As a young actress, writer, and director, Natasha Behnam enjoys balancing human connection and empathy with a generous dose of awareness and fun in her creative pursuits. Natasha stars in Netflix’s new movie American Pie: Girls’ Rules, a gender-flipped new reimagining of the 1999 cult classic, American Pie. Playing the role of Michelle, an empowered young feminist, Natasha gives us all the details about this new woman-led sex comedy and her future within the genre. Alongside her Hollywood career, Natasha is passionate about supporting a variety of causes close to her heart, including body positivity, the Black Lives Matter movement, and immigrant and refugee rights, and frequently volunteers with South LA Cafe to help her local community. Please read our interview with Natasha to get a full slice of her thoughts on American Pie: Girls’ Rules and how she is spreading positivity on and off-screen.

Where are you based?
Los Angeles. (But I would like to be bi-coastal [NY] and also international [UK, Australia]. Let’s all manifest that, please! Thank you.

When did your interest in acting begin? What has shaped your interest in this career path?
I came out of the womb performing. Being an artist has always, undoubtedly, been my path. Every moment of my existence has further shaped my interest; I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior and genuine human connection. Acting allowed me to connect to others on such a rare, deep, visceral level. It’s a very empathetic experience.

Can you tell us about your experience of landing your first television role?
It was a chaotic and serendipitous gift from the Universe. My first role was a recurring part on a 2018 TV pilot, Arranged, which is insane to begin with. On top of that, the character was Persian, which is SO rare. On top of THAT, I shot it the week I was graduating from college, so I was literally on a huge, legit TV set, living my dream, 3 hours before I had to walk across my graduation stage. It felt epic. I am eternally grateful to Aline Brosh-Mckenna, Sono Patel, and Felicia Fasano for that job.

We are very excited to see your film-debut, American Pie: Girl Rules. The movie has a women-driven ensemble -- much different from previous American Pie movies! Can you tell us a little bit about the film and how it is different from the original?
Women run the show, baby! We stick to the classic American Pie frame, but this time, we let the ladies play. It’s magnificent. The film follows four best friends that are figuring out their love/sex lives in their senior year of high school at East Great Falls. It’s real and fun and relatable. And, about time we got this version! I think it brings some light hearted joy into 2020, while also de-stigmatizing sex. It’s a great opportunity for young women to see themselves on screen, and know that it’s okay to explore and be curious.

You play the independent feminist of the group, which is always one of our favorite characters. Can you tell us a little bit about Michelle? Do you relate to her personally?
MICHELLE IS MY GIRL! Yes, I relate to her quite a bit. She’s confident beyond her years and encourages her friends to understand and explore their bodies. She understands her Divine Feminine/Goddess energy, and I love that. I want every woman to be able to embrace themselves like Michelle does. And, she ends up finding the perfect partner without compromising herself. You can have it all!

American Pie: Girl Rules is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your work in comedy. You have so many cool projects that speak to your personal outlook on life and your own unique perspective. How do you manifest your identity in your creative work? Do you have a favorite role to date?
I love self-aware material, and I gravitate towards writing things that have their own sense of consciousness. I’m quite spiritual and philosophical, and I always find myself writing some stupid dildo joke or poop joke that has an intensely deep meaning for me. It’s ridiculous, absurd, and fun. Genuine human connection is also a huge theme for me, so I find myself dissecting and writing relationships for days.

Picking a favorite role is impossible! But I’ll do it. For now, I’ll say it was Michelle in American Pie. But I think that’s because of the phenomenal experience I had with the rest of the cast. We formed such a family…it was truly special.

It is great how passionate you are about many topics, one being immigrants, since you come from an immigrant family, yourself. Can you tell us how you feel about being in America during these times coming from an immigrant family?
How much time do you have? It’s complicated. Hasan Minhaj released a fantastic special titled “We Cannot Stay Silent About George Floyd” when the Black Lives Matter protests began, from an immigrant viewpoint. He mentioned how when we become American citizens, we take on the freedom as well as the responsibility of the nation. The United States was a sanctuary for my family after the Iranian revolution. I grew up with an understanding of the American Dream, and a deep respect for the opportunities that the United States afforded my family. As I’ve grown up, it’s been difficult and confusing for me to watch the United States turn its back on marginalized groups of people. My family was so lucky to be let in and granted a chance to start over, but what about all the refugees that need help now? What about the children and families that are being terrorized at the border? What about the numerous Black lives lost due to the systems built to “serve and protect,” which do not serve or protect them, at all? What about our unhoused neighbors? What about them? Why aren’t they being given the same opportunities? The older I get, the less I believe in our American systems to protect PEOPLE. Capitalism, money, and the economy will mean absolutely nothing after we die. But the human lives, and the souls that embody them, THAT is what I care about. I care about people. I genuinely dream that a new age is coming: one that moves away from materialism and individualism, and towards radical empathy and connection.

