Glenn Close Says Learning Farsi for Role on 'Tehran' Was 'Very Challenging' (Exclusive)

Glenn Close Reveals Her One Request for the 'Fatal Attraction' R…

Mark Consuelos' Daughter Lola Warned Him About Discussing a Spec…

Jon Gosselin Wants a Reunion With Ex-Wife Kate and Family as He …

Pink's Daughter Wows Crowd With Performance at Her Concert

‘Vanderpump Rules’: Raquel Leviss Vows to Share ‘Unfiltered Trut…

Blac Chyna Celebrates Dream’s Pre-K Graduation Alongside Kardash…

Prince Harry Shares Rare Update on Kids Archie and Lilibet

Why Chelsea Handler’s Threesome Ended Her Past Relationship

‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks’ | Headline-M…

Lea Michele Channels Barbra Streisand at 2023 Met Gala

'Entourage' Star Adrian Grenier Goes Naked to Celebrate 40th Bir…

Jimmie Allen Sued by Former Manager for Rape and Sexual Abuse

Lisa Vanderpump Didn’t Think ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Cast Would Get T…

‘Love Is Blind’ Alum Shayne Jansen Taking Break From Social Medi…

Amy King Calls Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's Response to New Doc…

See Inside the Iconic 'Brady Bunch' House on Sale for $5.5 Milli…

Tom Brady Freaks Out Riding the Tower of Terror at Disney World …

Torrey DeVitto Gets a Sweet Surprise in Hallmark's 'Love's Greek…

Britney Spears Proclaims 'Time Heals All Wounds' After Reunion W…
Glenn Close can now add learning Farsi to her list of accomplishments. ET spoke to Close at the New York premiere of her Apple TV+ series, Tehran, Wednesday, where she detailed her return to television and the difficulties she faced learning a brand-new language for her role as CIA agent on the second season of the network's espionage thriller.
"It was just such a new experience. Everything was new," Close said of her first TV role since wrapping Damages in 2012. "Filming in Athens was new. Playing an agent was new. Learning Farsi was new. Working with a multi-lingual cast and crew. Meeting with a lot of Iranian refugees. Playing a lot of backgammon -- now that always happens."
"It just -- it was a challenge and territory I never explored before," she added.
While playing Marjan Montazeri, a British agent living in Tehran, presented its fair share of challenges for Close, the most challenging part perhaps, was learning Farsi.
"It was very challenging. It has a different sentence structure. It's more like German, with the verb at the end. You use your mouth differently. It has certain sounds that we don't have in English," Close explained. "But I had a phenomenal coach in Ana Bayat, who worked with me on Zoom three times a week."
She continued, "It's just a lot of -- you start with one word at a time, then sentences, then repetition, repetition, and then you have to learn the proper intonation, and then you have to say it faster than you think you ever can say it."
Season 2 of Tehran not only introduces Close's character, but it dives into the discussion of mental health -- a topic Close is passionate about -- in the world of espionage.
"My character is a very distinguished psychiatrist, and the backstory was that she and her husband had started this clinic for returning vets from the Iran-Iraq war, for people with terrible PTSD and everything that we have come to know is what happens when one has to go to war," Close explained. "She's hiding in plain sight."
Close's character not only makes her mark in the series, she's made a mark on her co-stars, who all gushed to ET about working with the living legend.
Niv Sultan, who plays Tamar Rabinyan, said she couldn't believe she was working with the Fatal Attraction actress.
"It was hard to grasp sometimes," Sultan admitted. "We were standing there, and I couldn't believe she was in front of me, and I was excited and nervous and happy and so many things at the same time. But mostly, I tried to catch as much moments as I can to just learn from her and watch her -- I spied on her in some quiet moments, and tried to look at her, what she does."
"She's amazing," she added. "And everyone knows how talented she is, but most of all, she's a beautiful human being."
For Shaun Toub, who plays Faraz Kamali, getting to work with Close was a dream 35 years in the making.
"I mean she's an icon, so, it's been amazing to have an incredible actress -- and she has been around for a long time, so, when I heard that she's gonna be on the show, I was so excited about it," Toub admitted. "I've been in the business for 35 years, so, I've been working with so many amazing, amazing actors, and I always thought that someday, I would work with Glenn Close. And thank God, all of a sudden, they said, 'Oh yeah, they're thinking about it,' and I actually knew about it before everybody knew."
With Close in for season 2, the cast have a few other iconic actors on their short list should Tehran get renewed for season 3: Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves and Liam Neeson were just a few of the names dropped at the premiere.
See Close and the rest of the cast when season 2 of Tehran hits Apple TV+ May 6.
RELATED CONTENT
Glenn Close Opens Up About the 'Trauma' of Growing Up in a Cult
Glenn Close Says Spike Lee Called Her After Oscars 'Da Butt' Moment
Angela Bassett Reacts to Glenn Close's 'Da Butt' Dance at Oscars
Related Gallery