'Pam & Tommy' Star Medalion Rahimi on Hijabi Representation and Seth Rogen's Ceramics
Iranian-American actress Medalion Rahimi
The actress offers her take on Muslim representation on screen, '90s fashion, and Seth Rogen's pottery skills.
While calling over Zoom from her Los Angeles apartment, 29-year-old Iranian-American actor Medalion Rahimi has her jet black hair pulled back into a sleek bun adorned with clips. Her eyes are softly lined to give her the sultry look she is known for. Making herself comfortable, she pulls her knees up to her chest and begins to play with the stack of necklaces resting on her neck.
From her clothes to her bedspread to the salt-lamp glowing in the corner, Rahimi’s aesthetic is serene and spiritual. The actress is a first-generation American from a Muslim family and says her beliefs are quite fluid and open.
According to Rahimi, her father chose her English name after watching a movie, perhaps foreshadowing her future. “When I was born, he said that I was glowing like a little golden nugget. So they named me Medalion.” Names have significance in the South West Asian and North African (SWANA) regions. Names are precursors to one’s fate, and Rahimi is certainly fulfilling her potential as a shining star.
After joining the NCIS: Los Angeles cast in 2019, Rahimi made history as the first hijabi series regular on network television. Her most recent role as Danielle on Pam & Tommy similarly breaks boundaries in the SWANA community. She plays a queer woman of color alongside heavyweight stars like Lily James, Sebastian Stan, Seth Rogen, and more. Following the Pam & Tommy series finale, Rahimi opens up to L'OFFICIEL about her family history, SWANA stereotypes and representation, and the roles she hopes to play in the future.