Jejune loves that you have been working with the South LA Cafe, which provides free groceries to the underserved South Central LA community, even through the pandemic! Can you tell us a little bit about this experience? Why did you decide to team up with them?
South LA Cafe is an incredible organization. It’s Black owned and family run. Joe and Celia, the owners, are two magnanimous, generous, zealous human beings. Since the pandemic began, they have been organizing and boxing groceries weekly, providing healthy, fresh food to the underserved communities of Los Angeles. The community comes together to make this happen week after week, and it’s and honor and a pleasure for me to volunteer with them, and learn from them. It’s so powerful to see how from the hands of one community member, we can help provide direct support to other community members. I think we need more of that. They always need donations and volunteers to continue their work, so if you’re reading this and able, make it happen! https://www.southlacafe.com/

LA has one of the biggest homeless populations in our country, which I can only assume has been growing this year. What would you like to see done to help these people?
Our unhoused neighbors need resources and genuine community support! I volunteer as a mentor for this new app called DreamKit, which basically catalogues and amplifies the resilience of young adults experiencing homelessness in CT. DreamKit teaches youth the skills required for their emotional, professional, and social stability through a virtual curriculum. They then get paid for learning new skills, and can share their progress with employers in the area. As a virtual “mentor,” I’m available to be contacted by any of the youth that are seeking guidance on different arenas of life. I cannot advocate for this organization enough. It’s founder, Marina Marmolejo, is a huge inspiration to me. I’m hoping it can gain the traction and financial support it needs to expand to Los Angeles as well. (Please, go donate to them at http://dreamkitapp.com!!)

In LA, and during the pandemic specifically, we’re hearing the common phrase, “fill hotels, not hospitals,” or “fill hotels, not graves,” in reference to all the empty hotel rooms, and how we can be filling those with unhoused folx who don’t have a place to quarantine. I’m not going to pretend I’m the best person to speak on how to solve the homelessness crisis (I will direct you towards organizations like the EveryoneIn Campaign http://www.everyoneinla.org and Safe Place for Youth http://www.safeplaceforyouth.org) but I do believe it’s basic empathy that’s needed to open these empty rooms to the unhoused, especially during this critical time. They deserve to be taken care of by our community.

How has your life been impacted by COVID?
Honestly, it’s given me a chance to go inwards. At first, I panicked, along with the rest of the world. But then, I found a deep sense of gratitude for the time and space the pandemic forced upon us. If you weren’t taking care of yourself, in any way, you had to start. That is not to negate or minimize the tragedies that this pandemic has brought on so many people. But it also highlighted what’s most important in this life: your family/loved ones, and your purpose. Neither could be ignored.

How are you staying positive in shelter in place?
Lots of yoga!! haha. I meditate every day. I think it’s important to find whatever thing keeps you grounded and joyful. Meditation helps me understand, regulate, and release my emotions, so I can better navigate the ups and downs of life. The Den Meditation is my favorite place to take classes, and it’s completely virtual. Insight Timer is a free meditation app that I love as well.

What is your motto in life?
Stay positive. If there is a will, there is a way. Have radical empathy. Love others and yourself. Put as much good into this world as you can. Enjoy the good and the bad, it all makes up this delicate and unique experience of Life.

You can find Natasha on the following social media platforms:
Instagram:@NatashaBehnam
Twitter: @NatashaBehnam
TikTok: @NatashaBehnam
Facebook: NatashaBehnamOfficial

Team Credits:
Photography – Joe DeAngelis
HMU – Carissa Swany
Styling – Cameron Cipolla

Natasha Behnam - Flipping the Script in American Pie: Girls' Rules