Exclusive interview  with Sheila Shah, Canadian Actress and Producer

By Jean-Paul Eliard

The September  20  2019

Hi Sheila, I'm very glad to do this interview.
 

When you read the script, what did you like about the storyline and Alejandra your character in Rambo: Last Blood ?
It was truly an honor to be part of this renowned franchise.
The storyline shows how Rambo would do anything through perseverance for the love of his family. The character shows heart, vulnerability, strength and power. 
You get to connect to the character on many levels and root for him. I had my scene with Sylvester Stallone and it was truly magical to be able to act opposite such a wonderful talent. 
 

How was the filming with Sylvester Stallone......... and the director Adrian Grunberg ?
Sylvester is such a talented actor and of course has been doing this character for so long that you can tell its just a part of him.
Since he also writes the script, he knows every character and has a vision for each scene. 
I truly feel privileged to be able to say that I was part of his passion project. It was my first time working with Adrian and it was truly an amazing experience. 

 Did you know your co-stars before ?
I didn’t know any of the co-stars but everyone was very diverse and had their own unique talent they brought to the project.

 Photocredit Ash Gupta from 838 media group

You are the Ambassador of March of Dimes of Canada , Advocate for CARE and White Ribbon USA as an ambassador.
Could you tell us more about these associations ?
  I am a huge advocate for female rights and believe by educating and empowering women, they can increase opportunity not only for themselves, their families and the lives of the people around them but also their community.

March of Dimes Canada was the first charity I got Involved with that I wanted to support, which is a rehabilitation and advocacy charity for people with physical disabilities.
CARE fights poverty around the globe by empowering girls and women in efforts to improve basic education, increase access to quality health care and expand economic opportunity for all. 
White Ribbon USA is a part of a global movement, White Ribbon, against domestic violence towards women.
It’s also a global symbol of activism against all forms of gender based violence towards women and girls. November 25 is traditionally an international White Ribbon Day.
Besides being a spokesperson of White Ribbon in USA, I recently joined White Ribbon Canada as an advocate. 

 
These charities are causes that I believe in and it’s an honor to be a part of them as their impact and the lives they touch everyday is truly inspiring.

"............Besides her acting career, sheila earned a Bachelor Degree in Chemistry, a Post Graduate Degree in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, and subsequently worked in the pharmaceutical industry in both Toronto and Miami......." 
When and why did you choose to be an actress ?
My passion for acting was evident through my early age. 
At a young age I was trained as a dancer and was part of many competitions and performances. Since my parents were very conservative I had to finish my Chemistry degree and post graduate and work in pharmaceuticals. 
Once I proved myself I decided to step on the path that my heart was in and eventually use my platform for greater good and to make an impact in the world.

Your name is Shah, and before there was the Shah of Iran.
Shah is there a signifacion in Farsi ? And thank you to speak French ;o)
My full name is Shahnematollah. I shorten it for the American market as most of the time they had problems pronouncing it or spelling it.

Yes I speak Fluent French as I grew up in Montreal and continued most of my high school in French In Toronto.
I also speak fluent Farsi. Its great to speak different languages as it builds bridges with different communities.

What is your next challenge ?
More and more I am focusing on Production and also on the charities that I am involved with.
I focus mostly on films with an inspirational message and doing projects and charities that have a social impact, that are close to my heart and resonate with me.

Do you wish to add something ?
Thank you for having me on your site and hopefully we can all work to make the world a better place. Change happens with one person at a time.

Thank you very much for your interview Sheila and I wish you the best.
More information about Sheila on Instagram, on Twitter and on IMDb