her legit training, she also has a wealth of unique life experience: she was born in Tehran, Iran; raised in Zürich, Switzerland; and now primarily resides in New York. She is also a polyglot, speaking English, Farsi, Swiss German, German, and some French and Italian.

It still feels like a dream that I was part of this grand-scale gladiator epic set in ancient Rome! I’m excited for the show to air and to see everyone’s work on the screen. I wouldn’t say I can’t wait because, for once in my life, I seem pretty ok with waiting; or, let’s say, living in this period of anticipation, knowing that there is this huge release ahead of me. It’s always nice to have something to look forward to! And I don’t want it to end, but the 18th of July is approaching! It’s a thrilling time to be on Peacock, and I love that they let the creators push the boundaries – it will also be just in time for the Olympic games!

Do you mean aside from the inexplicably superior-tasting 3 Euro cappuccinos?

Yes – there are endless memories. Pardon the cliché – but all of it was a massive learning experience. Being in Rome and learning things the Roman way was quite something. Another question is about how I didn’t find a boyfriend there! Joking aside… I had already been in Rome two months before boarding on to Those About To Die. I was there for a film called Reading Lolita in Tehran, directed by Eran Riklis, a beautiful arthouse film starring Golshifteh Farahani, based on the same-named NY-times bestseller by Azar Nafisi. When the offer for Those About To Die came in, we were almost done with the principal photography, and I could move seamlessly from one set to the other. As you can imagine, the vibe was completely different: One was an arthouse film, and the other was a grand-scale TV show. I don’t think I’ve ever had to switch gears so drastically, but that was a brilliant learning experience.

I’m very grateful that things aligned and I could do both, and then there is something to be said about the ‘coincidence’ of both projects shooting in Rome…Sometimes, things align, and I learned to embrace that. Because somewhere in the future, there will be another situation where I’ll tell myself – ugh, that’s never gonna work out – and while the outcome may or may not depend on me believing in it – staying open to the possibility is definitely the better option, wouldn’t you agree?

Something else—which may seem trivial but was helpful to me – was to move. After a day of filming, which, as usual, included many waiting around and sitting in hair and makeup, I needed to decompress and go for a run or a long walk regardless of how long the day was. It was essential to my ability to focus, sleep, and ground myself. And considering the heatwave we had in Rome, I’m now amazed that I walked well beyond 10,000 steps on average daily.

Berenice was known for her intelligence, charisma, and political acumen. I love her for her strength, vulnerability, and diplomacy. My favorite trait, however, is her unwavering dedication to her family and people and the fact that she would place herself in precarious situations to secure their safety. And she did so by defying all social norms – especially as a queen – which, in my eyes, made her deserve that title even more.

And why? I think those qualities speak for themselves, but they also remind me quite a lot of my Persian grandma (bless her), who showed very similar qualities.

I don’t see it as a juggle. I pursue many creative things that keep me happy and occupied in between jobs and alternate between them. I’m also a singer, and I write songs or collaborate with other musicians. Right now, for instance, I’m part of this cool Jazz band. Sometimes, when I feel very introverted, I paint; and then other times, I feel like my inside is bursting, and then I feel the need to write. I’m also part of this fantastic Theater Company in NYC: The Primitive Grace Theater Ensemble. Our co-artistic directors, Paul Calderon and David Zayas, always encourage members to write our material and bring it in for other actors to read and see what works and what doesn’t. That has helped me immensely to hone my writing skills. I’m an actress in the first place, and it’s what I love the most, but sometimes it’s really rewarding to create your ideas, and who knows? There is a good possibility that I’ll be writing my own film.

I grew up in an Iranian-Swiss household, which was quite the blend of cultures. One side was all about being precise, punctual, and practical—very Swiss. The other side, well, they were all about dancing and cooking, with a knack for never being on time—very Iranian. I thought these differences clashed for a long time, but seeing how my parents balanced each other out, I realized they complemented one another.

Living between these two worlds, I often felt like I didn’t quite fit in anywhere. With Swiss friends, I’d suddenly feel the urge to blast Persian music, and I’d catch myself being overly practical around my Iranian folks. It was a bit like constantly toggling between two identities growing up, but now I fully embrace both sides, and I try to lean into the cultural qualities that can make me stronger and better. I think I was able to do that when I moved to a ‘neutral ground’, which in my case is New York City. There’s something about the city’s diversity and acceptance that makes me feel like I can just be myself. It’s a place where everyone’s from everywhere, and that’s what makes it so special – that and the fact that it’s bustling with creative energy.

It’s tough to beat Berenice. Being trusted to step into the shoes (or throne) of this ancient Queen and powerful woman and try to do her justice was a true challenge that I relished. Expanding energetically to the queen archetype was a good exercise for me as a person. But I also really enjoyed playing Azin in Reading Lolita in Tehran—a character who is highly misunderstood, eccentric, and yet lovable in her own ways. I’m just going to say I loved playing both of these roles tremendously. I’m excited for you to see them, and maybe you’ll have a favorite.

I wish I could tell you about it- but I’m not yet allowed to! It’ll be an action-packed film relevant to what’s happening in the world, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat!