Meet Sonia Sayani

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Sayani.

Hi Sonia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m an actor and writer, and I’m lucky to do those things every day in at least some capacity. But in the beginning, a lot of the decisions I made in my life were out of my control. As someone with a complicated journey to even be in this country, I generally made decisions based on what was needed rather than what I wanted. There’s been a lot of in-between-ness in my life from the very start. I was born in Canada, but I can’t say I’m Canadian in culture or experience; I never really lived there for long enough. My mom immigrated from Poland and my dad from Pakistan, but I speak neither of those languages well and don’t necessarily identify with either nationality–even though I am, technically, a Polish citizen and love my family there very much. But with any immigrant story, you get a lot of limbo in your life, particularly when you’re always constrained by one visa or another.

I didn’t always know I’d be able to be an actor/writer, but I always knew I wanted to. After my family moved for what felt like a hundredth time, we settled in deep south Appalachia, in Tennessee. So…add that element onto the weird Frankenstein jumble of mismatching people that is my family (my brother is a folk musician and speaks with a Southern accent).

I started performing in a more significant way in Tennessee. And by significant, I mean…significant to me and literally no one else because I was doing community theater in the heart of rural Appalachia. But those years ignited all my passions for the rest of my life. Right after, I made one huge choice that was purely for me. I moved to Dublin, Ireland and spent a couple of years doing a Master’s degree in Theater at the Gaiety School of Acting (thanks to my mom for that European passport). A Master’s degree in Theater is funny because you know you’re studying what’s basically one of the least easily unemployable fields–just ask my Dad–but it’s still kicking your ass all the way through. I remember the month or two before my final thesis show, I would wake up a couple of hours earlier than usual just to literally sit and panic before getting on with my day. I was convinced I would have to quit, pack a bag, and hop on a flight back to the U.S. because I simply could not do it. But I did do it, and it was one of the most joyful accomplishments of my life. And…my show was funny. It was sad and it was dark and it was so funny. And I knew then comedy was my strength. To me, comedy and all the harsh realities of life are inextricable. I guess that’s why my upbringing and family are so closely related to what I do, at least in my mind.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Was it a smooth road? No, definitely not. But what’s weird is that it should have been a tiny bit easier than it was. I technically fall under this immigrant category called a “Documented Dreamer” — Jon Stewart just did a little online exclusive about this if anyone needs a longer explanation. It basically means America is my only real home, but I have historically had to jump from visa to visa and constantly be under threat of self-deportation in order to actually live and work in it. I spent my adult life being afraid I would have to leave my family, friends, and everything I’d worked toward, and move to what’s a whole new country to me. There are a good chunk of us Documented Dreamers in America, and some are from countries that are war torn and impoverished, and it would certainly not be ethical to send kids back there after growing up in the U.S.–but that very thing is happening every day. It’s a bizarre phenomenon, growing up American in every way and yet knowing you could be ousted for not being American enough. What a paradox of experience: I had school lunches, I was forced into D.A.R.E. classes and soccer practice, did the ACTs, got bored in summers, got my ears pierced at Claire’s, all the rest, but on the flip side, I was like “ok 8 months till I’m off my parents’ visa…will the government allow me to stay closer than 1000 miles away from my family?”

Trying to figure that whole issue out was what brought me to Atlanta in the first place, around 4 years ago now–because sometimes getting a certain job can lead to getting a visa. As it turned out, moving to Atlanta was one of the best decisions I ever [didn’t want] to make. I fell in so hard with the improv comedy world here, and it is the most supportive, positive, inspired communities I’ve ever been a part of. Improvisors and performers in Atlanta are so, so lucky to have what we have here. I have to give most of my props to the community I found at Dad’s Garage Theater and Village Theater. So many of the people in this community are the most talented I’ve ever seen, but they’re good, caring people before any of that–and that’s what keeps Atlanta’s improv community as special as it is.

So yes, some decisions made out of necessity can feel like you’re struggling for control over your life, but sometimes those decisions become exactly what you needed to do. Now, I write for a living and do improv comedy on various stages around town, and recently signed with an acting agent. But most importantly, I found my people and they rock!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an actor and writer, and I heavily gravitate toward anything comedic. I perform improv around Atlanta right now, and I’ve done a whole lot of sketch comedy, which is one of my favorite formats. In the last few years, I’ve gotten to study both a bit more at UCB Theater and Second City in Chicago, which was basically a dream come true. I even just recently tried my hand at stand-up, which was terrifying but I’d definitely do it again. I write comedy too, from sketch to TV pilots to late-night jokes for the pure love of late-night TV. Considering my history, my family, and struggles with immigration politics, I feel like couldn’t not love late night. By its nature, it’s dialed into every current event, political shift, and civil rights issue we might face in this country–and it uses comedy to make us feel like it might just be alright in the end. One of my pilots actually recently won two Semi-Finalist placements, one Quarterfinalist placement, and a second-rounder placement in some national script competitions, so that was pretty cool too!

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
So many shifts are happening in the world of improv and acting. Specifically, as I’m sure we all know, the industry is starting to pay far more attention to underrepresented communities and those from unique backgrounds and with unique stories. This shift is one that’s only just starting, in my opinion–there is so much more to glean from people that haven’t been in the spotlight enough until now. I certainly see that the theaters around Atlanta are actively pushing to create opportunities for interesting perspectives to be shared with the community at large, and it’s part of why I love Atlanta theater so much.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soniasayani.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniapaulinka/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonia.sayani/

Image Credits
Thang Ho Village Theater Gaiety School of Acting