If you were one of the faithful that stuck with Homeland last season, you’ll know it ended on something of a OHMYGODWTFJUSTHAPPENED kind of thing. And if you were one of those that gave up after the second season (we’ll just call you ‘fairweather fans’) you missed on hell of a ride kid.
As we get ready for season four, we’re not only wildly scrabbling to figure out how the hell the show’s going to deal with the massive bomb it dropped on us last season, we’re also excited to see more of Fara Sherazi, the Iranian American CIA analyst played by Nazanin Boniadi who’s been promoted to series regular in season four.
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‘The ending was a huge shock!’ Nazanin said to us when we caught up with her ahead of the new series premiere. ‘I remember reading it and just thinking “Wow…. How are they going to come back from this one?!” But low and behold as they always do they surprised us and created a incredible new season.’
Back at the beginning of season three, when the characters were still reeling from the (SPOILER ALERT) terrorist attack at Langley that killed major characters and made an exile of Brody once again, Fara Sherazi was introduced to Homeland viewers in a now notorious scene where Saul rebukes Fera for having the audacity to wear her headscarf. 'You wearing that thing on your head. It’s one big "fuck you" to the people that would have been your co-workers but they perished in a blast right out there. So if you must wear it….. you better be the best analyst we’ve ever seen.' Viewers were unimpressed with Saul, with one publication claiming 'Homeland has a Muslim problem'. Fara agrees it was an arresting moment. ‘When I read that scene all I could think of is how a person would feel if part of their identy was attacked. So the tears that rolled down Fara’s face when Saul mentioned the headscarf, I think she felt very deeply that it was an attack on who she is,’ she tells* The Debrief.*
Nazanin herself, like Fara is Iranian. ‘I was born in the country during the Islamic revolution where womens' rights were down the drain and my parents fled to London. So I drew on that to play Fara.’ And have her parents been impressed with her role so far? ‘I think my parents are very proud as it’s a groundbreaking role. Fara is a Muslin but she’s also one of the first prominent Muslims on TV that isn’t vilified. She’s just a normal human being. I challenge people and ask “Why don’t you trust her? Is it because she wears a headscarf?” I think she’s extremely groundbreaking as that character and I think that’s why a lot of my family are very happy that I’m playing her on this particular show.’
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So what's in store for this season? 'I think the reason why people are calling this season a "reboot" or "reinvention" is because the dynamics between each and every relationship on the show have shifted and everyone is going in different directions,' explains Nazanin. 'Because Fara proved herself willing to help Carrie at the end of last season she's brought in by Carrie this season to be a very important part of her team on the groun in Pakistan. She's undercover quite a bit and has an alter ego.' So she's definitely one of the good guys? We never know whether anyone's telling the truth on Homeland. 'And quite rightly so!' says Nazanin. 'You can't trust anyone on the show.'
Before this season of Homeland, the more eagle-eyed of you probably were already aware of Nazanin for her character in Scandal, the Kerry Washington led Shonda Rimes created drama that we here at The Debrief love with a fierce intensity. Nazanin played Adnan Salif, the no good criminal from Harrison’s past. ‘Oh my goodness Kerry is absolutely incredible,' she says. 'I do get to work with some incredible leading ladies. Both Kerry and Claire (Danes) are up for an Emmy this year. It was a dream come true to work on *Scandal *so it's been a good year all round!’
Homeland starts 12 October on Channel 4 at 9PM
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.