In this episode, Sarah Burke interviews Rakhee Morzaria who is an old schoolmate. Rakhee is a Canadian Screen Award-nominated comedian and actress who stars in the hit CBC comedy RUN THE BURBS where she also served as a Season One writer. An accomplished actor, Rakhee has been featured on WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (FX), MY SPY (Netflix), PRIVATE EYES (Global TV), and HUDSON & REX (CityTV). She also voices Tall Girl among other characters on Roku and the Family Channel’s animated series SUMMER MEMORIES.
Rakhee is an alumni of The Second City Bob Curry Fellowship, and has performed on the stages of Second City in their Family and Education Company, Hart House Theatre, Bad Dog Theatre, the CBC Music Festival, and the Toronto Sketchfest. Her writing and comedic sketch-based shorts (NOTE TO SELF, BE RIGHT BACK) have been seen in Kevin Hart’s JUST FOR LAUGHS short film competition, screened at the Atlantic Film Festival, been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award, and have upward of a million views.
On this episode, Sarah and Rakhee discuss her career journey from American Eagle to improv in China, to Second City in Toronto and pursuing a career in the arts. Rakhee shares her experiences in theater, improv, and creating her own web series, Note to Self. They also touch on the challenges of being a woman in the public space, how to handle rejection, and the importance of supportive women in the industry. Rakhee also discusses her role as Camille Phan in the CBC series Run the Burbs. She shares lessons she has learned from failure and the importance of support from her family and collaborators.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction and Reconnecting
(03:06) Discovering a Passion for the Arts
(04:55) Transitioning into the Arts
(08:36) From Theater and Improv to the Big Screen
(12:24 ) Sharing Personal Stories in Note to Self
(15:35 ) Navigating the Public Space as a Woman
(18:23 ) Supportive Women in the Industry
(22:53) Advice and Dealing with Rejection
(25:09) Lessons from Failure and Closure
(28:27) Starting Run the Burbs
(32:09) Infusing Authenticity into the Character
(34:00) Kindness and Cultural Representation
(37:18) Support from Family and Overcoming Financial Worries
(40:11) Navigating Rest and Recovery
(44:54) Proudest Moment: Celebrating Note to Self
(47:04) Nominations for Future Guests
Follow along with Rakhee Morzaria:
https://www.rakheemorzaria.com/
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