Elnaaz Norouzi is having a moment. The actress, who fled Iran with her family as a child and went on to build a career in both Bollywood and Hollywood, stars opposite Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi in Guy Moshe’s high-stakes action thriller The Fix (formerly Hotel Tehran), out this Friday. The film follows a group of former CIA operatives on a dangerous rescue mission in Tehran, attempting to redeem themselves after a failed operation in Afghanistan—and Norouzi holds her own in a complex, emotionally layered role opposite an exceptional ensemble.
What sets Norouzi apart is her fluency across cultures, languages and industries. She brings a rare combination of lived experience, international appeal and emotional authenticity to her work, representing a new generation of leading ladies whose perspective is as compelling as their on-screen presence.
Here, she talks about preparing for the role, training in MMA to be action-ready and why she’s traded chasing perfection for chasing balance.
You star opposite Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi in The Fix. What was it like stepping into such a high-stakes role and how did you prepare for it?
“It’s an incredible honor to be the female lead opposite Zachary and to share the screen with someone as iconic as Liam Neeson. When you’re part of a film of this scale, you naturally want to bring your absolute best. Preparation has always been one of my favorite parts of the process. I read a lot about acting in general because I believe you’re always a student of the craft. But for this role, I also wanted to understand the world of the film better, so I read a book called Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. It helped me better understand the political and cultural environment surrounding the story, which allowed me to approach the character with much more empathy and depth.”
The film is set in Tehran, and you fled Iran with your family as a child. Is it safe to assume that personal history shaped how you approached this character or the story itself?
“Absolutely. It made the experience incredibly personal, but maybe not in the way people would expect. Without giving too much away, my character has beliefs, experiences and a worldview that are very different from the one I grew up with. That was actually the biggest challenge. I couldn’t rely on my own memories or emotions—instead, I had to understand where she was coming from without judging her. As an actor, that’s one of the most rewarding parts of the job: you learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes, even when their perspective is very different from your own. Even if you don’t agree with them, you can’t judge the character. That’s what I learned on this from my director, Guy Moshe.”
You’ve built a career in both Bollywood and Hollywood—two very different industries with different expectations and beauty standards. How do you navigate switching between them, and has that shifted how you think about your own image or self-care?
“It definitely has. Bollywood has traditionally celebrated glamour and perfection, while Hollywood often gives actors more freedom to completely transform for a role. As an actor, I find both exciting because every character asks something different of you. I’ve learned not to tie my confidence to looking a certain way all the time. Some roles require you to look polished; others ask you to look exhausted, vulnerable or completely transformed. My job is to serve the character, not my ego. When it comes to self-care, I’ve shifted my focus from trying to look perfect to feeling healthy, strong and mentally balanced. If I feel good, everything else naturally follows.”
Moving between cultures, languages and industries so fluidly—what has that taught you about identity, and how does that show up in the way you take care of yourself?
“Growing up between different cultures taught me that identity isn’t something fixed—it’s something that grows with you. For a long time, I wondered where I truly belonged. I was born in Iran, raised in Germany, built my career in India and now work internationally. At one point, that felt confusing. Today, I see it as one of my greatest strengths. I’ve realized I don’t have to choose just one version of myself—every place I’ve lived and every culture I’ve experienced has shaped who I am.
That perspective also influences how I take care of myself. I don’t chase perfection anymore; I try to create balance. Whether that’s making time for family, training, reading, praying, spending time in nature or simply slowing down after months of work, I know that taking care of my mind is just as important as taking care of my appearance—though, to be honest, it’s still tough for me to balance sometimes.”
Action thrillers like this come with physical demands. What did your beauty and wellness routine look like to get you through intense shoot days?
“I’ve always loved action films, so much so that I started training in MMA because I wanted to be ready whenever an action role came my way. Although the guys definitely had more of the action sequences in The Fix, I loved being part of that world. Action requires discipline, stamina and consistency, and that naturally carries over into how you take care of yourself.
On set, I kept my routine simple: hydration, good sleep whenever possible, healthy food and movement became my biggest beauty secrets. I was almost the only girl shooting with more than six or seven guys who wouldn’t miss a day in the gym, so I had good company and hit the gym with them—it was a lot of fun. Long shoot days can be exhausting, but when you take care of yourself from the inside, it really shows on camera. I’m definitely hoping my next project lets me do even more action, because it’s a genre I genuinely love.”
As someone representing a new generation of leading ladies, what do you hope audiences take away from your journey and from The Fix?
“I hope people see that you don’t have to fit into one box. I’ve had the privilege of working across different countries, languages and industries, and every step has taught me something new. My journey hasn’t followed a straight line, but that’s exactly what has made it so rewarding. If there’s one thing I’d like people—especially young women—to take away, it’s that you don’t have to limit yourself because of where you come from or because someone tells you your dreams are too ambitious. Your background can become your greatest strength if you’re willing to keep learning, keep growing and keep showing up.
With The Fix, I hope audiences simply enjoy the ride. It’s a gripping story with incredible performances, and I’m proud to be part of a film that brings together such an international cast while telling a story that feels both entertaining and deeply human.”
