Tuesday

Model of the Month

Tantalization: Noureen DeWulf

Born in the city that never sleeps, during the month of love, Noureen DeWulf, one of the most talked about South Asian-American actress today – and our Editor-In-Chief, Tirusha Dave, sat down with Noureen for an ultra-chic exclusive!

Raised in a “strict” and “conservative” Muslim household, she’s taken on the silver screen and has even been rated in Maxim magazine’s “Hot 100″ list. Noureen has had a hit-list of movie releases and her television career also includes guest appearances on CSI:NY, Numb3rs, Love Inc., and Girlfriends. Not to mention she has also starred in 3 network comedy pilots for the WB, Fox, and CBS – talk about getting camera time! In 2007, DeWulf starred as ‘Jizminder Featherfoot’ in Fox Atomic’s football comedy spoof “The Comebacks” – which played in 2,800 theaters nationwide – as the female kicker on the guy’s football team.

Though she might seem in her flirtatious and titillating in her Maxim pictures, she captivated her fans with her performance in the 2007 Academy Award winning musical comedy, West Bank Story, in which she played a Palestinian fast food cashier named Fatima who falls in love with an Israeli soldier. She’s also shared the screen with the ‘who’s-who’ of Hollywood and with all the right moves and slowly, yet steadily, she’s becoming the “it-girl” in Hollywood. I recently had the chance to sit down with this super-star on the rise and it was nothing less than wonderful!

Tirusha: Noureen! It’s an absolute pleasure to finally sit down and talk to you! I’ve admired your work and for those unfortunate souls (laughing) who don’t know who you are, give us a quickie!

Well, I’m an actress. My parents are from India but I was born in NYC, I work in Hollywood. I’ve been in several films such as American Dreamz with Hugh Grant, The Comebacks, Ocean’s 13 and I starred in a short film called West Bank Story that won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 2007. I’ve also guest starred on TV shows like Girlfriends, Numbers, CSI NY, CHUCK, and I’ve had 3 network pilots where I was the lead.

While attending Boston University, what were you studying? Did you have any thoughts about becoming an actress at that time?

At BU I studied International Relations but I also did take theater classes. I did think I wanted to be an actress but I also knew that it was important for me to get a degree as I wasn’t sure at the time if I would be able to pursue acting.

Before the guest spots on television shows, movies, and Maxim Magazine, you were in the limelight because of the innumerable prank calls you received on your cell? It must’ve been a pain going through the process of changing your number and then re-distributing it! How does someone like you react to such actions?

Perhaps you’re referring to the incident when Paris Hilton’s cell phone was leaked onto the internet. Well, I had just done a film with her called National Lampoon’s Pledge This! so my number was in her address book. It really wasn’t that big of a deal, I got about 500 prank calls and then I kind of got it through my head that my only option was to change my phone number – so I did.

Congrats on being voted in Maxim’s Hot 100! It’s rare to see a South Asian in that list! You were raised in a strict and conservative Muslim household, so how did your family and friends react to the hype about being featured in Maxim magazine?

Well, I think it is quite a compliment that Maxim put me on their list. Especially because I represent a different kind of beauty—I mean I am not the typical blonde hair blue eyed actress—I’m Indian, and have completely Indian features – so for that reason I really saw it as something really special that a huge American magazine would vote me on their Hot 100 List. But having said all that, in my heart, I think real attractiveness comes from inside a person and it doesn’t really matter what the outside looks like.

Looking at your acting resume, I must say it’s quite impressive. Let’s start with 2006, when you shared the screen with Hugh Grant and Mandy Moore in American Dreamz. What was that experience like?

It was exciting. Really exciting because it was the first time that I shared the screen with such accomplished actors. Plus, to be in a Hugh Grant movie—to me that meant a lot. I am a big fan of his.

You also shared the screen with Paris Hilton in National Lampoon’s Pledge This!, as a foreign-exchange student. What was it like working with Paris?

