Varto Terian | |
---|---|
وارتو طریان | |
Born | Tabriz,
Qajar Iran | May 11, 1896
Died | October 2, 1974 Tehran,
Iran | (aged 78)
Other names | Varto Teryan, Vartu Terian, LaLa |
Education | University of Geneva |
Occupation(s) | Actress, educator |
Known for | Iran’s first actress of theater |
Spouse | Arto Terian (married) |
Children | Alenush Terian |
Varto Terian ( Persian: وارتو طریان; May 11, 1896 – October 2, 1974) [1] also known by the pseudonym LaLa, was an Iranian-born Armenian actress and educator. She was Iran’s first stage actress of theater. [2] [3]
Varto Terian was born on May 11, 1896, in Tabriz, Qajar Iran to an Armenian family. [2] When she was a child her family moved to Tehran. [2]
After high school she moved to Switzerland to continue her studies at the University of Geneva, where she focused on acting. [2] [4] When she returned to Iran, many theater groups had recently been formed including the Young Armenians Theater Society in Tehran. [2] She met her future husband Arto Terian (1892–1954) at the theater society, he later became a successful actor and theater director. [2] [4]
After their marriage, in 1914 she launched her theater career. [2] [5] In Iran during the 1910s–1920s women were banned from theater acting and attendance. [2] In order to protect their family she performed under the name LaLa, [2] and Arto used the name Arizad. The couple were the main members of the Armenian Theater of Tehran from 1923 to 1932. [5] Later the couple joined the Young Iran Society, founded by Abdolhossein Teymourtash. [2]
Terian was also a professor of French language and literature at the Teachers College Tehran. Her daughter was astronomer and physicist, Alenush Terian. [2] [6]