Pride Month may have rolled past on our calendars, but that doesn’t mean the conversations don’t continue. Winning over our hearts is Anthony Keyvan with his stunning breakout performance of Rahim in Hulu’s original series, Love, Victor, now back for a second season.
Touching on in-depth topics ranging from coming out to a traditional family to mental health, I sat down for a chat with Anthony over the phone, where we talked about playing an openly gay Iranian character on a mainstream show and the important impacts of having that representation in Hollywood.
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SARA SALAMAT: Congrats on the [second] season; what was the first thing you did after you wrapped?
ANTHONY KEYVAN: [The] first thing I did when we filmed our last scene, well, okay. So, the last day we were filming, it was actually the scene where Victor and Rahim kissed for the first time; that was the last scene of the entire shoot. It was like three in the morning, and it was cold as heck, and we were all really, really tired, but I remember filming the last scene, and it was the last take, and then the director said “…and that is a season wrap of Love, Victor!” and everyone who was sitting outside of the set, like in video village, hair and makeup, they all came on set and we all just hugged—and I know it wasn’t probably COVID safe, but at that point, we were all done [with] something. So we just felt like, oh my God, this was a true labor of love. That and, you know, we were only seeing each other for six months, and it was just such a surreal moment. Just to have that be the last scene of the shoot, the last take of the entire season was really, really fun and just so rewarding. The last thing that we did [was] just, you know, we went to the parking garage and talked for like 30 minutes and reminisced about everything while everyone was packing up, like me, Bebe, George, and Michael, and Anthony, we were just sitting in the parking garage in our cars, just talking and remembering all these little fun memories.
SS: As Pilar’s best friend in the show, do we approve of her and Felix? Or are you team Felix and Lake?
AK: I love Isabella Ferreira—I think she’s such an amazing actress and just such a captivating person to look at on-screen—and I feel like the writers are [finally] giving her more storylines. I think that’s what she deserves because she’s just so incredible. So I’m looking forward to seeing what they choose to do for season three. From the way season two ended, you know, they are going to possibly be a couple. I think Felix and Lake are really cute for each other, and I think that they make a good couple. However, Pilar is my bestie. So I’ve got to say that… I want [Pilar] to be happy. She’s been miserable these past couple of years; she left her boyfriend in Texas, and she didn’t really have many friends until this season when she met Rahim. So I want to see her happy, and if that means being with Felix, then I am.
SS: Growing up Iranian, seeing Iranian representation was very rare. [As an Iranian], you are always assumed to be [a race] that’s only close to what you are. How did it feel to actually be cast as an Iranian kid? Not just like, “Oh, we’ll have Rahim be from somewhere in the Middle East.” How did it feel to play someone that was actually aligned with your ethnicity?
AK: I’m really glad you asked me that question because you’re right [about] growing up. I’ve been in this industry since I was five years old, and I had never, ever seen a breakdown go out for an audition for a role that said Iranian. It’s always, you know, “looking for Middle Eastern or Hispanic or Caucasian,” whatever I can fit in because I do look ambiguous. I can look like other people, but I’ve never, ever played a role that was authentically representing my heritage. I remember getting the call that they wanted me to audition, and I was just so thrilled and excited because you’re right, I’ve never seen an actor playing [an] Iranian. I mean, there was Prince of Persia, but that movie was played by a British dude.
SS: It was Jake Gyllenhaal!
AK: [surprised] Was it?
SS: Hey Alexa, who was in the cast for Prince of Persia?
ALEXA: Prince of Persia: Sands of Time starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
AK: Yeah [laughs]. So, you know, maybe there’s something to be said that there aren’t many Iranian actors, but I just don’t think we’re looking hard enough. So, to answer your question, I was absolutely thrilled and excited at the prospect of even getting to audition for this character. Because again, I’d never been able to do that before. It felt really special to me. And, especially now, looking back at the impact that my characters have [had] for people who are Iranian, or queer or both. It pains me to say I wish this had been done sooner, but I’m really glad that it happened to me and that I get to do something like this. It sucks, though, that I’ve gone 15 years in this industry constantly working and I’d never, ever played a character that was remotely close to me. It gives me hope for, you know, where the industry is going to go in the future.
SS: I’m really happy that you were happy that I asked about that because it’s like, it is something that bugs me. It’s like every time someone sees me—and I’m sure the same thing goes with you—it’s always, “Are you Mexican? Are you from Iraq, or Arabia, or are you from Palestine?” and they never guess anything remotely close.
AK: I’ve played Indian, I’ve played Pakistani, I’ve played Arab, I’ve played Latinx. I’ve played [characters of] literally every other race in the book almost. And this is the first time that I’ve gotten to play someone like myself. So, it’s crazy that it’s happened, but I’m so grateful that it’s happened. I just wish that it had happened sooner, but I’m grateful that it’s starting to finally happen for actors like me.
SS: To build on all of that, I heard that you are also passionate about mental health. A mainstream show like Love, Victor can definitely spark these conversations in so many positive ways. So, do you think Hollywood has a responsibility to take part in that discussion?
AK: I don’t know if it’s up to Hollywood per se, but definitely, the people in Hollywood have that responsibility. I have struggled with my mental health a lot because of this industry. It’s really grueling, and it’s just so up and down. When you’re growing up as a teenager, [you’re] trying to figure out who you are, and you’re having these adults telling you you’re not good enough, or you’re not this enough, or you’re not brown enough or white enough or whatever it is, it just gets to you. So I do think that’s why I’m in this industry. And that’s why a lot of the people on the show are in this industry— it’s to change that and to make it a better environment for people.
SS: How do you feel finally playing someone that is genuinely representative of you?
AK: I feel like, for the first time, I can breathe a little bit and not have to worry that I’m inaccurately representing an entire community of people. For example, I had actually tested for the role of Victor against Michael [Cimino]. I’m pretty sure it was me, him, and maybe one other guy, but we were the last actors to be heavily considered. I ended up not getting the part, which I think [was] for the best, because I remember my manager saying that they wanted to test me and I wanted to say no so bad, but my manager was like, “You have to go, they asked to test you, so you have to.” I would have been playing a Puerto Rican kid, and that’s not me. I know that it would have upset a lot of people because the last thing I’d want is to see a white kid playing Rahim or something. That would break my heart. But that’s why I love Love, Victor so much, because they are trying to accurately represent people. We have brown people in the writers room, and I think that’s just so special and important, you know?
SS: No, yeah—I totally agree with that. It’s important to make sure you’re not categorized as multiple different ethnicities just because you have a certain shade of skin.
AK: I think that Hollywood is changing in [a] sense that we have brown people as showrunners and executive producers who get to have a say in these things and to take chances like that and to start making materials and shows, or movies, or whatever it may be that gives these actors a chance.
SS: I’ve got to ask one last question that involves Love, Victor; do you know who’s behind the door?
AK: I actually don’t know. You really don’t know who’s behind the door. The only one who knows is Michael. He’s kind of holding that to his heart as hard as he can. He’s not telling anybody.
SS: Thank you for also being cool with this conversation because this conversation means a lot to me. I’ve never spoken with another Iranian actor in my life.
AK: I’ve never spoken with an Iranian reporter before!
SS: Well, thank you again— and we’ll talk soon!
Season 2 of Love, Victor is now streaming on Hulu.
