A successful career in acting requires equal parts talent and practice with a bit of luck thrown in. Actors at work can be seen and heard everywhere: TV, the big screen, the theater, on the Internet, in videos and on podcasts. They portray characters from the past that have impacted history, and they portray characters that are destined to impact pop culture in the future. Some dabble in a variety of entertainment mediums, while some stick to the stage, use their voice to create new worlds or dedicate their lives to the silver screen. Some make up the cast of extras that round out a production, while some achieve levels of fame that makes them a household name.
During the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, women gained increased access to education, voting rights, and professional life. This modernization was reflected in film, where women appeared unveiled, fashionable, and socially active.
However, this transformation was not without criticism. Conservative groups viewed cinema — particularly the portrayal of women — as a symbol of moral decay and Western influence. Many pre-revolutionary films were later labeled as “decadent” or “immoral” by the post-revolution government, especially those that depicted women in revealing clothing or romantic scenes.
