Mojean Aria | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sydney, Australia |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2007–present |
| Partner | Melanie Martinez |
Mojean Aria is an actor, writer, producer and filmmaker.
As an actor, Mojean has worked alongside producers Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Mike De Luca, Aaron Ryder and others. He has starred opposite the likes of Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Antonio Banderas and Jason Momoa.
Aria was born in Sydney, Australia. He first started taking acting lessons at the age of six.[ citation needed ] He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) at the age of fourteen in advanced (adult) classes. In 2004 he won a scholarship to The McDonald College High School of Performing Arts. [1] In 2007 he landed a lead role in the feature film Cross Life directed by Claire McCarthy, which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival. He later relocated to Los Angeles. [2]
In 2016, Aria starred as Steve in Call of the Void, a noir-inspired film directed by Dustin Kahia . Aria portrayed a man struggling with emotional turmoil and lost love. His performance was noted for balancing intensity and restraint, effectively conveying the character’s distress. Aria’s portrayal complemented the film’s style, fitting into its introspective atmosphere. [3]
In 2017, Mojean became the first ever unsigned recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship, as well as being the first from a multi-cultural background. The judging panel consisted of Gary Oldman and Bruna Papandrea and was backed by benefactors Michelle Williams and Nicole Kidman, among others. Kimberly Peirce, who served on the judges' panel, praised Aria's work as "rich, nuanced, precise, beautiful, authentic, emotive and fierce". In his acceptance speech, he reflected on Heath Ledger's influence on his career, recalling a childhood encounter with the late actor at a screening in Sydney. Aria credited Ledger's openness and charisma as inspirations for his artistic journey. He also acknowledged his mother's sacrifices after immigrating from Iran to build a future for their family in Australia. During the speech, Aria became emotional and was comforted on stage by Ledger's father, Kim Ledger. [4] [5]
In 2019, Aria starred as Gether Bax in See for Apple TV+. Set in a dystopian future where humanity has lost the ability to see, the show featured Aria as a disloyal member of his village. Aria described the production as one of the most intense experiences of his career, citing its logistical challenges and artistic ambition. He also praised the show's themes of power, vision, and diversity, noting its broader societal reflections. [6]
GQ Magazine reported that Aria developed a professional relationship with Jason Momoa while filming See , which contributed to increased recognition for the young actor. Momoa publicly acknowledged Aria’s performance on social media, drawing attention to his work. During production, Momoa praised Aria’s dedication and performance in an intense scene they rehearsed together. He later expressed interest in working with Aria on future projects, recognizing his versatility as an actor. [7]
That same year, Variety reported that Aria was cast in the independent immigrant drama Thief of Sleep, with filming planned in Scotland. The film, directed by Darwin Serink and co-written with Stuart Thomas, follows a young closeted gay man fleeing persecution in Iran. Producers Chelsea Winstanley and Tommee May expressed support for Aria’s casting, noting its significance in his career. Aria had previously collaborated with Serink on the short film Aban + Khorshid. [8] However, since the initial announcement in 2019, there have been no further updates or confirmation regarding the film's production status.
In 2020, Mojean decided to take all his experience into his production company venture of Mystic Makers with his primary collaborator, screenwriter and development executive, Lauren Campi. His first project was the Hawaiian fantasy drama KaPō, which he produced alongside Academy Award nominee Chelsea Winstanley (JoJo Rabbit & What We Do In The Shadows) Since he’s gone on to produce multiple notable short films which have won awards across America and internationally. Most recently he executive produced the short film One Day This Kid which premiered at TiFF and won the Grand Jury Prize SXSW. His short film LUCY that he wrote and directed went on to win the Audience, Grand Jury and Best Director prizes at multiple festivals securing Academy Award qualification. Indie Shorts Mag scored the film a perfect 5 stars.
In 2021, Aria joined the cast of the noir thriller The Enforcer , which began filming in Thessaloniki, Greece. He starred alongside Antonio Banderas, Kate Bosworth, and 2 Chainz. The film, directed by Richard Hughes and written by W. Peter Iliff, follows an enforcer who turns against his own organization to save a young runaway from cyber sex trafficking. Millennium Media introduced The Enforcer at the Cannes Virtual Market in June 2021. [9]
In 2023 he co-starred in Shayda which was executive produced by Cate Blanchett. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it picked up the Audience Award and he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2024 AACTA Awards (Australia's equivalent to the Academy Awards).
In 2024, Mojean co-starred in The Correspondent opposite Richard Roxburgh, as the activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah. More recently, Mojean completed production on Beast in Me where he is co-starring opposite Russell Crowe. The film is directed by Tyler Atkins and is also co-written and produced by Crowe.
Outside of acting, Mojean started the first scholarship for MENA actors in Australia.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cross Life | Donald | |
| 2009 | Fate Train | Angus | Short film |
| 2010 | Purgatory | John Everton | Short film |
| Surprise! | Ben | Short film | |
| 2011 | The Unforgettable Key | Logan Aria | Short film; writer and producer |
| 2012 | Revolution | Jack | Short film |
| The Sweetest Chord | Jack | Short film | |
| 2013 | Avenge My Eyes | Young Ray Leonard | Short film |
| 2014 | Aban and Khorshid | Aban | Short film |
| 2015 | Hybrids | Blaz | |
| 2016 | Hara Kiri | Beto | Short film |
| The Bronx Bull | Young Jake LaMotta | ||
| Primitive Technology | Keith | Short film | |
| Boys on Film 14: Worlds Collide | Aban | ||
| 2017 | The Suitcase | Joe Franek | |
| Call of the Void | Steve | ||
| 2019 | Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan | Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp | |
| 2021 | Reminiscence | Sebastian Sylvan | |
| 2022 | The Enforcer | Stray | |
| 2023 | Shayda | Farhad | |
| TBA | This Tempting Madness | Tony |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | All Saints | Brett Thomas | TV series |
| 2019 | See | Gether Bax | TV series |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Australians In Film | Heath Ledger Scholarship | N/A | Won |