“I was born to do something, and it was to tell stories,” actor Noorin Gulamgaus explains to TVBrittanyF.com in our latest artist spotlight. “I come from a very small minority of people. I felt like there weren’t enough stories of my people or there weren’t stories of color, and I felt like the opportunities I’ve had in life gave me the resources to tell these stories.”

After breaking into the industry with a part in the 2014 reimagining of sci-fi classic Robocop, he’s been making moves ever since. Noorin has appeared in well-known projects such as Netflix’s popular film Code 8: Part II and the Lionsgate thriller A Simple Favor. One of the reasons for his success has been his decision to adapt to suit whatever opportunities are in front of him, and not try to navigate too much in any specific direction.

“There is no blueprint. Everyone has their own ways,” he said, when asked about his process. “I don’t have a way of like, I’ll do this and I’ll do that. Every time it’s different. It depends on the circumstances I’m in. It depends on my mood, how I feel, whatever I’ve just read or have been inspired by.”

“I used to feel like… I’m not a true artist or I’m not a true actor because I don’t have a certain method,” he confided. “But then hearing about other people like that are veterans and seasoned actors and they’re in the same boat as I am 30, 40 years into the business, it just made me more comfortable accepting that I’ll never know what I’m doing. And so I’m just going to keep doing it.”

Whether he’s playing an intern, a vampire or a police officer, one aspect that is important to Noorin is finding ways to challenge himself creatively. Just like he doesn’t want to follow a set process, he also doesn’t want to get too settled. “I’d love to do more projects that challenge me. Things that get me out of my comfort zone,” he explained. “If I can do something completely different [from] the thing that I just did, whether it’s a small part or just a day on a TV series, whatever it is, that’s what makes me feel better.”

Noorin credits the work of Jackie Chan with igniting his interest in acting, and cites Joaquin Phoenix and Leonardo DiCaprio as two other performers that he’d like to share the screen with. But he also cites Oscar-nominated director Denis Villeneuve, a fellow Canadian, as someone he admires for being able to produce “the best of both worlds.”

“I just fell in love with how he takes intimate stories and makes [them] broader and bigger, like Dune or Blade Runner [2049] or Prisoners,” he reflected. “He meshes the idea of intimate and independent with studio and big-budget.”

While Noorin has yet to collaborate with any of his inspirations, he’s already made a number of lasting memories through the projects he’s appeared in. One highlight is the upcoming film Afghan Dreamers, based on a true story, in which he portrays the character of Ali. “We filmed it [on] two different continents,” he said. “That’s something that I’m very proud of.”

He also got to work alongside his sister, actress Sirena Gulamgaus, in Code 8: Part II, and earned a Behind the Voice Actors Award (BTVA) nomination as part of the voice cast for 2017’s animated drama The Breadwinner, based on the Deborah Ellis novel of the same name. “That’s produced by Angelina Jolie and directed by Nora Twomey,” he continued. “And that is phenomenal, just to be a part of that supporting cast, because that went to the Oscars and the Golden Globes. I feel proud to have my name attached to that.”

But keeping in mind his commitment to storytelling, Noorin isn’t solely an actor. He has his eye on creating content as a writer and producer, understanding that to be successful in modern-day entertainment, he has to be three-dimensional. “I’m always writing and I always have ideas,” he told me. “I’m hoping that someday I’m able to make [them] come come to fruition. You just have to always do it; otherwise waiting for someone to knock on the door can take a long time.” And he has no intention of waiting. He’s a self-starter who’s looking to not only further his career, but broaden other people’s horizons.

What motivates him after ten years of hustle is his spirituality. “Mentally, it’s very taxing portraying these characters, putting yourself in these situations,” he said. “I have over the years been more interested in faith and religion. and purpose [in] life. and the universe and how everything works.” He certainly has a clear idea of his purpose, and with his willingness to jump into just about any creative situation, Noorin Gulamgaus has a bright future ahead of him.

Photo Credit: Both photos by Kristina Reddick / Courtesy of Noorin Gulamgaus.

Article content is (c)2020-2025 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.