Sima Sepehri, a Canadian-Iranian actress, refuses to confine herself to a single style. Known for her dedication to her craft, she excels in both drama and comedy. Sepehri enjoys portraying strong, resilient characters, whilst demonstrating her talent in stand-up and live sketches. We had the opportunity to catch up with Sima on the eve of recording her comedy album later this week.
Sima, it’s great to have you back! Please tell us about your debut comedy album and what inspired you to record it.
Actually, a couple of years ago a friend of mine suggested I make one and I hadn’t really given it much thought. But at that time I felt like I wasn’t ready. I don’t think you ever feel fully ready and maybe in two years, I will regret the whole thing. But I’m trying to be less precious about it all and just create something and put it out there for people to listen to.
What was the process for preparing for your comedy album, and how did you choose the material?
It’s been an interesting process for me for sure. Going back to look at all my old jokes and perform them again adding different tags and getting excited again feels good. Your relationship with your jokes is sometimes a volatile one. But this time for me, it feels full circle and I’m ready to let these jokes go into the ether and hopefully not bomb.
How does it feel to be recording at the Comedy Bar in Toronto, and what can audiences expect from your performances on the 13th?
Ok, first of all, I would like to acknowledge that I am recording an album on Friday The 13th. Very brave of me. I love Comedy Bar! It is a staple in the comedy scene in Toronto. It is where so many greats get their start. An absolute institution! I am very grateful to be recording it there. Shoutout to Crimson Wave, 5 for 5, Thirst Trap and Slut Parade for always booking me! And to Gary Rideout Jr. for creating a space where independent shows can thrive!
You’ve been living in New York for a year now. How has the comedy scene here influenced your work and this new album?
The New York Comedy circuit is a different beast. There are so many shows and clubs and mics. I came here so that I could become great. Who knows if I’ll ever get there? I’m just so happy to be here. It definitely forces you to level up your writing and performance because no one cares about your credits here. It’s either you’re an amazing comic who kills or you have millions of followers and sometimes both can be true.
Your comedy often draws from personal experiences. How do your Iranian heritage and immigration story influence your comedic style?
My heritage is definitely my joker origin story. Just kidding, that’s my family. But I do think where you come from really informs your voice as a comedian. For example, I’m filled with rage! Female rage is so necessary and very funny to me. Also chic. And I think that being born in a country where there is gender apartheid really shaped my worldview. I see the oppression of my people and I think we are so fortunate in the West to not have authoritarian regimes. But then again, you never know, because things can change drastically overnight, which is exactly what happened to my country. I think the anxiety of that is very real for me, especially right now. I try to weave that anxiety into my comedy without being too hard on the audience.
You’ve performed at prestigious festivals like Just for Laughs. Do you prepare differently for a live album recording to a festival performance?
My weekly show that I ran in Toronto for a couple of years called Tiny Grievances Comedy got to be a part of the JFL Toronto Festival and that was a great experience. It was a showcase-style show that I hosted and put a bunch of funny comics on the lineup. For my album, it’s going to be me basically doing stand-up for about an hour. It’s a bit of a marathon and it has to feel cohesive and also have good momentum. It’ll be pretty much a longer curated set that includes a lot of the jokes I’ve been fleshing out for the last several years.
Can you tell us about the production of your upcoming comedy film, and how it differs from other projects you’ve worked on?
We shot Party Pirate in St. John’s Newfoundland because that’s where the writer and director are from. Luke Lawrence, who is a comedian, wrote the film and starred in it. His mother Ruth Lawrence, an award-winning actress, writer, and director, directed. There were a lot of women at the helm of this movie and it premiered at St.John’s International Women’s Festival opening night to big laughs. It’s a stoner comedy. We felt like a family on set. It was really the best time! The movie is screening in Toronto at the iconic Royal Cinema at 7:00 pm on December 11th, 2024.
What can audiences be expected to see?
I think this is just a silly movie people can have a lot of fun with. The story follows this guy, Tommy, an out-of-work actor with dyslexia who gigs as a Party Pirate for children’s birthdays—loosely based on Luke’s life. Comedian Che Durena plays his best friend. And I play a casting director who wants Tommy to get his shit together so maybe we could date. There is a lot of claymation involved in the movie which definitely adds to the silliness.
You’ve worked on shows like This Hour Has 22 Minutes. How does sketch comedy writing differ from stand-up for you?
Sketch comedy for 22 minutes involves reading a lot of news and also casting the main cast as different characters in your sketch. You also pitch your ideas and hope that they make it onto the week’s episode. Whereas with stand-up comedy, my jokes are very much based on my experience and personal worldview.
Finally, what advice would you give aspiring comedians who are just starting in the industry?
Go to as many open mics as you can, at the beginning, be yourself, and make sure you actually love it!
We wish Sima the very best with the movie and this week’s recording. For further information on Sima, please follow her Instagram account.