‘You’re Palestinian. No one will care’: Cherien Dabis on ‘Mo’ and making space in Hollywood | Real Talk

"You can’t be a filmmaker. You’re Palestinian - no one will care."

Cherien Dabis is a Palestinian-American filmmaker and actress constantly working to break new ground for Palestinian representation in Hollywood. 

In 2022, she made TV history as the first Palestinian ever nominated for an Emmy, for her work on “Only Murders in the Building”. Throughout her career, Cherien has pushed back against one-dimensional portrayals of Arabs and Palestinians - often stereotyped, cast as villains, or erased entirely.

Most recently, you may have seen her as Nadia in Netflix’s “Mo”, the hit series widely celebrated for its portrayal of the Palestinian experience. 

In this episode of Real Talk, Cherien opens up about growing up Palestinian in Ohio, the challenges of telling her own story, and the fears that keep many from supporting Palestinian voices in Hollywood.

From the emotional weight of misrepresentation to the joy of creating authentic characters, she shares what it takes to be a Palestinian storyteller in American film and television.

Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem. 

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