Working with Paris was fine. She is a nice person. I got to know her through the context of shooting a film together so we had a lot of fun together. The cast spent 2 months in South Beach, Miami where we were shooting. We all actually thought the movie was hilarious and going to be a big hit. Instead it went through several different editors and re-shoots and so by the time there was a final product it was 2 years later and a completely different film than the script.

Now 2007 was a HUGE year for you! You played a Palestinian fast-food cashier, Fatima, in the Academy Award winning musical, West Bank Story. How did you feel to act in such a proclaimed production and be recognized at numerous film festivals as well?

It was amazing…really…really amazing! Firstly, because West Bank Story was my first film—I mean it was my first acting job. Also, West Bank Story is the only film that I have ever been the leading lady in – so for it to win an Oscar was just unbelievable for me. Big! HugeI I’m filled with gratitude. I also love the film because of the message of peace and hope.

And no one can forget seeing you in Ocean’s Thirteen! Though it was a short cameo, screen-time is screen-time. What was it like to be on the set with such actors like Andy Garcia, Gorge Clooney and Matt Daymon?

Oh it was so exciting! I love all those actors so much. It was a lot of fun. They flew me out to Vegas and we were shooting at the Bellagio – not to mention that I got to stand next to Al Pacino for two days – that was awesome for me!

You were also on FOX’s feature comedy, The Comebacks, where you played one of the lead roles. Tell us a little about that experience. What other television projects are you currently working on?

The Comebacks was just so much fun to shoot. It was challenging for me because I had to learn how to play football as the film is about a football team. And I was the only girl on the team so I had to keep up with the boys and that was difficult at times, but overall it was just really fun to get to do something so different. And it was a big comedy so that is always fun as well. The Comebacks will be on DVD Jan. 29^th 2008. As far as television, you can see me next on CHUCK on NBC Jan 28^th 2008 as a new character, Lizzie.

You currently finished filming for The Strip, also starting Dave Foley. Also, Pulse 2 is in the progress of being filmed. When can we expect these movies to be out? How do you hope your fans will react to them?

I really don’t know when these films will come out as that is what happens with independent films, they seek distribution and oftentimes take a few years to come out probably late 2008 or 2009.

You’ve done a lot of mainstream films and television spots. Do you have any plans on doing any full-on Indian movies in the future?

I would love to do a Bollywood movie, but I think it will come down to the script. If I find the right one for me I think it could happen.

I’m assuming that you’re a Bollywood fan like every other girl out there! If you could make your dream Bollywood movie, which actor would you want in the lead?

Probably Shahrukh Khan. I think he has a really nice quality about him that comes out in his acting.

What about your dream American movies? If you could pick any lead actor, producer and director, who would you want to work with?

Wow ok…lets’ see…Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Phillip Seymor Hoffmen, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Vince Vaughn, Quentin Tarantino, Baz Luhrman, Spike Lee just to name a few off the top of my head —I like actors and directors with distinctive style.

Where do you see yourself as an actress 5 years from now?

Hopefully working in a larger capacity in both comedies and dramas.

What advice do you have for the young generation of South Asians who want to make a career in acting, but are scared of their family’s reaction and acceptance?

My advice would be to follow your heart. I really believe that the Universe will align itself for you if you act on the truth of your being. I think happiness is important and it is contagious. If you are happy then I think your family will be happy for you.

Noureen it’s been a pleasure getting to know you! I had a friend who wanted me to show you his picture, you know that typical Desi match-making thing, but I’ll save that for another time! (laughing) Any final words for your fans and all the readers of Bravura Artist?
Thank you Tirusha for a fun interview and thanks to Bravura for all your support. I would like to thank all the Indians who support me. I think ethnic diversity amongst actors in American film and television is extremely important. Indians in the US make up a large contributing community and I think we should be represented in TV and film. I am proud of my Indian heritage so I love and am extremely grateful for my Indian fans.