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 Golsa Sarabi.
Meet Golsa Sarabi
Born in Tehran, Iran, Golsa Sarabi is an international actress based in Los Angeles with a dynamic background spanning film, theater, producing, and screenwriting.
She served as an executive producer on Dreams I Never Had and earned a Best Actress nomination at the Burbank International Film Festival for her leading role opposite Malcolm McDowell and Robin Givens.
Driven by a passion for empowering women, Sarabi made history as the first Persian woman in over 35 years since the revolution to represent Iran at the Queen of the Universe Pageant, where she received a top honor.
Her latest short film, The Persian Rug, is gaining momentum on the festival circuit. Written by Kathleen McLaughlin, Victoria Foster, and Gabriel Beristain, the film features a notable cast including Sarabi, Sean Kanan, Shila Ommi, Tristan Cunningham, and Catherine Carlen. Produced by Pasha Kaya and Sarabi, the film explores themes of resilience, identity, and the personal cost of survival and artistic pursuit.
Sarabi is currently developing her first feature film, Mia: See Clearly, which she will both produce and star in. The project is based on a true story set in Iran approximately 40 years ago.
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?
Being a woman in the entertainment industry today means having a greater opportunity to shape the stories that define our culture. For a long time, many narratives about women were told from the outside looking in. Now we’re seeing more women step into roles as producers, directors, and creators, which brings new depth and authenticity to the stories being told. For me, being part of this moment means supporting projects that explore identity, culture, and the complexities of human experience. I’m especially passionate about helping develop projects that give complex female characters and underrepresented perspectives a meaningful voice on screen.
“Stories shape how we see ourselves and how we understand each other.”
Who is a woman who inspired your journey in entertainment, and what impact did she have on the way you approach your work?
I’ve always admired extraordinary artists like Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, and Sofia Loren. Each of them brings an incredible depth of emotional truth to their performances, and they’ve shown that powerful storytelling comes from fearlessness and authenticity. Watching their work over the years has been a reminder that the most memorable performances—and the most meaningful stories—are the ones rooted in honesty.
Was there a pivotal moment in your career that changed the trajectory of your path or helped you step fully into your purpose?
Working on The Persian Rug was definitely a pivotal moment for me. The film explores the tension between personal freedom and cultural expectations, and seeing that story resonate with audiences reaffirmed why storytelling matters so much to me. It reminded me that film can open conversations about identity, belonging, and the choices that shape our lives. Experiences like that reinforce my belief that storytelling can do far more than entertain—it can create understanding.
Looking back at your journey so far, what milestone are you most proud of achieving?
Completing the Oscar-qualifying theatrical run for The Persian Rug was incredibly meaningful because it allowed the film to reach audiences in theaters and become part of a larger conversation about storytelling and cultural identity. Bringing a project from concept to screen requires persistence, collaboration, and belief in the story, and that milestone reinforced my passion for developing and producing projects that bring together talented artists to tell meaningful stories.
How do you stay grounded and maintain your creative voice in an industry that often tries to shape narratives and expectations?
For me, staying grounded means staying connected to the reason I love storytelling in the first place. It’s easy to get distracted by trends or expectations, but the projects that truly resonate are the ones that come from an authentic place. I try to focus on stories that explore identity, relationships, and the complexities of human experience. Surrounding myself with collaborators who value creativity and integrity also helps maintain that balance.
Representation matters. How important is it for you to see diverse stories and perspectives reflected in the projects you create or participate in?
Representation is incredibly important because the stories we tell shape how audiences understand the world. When we broaden the range of voices and perspectives on screen, we create space for empathy and connection across cultures.
I’m especially drawn to stories that explore identity and the tension between tradition and personal freedom. Projects like The Persian Rug, and the development of upcoming work like Mia: See Clearly, reflect my interest in telling stories that are intimate, layered, and ultimately universal.
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 contribute to an industry where women feel empowered to lead creatively and tell the stories that matter to them. If the next generation of women in film feels confident telling their stories boldly and authentically, that would be the legacy I hope to help support. The more diverse voices we bring into storytelling, the richer and more truthful our collective narratives become.
At its best, storytelling helps us understand lives that are different from our own.
“When women tell their own stories, the world becomes a little more honest.”
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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