I wasn’t determined to grow into comedy when I first moved to LA. In fact, comedy didn’t feel like a priority at the time. My focus was elsewhere, and it wasn’t until later, after I had already started studying with Sandy Marshall, that I decided to explore improv and enrolled at the Upright Citizens Brigade as a side pursuit. Sandy’s classes, however, were where the foundation of my comedic evolution began.
Sandy had a unique approach to her classes that, for me, felt like a gym—a space to stretch myself, build new skills, and, most importantly, never get rusty in between auditions. Sandy stretched me in ways I hadn’t foreseen, particularly in comedy, where I hadn’t previously thought I could excel. It was her direction and insight in those classes that eventually helped me discover my comedic voice, which later became Shara.
The “Aha” Moment
One day, during a scene in Sandy’s class, we were thrown into what felt like an audition scenario: no prep, no script familiarity, just raw instinct. I started the scene with my natural North American accent. Sandy stopped me immediately.
“Do a line of cocaine,” she said.
Now, to clarify, this was all imaginary—purely an exercise. But the psychology behind it was genius. Imagining that scenario freed me up to stop overthinking and just do. Then she added: “Now do it with an accent.”
Without hesitation, I channeled what came naturally to me. My parents were born in Syria, and I grew up in Canada as the child of immigrant parents. Middle Eastern accents were something I heard constantly in my childhood. I drew from that—and suddenly, something clicked. The accent combined with the looseness of the exercise unleashed a part of me I didn’t even know was there. Sandy laughed. The class laughed. I laughed. And that was the seed of what would later bloom into Shara.
Inspiration Behind the Wit
I didn’t become obsessed with The Golden Girls until adulthood, but once I did, Dorothy Zbornak and her deadpan delivery fascinated me. Even when I was watching other great shows, I found myself gravitating back to Dorothy’s sharp, dry wit and her ability to make you laugh without even breaking a smile.
When I mentioned this to my Canadian acting coach, Jacqueline McClintock, she said something that stayed with me: “You’re watching veterans.” That’s exactly what I was doing—studying masters of comedy who knew how to deliver punchlines with precision.
Later, I discovered Absolutely Fabulous (aka AbFab), and it became a revelation. Patsy, played brilliantly by Joanna Lumley, was my hero. She was unapologetically outrageous, utterly devoid of morals, and a comedic rock star. I devoured the series, watching it on repeat, often falling asleep with it playing in the background. Patsy became a part of my subconscious—a glamorous, chaotic influence who found her way into the DNA of every comedic character I’ve created since.
The Secret Sauce
So, when you see Shara, you’re witnessing the culmination of many influences: the dry wit of Dorothy Zbornak, the unhinged brilliance of Patsy from AbFab, and the cultural grounding of my Armenian heritage. That moment in Sandy’s class, with the imaginary line of cocaine and the spur-of-the-moment accent, brought all these elements together for the first time.
Shara isn’t my only comedic Middle Eastern character, though. If you ever caught me on The Ex List on CBS, you’d see an Armenian psychic who, while not fully Shara, definitely hinted at her development. Shara is also, in a way, Patsy with a Middle Eastern twist—a fusion of outrageous confidence and cultural authenticity.
Closing Thoughts
Developing Shara wasn’t a straight line. It took years of studying, failing, and discovering what worked. Comedy wasn’t easy for me at first—it was an art form I had to study and practice, just like anything else. But the combination of influences, training, and raw instinct led me to create a character that has resonated with audiences worldwide.
What characters or shows have inspired you in unexpected ways? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your stories!
