IN CONVERSATION KEANUSH TAFRESHI

interview by JANA LETONJA

Persian-American actor Keanush Tafreshi is about to make his mark on the global stage with his starring role in Season 2 of Paramount+'s hit thriller The Agency, premiering on 21st June. A fresh adaptation of the acclaimed French drama Le Bureau des Légendes, The Agency became the most-streamed new series in Showtime history with more than 5.1 million global viewers in its first season. Previously, Keanush has appeared in CBS's S.W.A.T. and Young Sheldon, HBO Max's The Sex Lives of College Girls, the Emmy Award-winning WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story, and Shudder's V/H/S/99. Born and raised in Las Vegas, he trained at Chapman University, where he earned a BFA in Screen Acting.

The Agency is already such a globally successful series. What was your reaction when you found out you’d be joining Season 2?

I was in shock. I remember the morning in LA when I got the call from my team that I was being offered the role and that they wanted to fly me out a few days later to begin production in London and Morocco. What followed was a wave of nervousness, exhilaration, and adventure. Even now, it still hasn't fully set in that I got to be a part of such a brilliant series, working alongside such an extraordinary cast, team of writers, and directors. 

Your character carries a deeply emotional storyline. How did you prepare for that kind of arc?

At the core, it begins with curiosity and understanding the given circumstances. A significant part of the preparation began with reading the script as many times as I could. Every pass through would bring in new insights about Hassan’s world, his character, and his relationships. It’s always important for me to approach a character from a place of curiosity to uncover their truth and emotional life. I love asking questions and pulling back the layers to go deeper and deeper. Where do I align with him? What are our similarities? Where are we different? And then showing up to set with that preparation, being open and malleable, present, and discovering what happens in the moment together.

What can audiences expect from Hassan that might surprise them?

I can’t say too much about the role right now, but audiences should definitely expect a lot of surprises this season. The stakes are much higher, and there will be a lot more action and intensity this time around. 

What was it like working alongside actors like Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Richard Gere?

The opportunity to work alongside some of the best in the game has been nothing short of a dream for me, and I feel honoured to share this story with them. From his work in Inglourious Basterds to Shame, I've always been a huge fan of Michael Fassbender, and to be on set with him and see his level of commitment, passion, and precision in his craft was a gift. 

Spy thrillers often explore moral ambiguity. How does this series stand apart from others in the genre?

I think The Agency really distinguishes itself through its deep exploration of the psychological consequences that come with espionage, rather than leaning on the standard genre tropes of high-stakes pursuits and intense action sequences found in other series. It’s tense, visceral, and slow-burning with a high payoff. 

As a Persian American actor, what does it mean to you to bring layered, complex characters to the screen?

It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. To represent Persian Americans on the global stage is an honour and a privilege. For me, it means embracing a character's full humanity, their flaws, their vulnerabilities, and the messy contradictions that make them real. It’s about finding that unspoken, universal throughline that connects us all as human beings.

You’ve moved across drama, horror, comedy, and action. Do you intentionally seek variety in your roles? 

I guess right now it’s just sort of the way the cards have been laid out for me. I feel really lucky to have had such variety in the roles I’ve gotten to play so far. I don’t think it’s intentional, but it’s definitely exciting to have that opportunity at getting to play such different genres at this point in my career. I’m always seeking to dive into something unfamiliar and challenging. 

What first drew you to screen acting professionally? 

Theatre is where I got my start, so that love for the craft was there early on. And I always loved movies growing up. But the idea of pursuing acting as a profession didn’t occur to me until my senior year of high school. I had very prolific acting teachers in my youth who believed in me, recognised my talent and potential, and encouraged me to explore the path. I remember auditioning for an independent short film that I absolutely bombed, but happened to book a supporting role on, and working on that project really planted this seed for me. I felt eager, hopeful, and awakened to the potential of having a career in film. With some delusion, a lot of optimism, and trusting my instincts, I’ve leaned into faith and followed the unexpected opportunities that have presented themselves, trusting where they would lead.

How did your time at Chapman University prepare you for Hollywood? How has it shaped the way you work?

It was a playground for me to fail and to learn, to take risks and fall on my face, and really just be messy with my process. I got to explore a variety of different techniques and build out my toolkit as an actor. It taught me the importance of discipline and consistently showing up with an eagerness to learn. I think it’s always important to be in that state of learning and wonder. 

The Agency expected to introduce you to a much wider audience. Has that shifted how you think about where your career is headed? 

I suppose it’s only aligned with what I’ve already known to be true and interesting to me, that I want to continue working on inspiring projects alongside other brilliant and prolific actors, writers, and directors. Filmmaking is a collaborative art form, and I’m eager to continue to collaborate on stories that inspire me. 

What kinds of stories or roles are you hoping to explore next?

I’m really enjoying not knowing what’s coming next. That’s the beauty I find in this work, which is having an idea of what I might want to welcome into my experience, but being surprised with what actually ends up arriving. I like taking risks and stepping outside of my comfort zone, and would love to keep finding ways to explore that. 

TEAM CREDITS:

photographer JONNY MARLOW
stylist LUCA KINGSTON
groomer SOPHIA PORTER