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Jana Zenadeen, Actress
Jana ZenadeenNo pun intended, but it's hot to be an Arab, at least in Hollywood. Just ask the 27-year-old Jana Zenadeen. Born in the U.S. and partly raised in Saudi Arabia, this Lebanese-American is fluent in Arabic and breaking through the stereotypes to portray Arabs as, well, people. As a writer, she's also been able to create roles that break tension and bridge understanding - her 2004 collaboration with actress Leila Gazale resulted in "Live! With Pascale & Chantal", a parody of Lebanese talk-shows that met with tremendous audience approval. So how did a shy young girl turn into an actress with a passion for performing and creating? Catch this week's Young & Professional to find out.
Website
www.janazenadeen.com
Name
Jana Zenadeen, 27, Actress/Writer
Hometown
Washington, D.C.
Current residence
New York City, NY
Education
George Washington University, BA International Affairs and Communications; Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory graduate; British American Dramatic Academy summer program graduate.
Work experience
New York Arab-American Comedy Festival, NYC, 2003 – 2006
Theatre – NYC and Washington D.C.
Film/TV - NYC
Ethnicity
Arab-American, Lebanese
What's your background?
I was born in Washington D.C. but grew up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I attended an Arabic school until third grade than a British school until 7th grade. After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, my parents relocated to Washington D.C. where I attended high school and university.
Throughout my life, I was very shy and yet I always seemed to come out on stage. I loved being on stage more than anything. After majoring in International Affairs at GWU, I decided to pursue a career in Broadcast Journalism. While working at a local news station, I quickly realized that something was missing. I needed creativity in my work, and life, in order to be motivated and inspired. I decided to take an acting class that summer at the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory.
My first class at Studio, “principles of realism” taught by Nancy Paris, changed my life. I put myself through the entire program while working at a production company. A year after I finished, I moved up to NYC to pursue my career as an actress. It was in NY where I became involved with the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival (www.arabcomedy.org), an annual comedy festival that showcases Arab-American writers, actors, comedians and filmmakers. It has been wonderful to be a part of that, both as an actress and writer (Love in Las Vegas, Live! With Pascale and Chantal). Also while in NY, I did lots of off-Broadway work, got a small part on Law & Order and starred in my first independent film, Three Queens.
Most notable achievements
My most notable achievement was co-writing and acting in “Live! With Pascale & Chantal” with Leila Gazale at the NYC Fringe Festival in 2004. We wrote a one-hour comedic play that exploited the stereotypes that exist between the US and the Middle East through the eyes of two outrageous Lebanese talk-show hosts, Pascale and Chantal. The play was a great success and audiences, both American and Arab, were educated, intrigued and entertained by it.
What's the niche?
Being Arab-American and fluent in Arabic definitely helps me get auditions with all the TV, film and theatre attention on the Arab identity. It definitely makes me unique and is how I represent myself. However, I am not your “stereotypical” looking Arab. I get Italian, Greek, American and Latin more than I do Arab! So, it helps me get my foot in the door most of the time, then I’m always asked “are both your parents Lebanese?” to which I politely reply “yes”. Arabs are a hot commodity in Hollywood these days. If you’re Arab, you look Arab and you speak Arabic, that’s your ticket. Hopefully once the stereotypical “Arab characters” become more humanized, and start looking more like the Banana Republic models on their way to the Hamptons, things will get better for all of us Arab actors out there!
Who would you like to be contacted by?
Artists, directors, activists, movers and shakers.
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Best way to stay ahead
Be true to yourself and others.
Guiding principle in life
Follow your heart, and your gut. Don’t let your head confuse you.
Yardstick of success
Making audiences laugh to my work.
Goal yet to be achieved
Owning my own theatre, starring in a movie as a lead actress and winning an Oscar, or two.
Best practical advice
Eat well, drink lots of water, walk and shop at the nearest H&M for the latest disposable trends.
Mentors
John Emmert, Joy Zinoman and my father.
What motivates you for success?
Connecting with people on a level only experienced on stage.
Like best about what you do
Not afraid to look stupid.
Like least about what you do
I wish I read more.
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An award-winning actress and dancer on Broadway.
What was your first job?
Working at a TV production company in Washington, D.C. as the Assistant to the President.
Biggest pastimes outside of work
Movies, shopping, bonding with my fiancé, friends and family.
Leader in business most interested in meeting and why
Conan O’Brian. He is brilliant, bold and takes risks. I want to know his secret to perfect comedic timing and execution.
Person most interested in meeting and why?
Oprah. I want to know how she finds time to read.
Three interesting facts about yourself
I could eat French fries every day, I love London, I wish I was Italian.
Three characteristics that describe you
Passionate, Quirky, Deep-set eyes.
Favorite book
The Alchemist
Favorite cause
Any cause that helps makes children’s lives better.
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