Meet Vancouver theatre professional Johnny (Arash) Ghorbani.
This 20 questions originated as part of a series featuring the 50th anniversary fall graduating class from Studio 58, the professional theatre training program at Langara College.
Meet Johnny (Arash) Ghorbani
Johnny was born in the Himalayan mountain region of Kashmir, and after living with his grandmother in Iran for a year he immigrated to Montreal with his mother and father.
Spending a number of years fighting and competing in boxing, Arash started travelling around the world to find his purpose. After retiring early from boxing he auditioned for Studio 58.
Favourite moments at Studio 58 include playing Martini in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and as the Persian peddler Ali Hakim in Oklahoma!.
Johnny finds the acting process most worthwhile when he finds out people were moved by the characters he plays. During his time at Studio 58, he has also worked in television on such shows as The Flash and X-files.
20 Questions with Johnny (Arash) Ghorbani
1. Your first job.
My first job was at McDonald’s.
2. The job you always wanted as a child.
World explorer as a hero.
3. Your pet peeve.
Judgment and pessimism.
4. Your hero.
Batman.
5. Your biggest indulgence.
Hmm, probably food … cheesecake.
6. One thing no one knows about you.
I sucked my thumb until I was in grade eight. No joke.
7. Three things you would want with you on a deserted island.
Coconut water, sunscreen, and her.
8. The one word your best friend would use to describe you.
Crazy or silver-tongued.
9. If you were not pursuing a career in theatre, what would you be doing right now?
I suppose I would have kept professionally competing in boxing, but I always wanted to be in film.
10. Hero or villain?
Villain, it is more interesting.
11. Your life’s motto/mantra.
Good thoughts of the mind, good deeds of the hand, and good words of the tongue.
12. Your favourite playwright.
Wajdi Mouawad, John Patrick Shanley, or Stephen Adly Guirgis.
13. The role you are destined to play.
A down on his luck protagonist who finds a way to save someone else, but without sacrificing himself or his morals.
14. If you were a cartoon character what cartoon character would you be and why?
Johnny Bravo mixed with Ssonic the Hedgehog and Batman.
15. What will it say on your grave marker?
Found sunlight in the darkest of corners.
16. Who would you most like to have dinner with?
Probably my father, he passed away long ago.
17. Your idea of happiness.
Making a living acting and telling the stories and doing the projects that I am excited and scared to do.
18. The one thing in your life that makes you most proud.
My Mom, she taught me emotional intelligence.
19. Your most memorable moment at Studio 58.
Auditioning for Kathryn Shaw and Dale when they asked ”why now?”.
20. To be or not to be?
To be … at least for the time being. Got lots to do … my job is only beginning.