2006年VOA标准英语-Actor Uses Fame to Promote Women's Rights

By Shally Zomorodi
Washington, DC
22 March 2006
 
watch Iranian Actor report

Veteran television and film actor Anthony Azizi has played a variety of roles ranging from the intensely dramatic to hilariously¹ comedic. But it is his current TV role as an aide to the first female U.S. president that allows him to blend his passion for acting² with support for women's rights.

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Anthony Azizi   
  

As a child, Anthony Azizi learned many languages including Spanish, French, and a little bit of Chinese.

But his Iranian-born parents taught him Persian. The Brooklyn, New York-born actor has used his gift for language to play a variety of roles. He currently³ co-stars in the American TV series "Commander in Chief." Azizi says he always wanted to be an actor.

"Since I was a kid I wanted to be an actor. If there was music or theater or even soccer (football), I mean, I did it all. I didn't have the patience to become a doctor."

His family had other ideas, encouraging him to pursue a medical career.

"Even as I started getting success an actor, my mom would leave messages on my (answering) machine that would be, like: 'Listen, this is not a joke, there is still time for you, you are older, so don't be (a) doctor, be (a) dentist. (To become a) dentist (it takes) only three years. I found program for three years, you don't have to do four years.'  She just couldn't accept the fact I wanted to be an actor," he told us.

 
Anthony Azizi plays a presidential aide in "Commander in Chief" 
  
Today, Anthony Azizi plays a presidential aide in "Commander in Chief," which stars Geena Davis as the first female president of the United States.

But Azizi says reaching this level of success in Hollywood was not easy. "I had to change my name because I was getting too many calls. My name is Kamal. So that in of itself has been a very difficult challenge because there aren't many roles."

A challenge he overcame. He now uses his fame to promote an issue he cares deeply about.

"One thing that is dear to me is women's rights because women don't have rights, especially in the Middle East and especially in cultures around the world, in Africa, in China. In many countries around the world women are oppressed⁴, they are pushed down. They are not given the same equalities and rights as men. (In) certain countries women can not vote, in certain countries they are made to walk behind men, in certain countries they can not drive a car, in certain countries they can not be seen in public without a man as an escort⁵. Fifty two percent of the (world's) population is women. How dare we not give them the respect as human beings? It's a human rights issue."

Azizi believes programs featuring strong women like "" can play a part in promoting women's rights and reflect the role they can play in the world.

"It is time to let women have a chance to make the world a better place."

And Azizi hopes that just like his show, that time will arrive soon.

Footage Courtesy of Touchstone Pictures

1 hilariously   

参考例句：

• Laughing hilariously, Wu Sun-fu left the study and ran straight upstairs. 吴荪甫异样地狂笑着，站起身来就走出了那书房，一直跑上楼去。 来自互联网
• Recently I saw a piece of news on the weband I thought it was hilariously ridiculous. 最近在网上的新闻里看到一则很好笑的新闻。 来自互联网

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

4 oppressed   

adj. 被压迫的，郁闷的 动词oppress的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• It'seemed that the realisation of his life's dream oppressed him with overjoy. 夙愿得偿似乎使他欣喜若狂。
• The bad eggs wielded power, while the good people were oppressed. 坏人当道，好人受气

5 escort   

n.护卫者，护送者；vt.护送，护卫

参考例句：

• The prisoner was taken under escort to the jail.罪犯被押送到监狱。
• Her escort to the party was a tall young man.陪同她参加晚会的是一位高个子男青年。