Actress and writer Lara Wolf is soaring high in her career, with a standout role in the Peacock original series, Those About to Die. Directed by Roland Emmerich, this epic “sword and scandal” series delves into the dark world of Roman Gladiator Games, revealing the bloody and grim side of ancient mass entertainment. Wolf shines as “Queen Berenice,” the Jewish queen romantically linked to Tito Flavian, played by Tom Hughes, appearing in 7 of the series’ 10 episodes. Joel Goelby, in his review for The Guardian, highlighted the series as “the best Ancient Rome we have ever seen on our screens.”
In addition to Those About to Die, Lara Wolf has built an impressive resume with appearances in several successful series, including Quantico (ABC), You Are Wanted (Amazon), and Blue Bloods. She has also appeared in films such as The Performance, Hot Air, and These 3 Waters, the latter of which she not only acted in but also wrote. With a classical background, Wolf’s ability to transition between styles and genres keeps her consistently active in the industry.
Born in Tehran, Iran, raised in Zurich, Switzerland, and now residing in New York, Lara has a unique international perspective and is fluent in English, Farsi, Swiss German, German, French, and Italian. She studied Psychology at the University of Zurich while working as a television presenter and fitness model for StarTV. She later moved to the United States to train at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
Wolf is known for portraying a diverse range of characters, from detectives in Blue Bloods and Blindspot, to lovers in You Are Wanted and Princess Nora in Quantico. In the film Roxana, directed by Elahe Massoumi, she played an Iranian journalist, and she also starred as a gangster’s wife in BigHouse, alongside Gérard Depardieu. Her involvement in the reading of Asher’s Command at the Other Israel Film Festival, and her collaboration with the Primitive Grace Theatre Company in NYC, as a writer and actress, are testaments to her versatility.
Recently, she starred alongside Golshifteh Farahani in the film Reading Lolita in Tehran, directed by Eran Riklis, and had a lead role alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins in Those About to Die. Off-camera, Lara is passionate about overall well-being, staying active by playing tennis and doing Pilates. She is dedicated to supporting others in their pursuit of mental and physical health.
How was your experience playing “Queen Berenice” in Those About to Die, especially under the direction of Roland Emmerich and in a series with such an epic and historical setting?
Queen Berenice was one of four historical characters in the entire show next to the Emperor, played by Anthony Hopkins, and the Emperor’s two sons, Titus and Domitian, played by Tom Hughes and Jojo Macari. So, it was a huge honor to play this character and be given the trust of the directors and producers. It was exciting doing my research and comparing different sources in other languages. Women back then were not much talked about; in fact, Berenice’s life was only reported up to a certain point, and then we don’t know what happened to her. Additionally, it depended on who was talking about Berenice because the descriptions had to be approved by the Romans at the time. So, it was like a puzzle that I needed to assemble.
Stepping into the persona of a queen, imagining those massive conflicts and responsibilities, and personalizing them was a tremendous challenge. This character was incredibly dear to me, and to play her in an original Peacock show written by Robert Rodat, directed by Roland Emmerich, with a stellar cast and, of course, Sir Anthony Hopkins was simply a dream. Roland is a master of his craft, and what he created with Those About To Die is something we have not seen before. He sees the world in a unique way, and once I started to understand what he was going for, I felt in very safe hands.
What did you value most in building the character of Queen Berenice, and how did you prepare for the role?
What I valued most was stepping out of my little world and expanding my mind to match a queen’s. And by that, I don’t mean having a maid and crown but instead allowing myself to take up space energetically. It also makes me proud to give voice to this ancient queen 2000 years later. My preparation for it went from mostly reading to having texts translated from Hebrew by a historian, finding the similarities and differences in character, and personalizing as much of the circumstances as possible. I also felt an inherent connection with Berenice, something that goes beyond words, intangible but very much home. I felt closer to her than I imagined, and it was hard to let her go.
Those About to Die explores the world of Roman Gladiator Games. What was it like working on a series that delves into such a dark and intense theme from ancient history?
The darker, the better? As an actress and writer, I am fascinated by the dark side of history and the human psyche. That’s what we want to explore as artists – or maybe it’s just me – but I dare to say many artists would agree. So, working on ‘Those About to Die’ was interesting in every way as the series is punctuated with historical events that encourage you to reflect on how we ended up where we are today, 2000 years later, tying into the not-very-bright days of politics around the globe.
You have a diverse career, with roles in Quantico, Blue Bloods, and You Are Wanted. How do you adapt to different genres and styles of acting?
Ultimately, it’s what’s fun about being an actor: getting the opportunities to explore different worlds, various personas, and circumstances. What’s also interesting is that my friends, depending on who you ask, see me in fantasy, action, and even romantic comedies. And the more I can explore, the better.
How do I adapt? Continuously working on the craft and observing other actors’ performances in films, TV shows, and plays makes you more attuned to recognizing the tone of the world, the speed of speech and movement, and the silences.
How do your classical training and background in psychology influence your approach to acting and writing?
My classical training and background in psychology have significantly influenced my approach to acting and writing. My background in psychology has been constructive in understanding thought processes and is helpful with script analysis. It’s valuable for everything that happens before the actual ‘performance part’ of acting – which requires you to drop that head energy into the body. I learned some of that in acting school, but more so through meditation and getting better at concentration, and that is just like a muscle that needs a constant workout. At the end of the day, psychology is the study of the human psyche, which is a huge part of acting.
In terms of writing, it’s been helpful to develop characters and find reasons why they do the things they do. It’s not like I would open the DSM5 and model my characters after a psychological disorder – although, that’s actually a good idea! Thank you!
You are fluent in several languages and have a unique international perspective. How do these cultural and linguistic experiences enrich your work in acting and writing?
Language takes on a character and voice of its own. I feel that I’m a different person speaking Farsi, German, or English. Each language connects to another part of me, and this is probably true for anyone who grew up bilingual. Farsi, as it is my mother tongue and first language, is what I connect to most emotionally. German and Swiss-German are the parts of me that ‘make sense’ almost in an apollonian manner. And my English-speaking persona is the most creative one.
You also work as a writer and have appeared in films like These 3 Waters. How do you balance your acting career with writing, and what future projects do you have planned in this area?
Acting and writing both encourage each other. I am part of a theater group in New York called the Primitive Grace Theater Ensemble, which provides a safe, creative environment that encourages us to write. The company and the co-directors Paul Calderon and David Zayas are why I gathered my courage to write. Often, I bring in scenes for other actors to read, which is terrific because actors bring their own spin and allow you to hear it differently from what you imagined when you wrote it. It also helps to hear what works and what doesn’t. It is what keeps me creatively fulfilled next to singing and songwriting – another creative endeavor- that has been keeping me sane between acting jobs and auditions. I must stay creatively busy; otherwise, I feel like I’m drying out. In the past months, I have been working on a series of poems and a play in which I will act as well – if I don’t decide to direct it. And once I finish it.
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