The Open Up Podcast  By  cover art

The Open Up Podcast

By: Elliot Knight & Studio Hendricks
  • Summary

  • The Open Up Podcast pulls back the curtain on diversity in the entertainment industry through candid conversations with diverse creatives, hosted by actor Elliot Knight. Find us on socials @theopenuppod and say hi at hello@theopenuppodcast.com.

    Studio Hendricks 2023
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Episodes
  • Zehra Fazal on her revolutionary voice in Games, TV & Voiceover | "I see myself as the hero now"
    Sep 4 2022

    Zehra Fazal opens up her experience and exceptional talent in multiple industries of Entertainment in the Season One Finale: in Games, TV, Animation and Voiceover - navigating the perceptions and representations of Muslim identity, handling identity sensitivities and narrative censorship in media, the "culture of White supremacy" that has trodden down parts of her career and life, and the road she is passionately crafting for those like her to finally see themselves as heroes.

    Zehra is an Muslim-American voice actress of Pakistani descent. She holds over 40 credits, perhaps best known for voicing 'Nadia Rizavi' in Voltron: Legendary Defender, Halo and 'Bluebird' in Young Justice: Outsiders, the narrator of gaming title Apex Legends, and 'General Yunan' in Amphibia. Prior to her voice acting career, Zehra was known for her irreverent comedy and self describes as ‘the Muslim Weird Al’. Her work in this genre includes her one-woman musical comedy show 'Headscarf and the Angry Bitch' which won the "Best Solo Performance Award" at the Capital Fringe Festival in 2009 and was sold out throughout its New York International Fringe Festival run in 2010.

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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Natasha Liu Bordizzo on overcoming stereotypes and finding fullness in TV & Film | "This is how the world sees me"
    Aug 28 2022

    Actor Natasha Liu Bordizzo opens up about her trajectory from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny to Star Wars' Ahsoka - being first referred to by media as "Chinese takeaway", the truth of why she never wanted to be an actor, navigating her Mixed-Asian identity in life and work and the hope she's bringing to the table for the future of representation in Hollywood.

    Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Natasha left her studies in law at 19 to star in the sequel to ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ - titled ‘Sword of Destiny’. This catapulted overnight fame for Natasha in China where she found great success in their film market. Natasha has since starred in projects such as ‘Hotel Mumbai’, Netflix’s ‘The Society’ and ‘Wish Dragon’, Amazon’s dark thriller ‘The Voyeurs’ and Netflix #1 movie ‘Day Shift’ alongside Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco. Natasha’s next project is her much anticipated portrayal of Sabine Wren in Star Wars' ‘Ahsoka’.

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    52 mins
  • Riley Carter on breaking gender barriers in TV | “I have to prove myself more than others”
    Aug 21 2022

    Riley Carter opens up about the legacy he created in UK Television history and the impacts he now navigates as a result, his battle to be seen beyond a 'trans' label and the importance of authentically informed story telling that would allow audiences and actors like him to communicate and exist outside of "the sad Trans story" alone.

    From Stretford, England, Riley is most recognised from his role as regular character Kyle Slater in the BBC’s EASTENDERS. Riley was later named ‘No.1 most influential person in ‘The independent on Sunday’s 2015 rainbow list’ marking the first time a transgender man has been honoured. They wrote: ‘’Our judges felt his decision the play the character Kyle in EastEnders could help trans people - even save lives - and represents a landmark cultural moment’’.

Since leaving EastEnders, Riley has performed on stage at the London Theatre Workshop and the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End and toured the UK in the highly acclaimed production of BIRDSONG. He was recently seen on screen in series 2 of THE EMILY ATACK SHOW for ITV2. He was most recently seen in new drama, SCREW for Channel 4, written by Rob Williams (Killing Eve) and directed by Tom Vaughan.

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    1 hr and 6 mins

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