Women’s History Month Feature
PaSH Magazine is celebrating Women’s History Month with a Q&A style mini-series highlighting women from many different industries making an impact in the world, their communities and for themselves. In this Q&A we will spend time with Delia Niya.
Meet Delia Niya
Born in Romania to a Chinese father and Romanian mother, Delia Niya is an actress, writer, and model whose multicultural background shapes her work across film and theatre. She left Romania at sixteen to study acting in London, where she received classical training and performed in stage productions including The Comedy of Errors, before continuing her career in Los Angeles.
Delia has appeared on stage in Code Pink at LOFT Ensemble Theatre and on screen in the short film Dr. Tag. She also wrote and starred in the short Girls’ Guide to the City. Trained in Wushu martial arts and fluent in multiple languages, she also walked for Art Hearts Fashion at Miami Fashion Week 2025 and appeared in the Lexus x 88 Rising Lunar New Year 2026 campaign.
In early 2026, Delia secured a lead role in an upcoming feature film from the producer behind Mortal Kombat and True Lies, marking the next step in her international career.
Women’s History Month is a time to reflect on progress and possibility. What does being a woman in the entertainment industry mean to you today?
To me, it means we’re not just stepping into the spotlight, we’re creating it! One of the most exciting parts of my journey has been writing, producing, and starring in my own short films like Dr. Tag, Under the Sun, and Girls’ Guide to the City. There’s something really powerful about building a story from the ground up and bringing it to life with your own voice. And it’s not just happening on a small scale, it’s everywhere! Seeing women like Chloé Zhao win an Oscar for Nomadland or Greta Gerwig lead massive global films shows how much the industry is opening up.
Bridges And Influences
There’s also this exciting wave of global influence, different cultures and styles. You can even see it in global hits like K-pop Demon Hunters, which reached over 500 million views worldwide, showing how powerful culturally driven storytelling can be. For me, being Romanian and Chinese and having the opportunity to move from Europe to Los Angeles is part of that bigger story. I feel like I’m living that bridge between cultures, bringing different perspectives together, and that’s what makes being a woman in this industry today so exciting and meaningful. And that’s incredibly exciting to be a part of.
Representation matters. How important is it for you to see diverse stories and perspectives reflected in the projects you create or participate in?
Culture
It’s really important to me because I grew up between Romanian and Chinese cultures, so I naturally bring that multicultural perspective into everything I do. I’ve been lucky to express that in different ways, like representing my Chinese zodiac in a Lunar New Year campaign with Lexus or being on a set like Dr. Tag where the strong Chinese presence helped shape the story’s authenticity. At the same time, I love showing my European side too whether it’s through acting or modeling, like walking for a Hispanic designer at Art Hearts Fashion or doing photoshoots in Italy and Paris. I think that mix of cultures is what makes storytelling so exciting today. And we’re seeing it work, films like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Parasite have won major awards, proving that diverse stories truly connect with global audiences.
What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue careers in film, music, producing, or other creative industries but may feel intimidated by the industry?
Take the risk and try, because even failing means you had the courage to go for it. I love the idea behind Oprah Winfrey’s perspective that failure is just another step toward growth. I’ve jumped from city to city, starting in Bucharest, then training in London for years in intense classical theatre programs, and finally moving to Los Angeles. I always had the bigger vision in mind which is to be part of this industry and create my own opportunities. If I hadn’t taken those risks, I wouldn’t have been able to write, produce, and star in Under the Sun, which went on to win Best Micro Short. For me, it’s always about the long-term goal, not short-term comfort. I like to set small weekly objectives to keep moving forward. Every step counts, and every risk gets you closer to where you want to be.
Was there a pivotal moment in your career that changed the trajectory of your path or helped you step fully into your purpose?
Honestly, there were a few moments that flipped my world, but the big one was realizing just how much I could learn and create by surrounding myself with incredible mentors. Studying in London with Paul Bown, who you might know from sitcoms like Roger Bones, gave me a rock-solid foundation in acting and discipline. Then moving to LA and working with amazing professionals like Tim Landfield, a Broadway veteran who directed me in Richard III, and Adam Chambers, the mind behind Code Pink, really showed me the power of storytelling and collaboration.
Those experiences gave me the confidence to take the reins of my own projects. Writing, producing, and starring in Under the Sun andGirls’ Guide to the City was a game changer it made me realize I don’t have to wait for the perfect role, I can make it myself. That’s when I really felt like I was stepping into my purpose, and honestly, it’s been so much fun ever since.
What is one misconception people often have about women working in entertainment?
A big misconception is that women have to wait for the “perfect role” to shine but honestly, we’re busy making those roles ourselves! I’ve seen it in my own work, like writing, producing, and starring in my own projects and on a bigger scale, someone like Maya Rudolph shows this perfectly. Instead of waiting around, we’re creating our own opportunities, taking risks, and showing that women can lead, innovate, and tell stories that truly resonate. It’s exciting, and honestly, it’s way more fun to be the one building the set than just standing on it!
As your career grows, what kind of legacy do you hope to leave for the next generation of women in the industry?
I hope to inspire women to embrace all parts of who they are. I’m proud to be one of the first Romanian–Chinese actresses pursuing this path in Hollywood, and I want to show that your background is your strength. If I can encourage others to take risks, tell their stories, and believe in their voice, that would mean everything.
Thank you for reading this installment of the Women’s History Month Features. Come back each day to read a new inspiring story, centering women.
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