Succession's Arian Moayed on how to play a good bad guy

Actor Arian Moayed explores the complexities of portraying multifaceted characters, specifically focusing on his roles as Stewie in *Succession* and Torvald in *A Doll's House*. By rejecting the binary of "good" or "bad" characters, he emphasizes the importance of humanizing figures often perceived as villains or oppressors. His background as an Iranian immigrant deeply informs his artistic process, driving his commitment to authentic representation and his refusal to accept stereotypical roles. Moayed highlights how his personal history provides perspective on power dynamics and systemic issues, which he integrates into his performances to create nuanced, relatable portrayals. Beyond acting, he leads the nonprofit Waterwell, which uses theater to engage specific communities and tell underrepresented stories, bridging the gap between his professional work and his commitment to social advocacy.