Mawra Hocane puts purpose at the heart of her work

Actress Mawra Hocane’s choice of roles is based on a clear ideology: stories should matter—especially those centered on women’s lives—and her work should have a meaningful impact on the people who watch it.

Speaking recently about her approach to the job, she explained that women’s rights have long shaped the type of scripts she takes on. “I’m a big supporter of women’s rights and I try to somehow incorporate that into the scripts I choose,” she emphasized.

She said the impact of her work is often made clear through the women who approach her with their own stories. “I felt the most gratitude in so many moments when women come up to me and tell me that somehow watching my dramas has helped them solve some problems in their lives.”

The actor recalled being stopped at an airport by a woman who said that after 23 years in an abusive marriage, she was watching her drama finally push her to leave. “One can imagine the impact a drama can have on people, the kind of power it can give to women,” she said.

Her emphasis on women’s issues extends beyond her screen work. Earlier this year, in an Instagram video, Hocane spoke about the importance of financial independence for young women — a lesson she said she grew up with.

“I was taught at a very young age that for girls financial independence is very important,” she said, speaking directly to her younger followers. “To all the girls watching, I would say there is nothing better than financial independence.”

For her, earning your own money is all about confidence and self-reliance. “No matter how good your family is, how rich your family is, your in-laws or your husband — I think hard-earned money gives you a different kind of confidence,” she said.

Together, her comments outline an approach to work and public voice that is rooted in purposefully selecting works that speak to women’s realities and using her platform to highlight issues she deems necessary.