Actor Alina Serban recently became the first Roma woman to receive the distinguished Order of Cultural Merit, awarded by the President of Romania. This award recognises her contributions to the arts, her advocacy for Roma identity, and her stand against racism.
Alina’s journey from the outskirts of Bucharest to the spotlight of Romania’s cultural scene is a testament to resilience and determination. Her life, marked by personal challenges from a young age, has fuelled her advocacy and storytelling, shining a light on the Roma community’s struggles and triumphs. Her portrayal of Ali in Gipsy Queen earned her the title of Germany’s Best Actress in 2020, highlighting her exceptional talent…..
…….For International Roma Day, read our exclusive interview with Alina, in which she shares insights into her journey, the impact of her recognition, and her vision for diversity, equality, and inclusion in the arts.
Can you share with us a bit about your journey to becoming a celebrated actress and filmmaker? What inspired you to pursue a career in the arts?
Alina Serban: Obviously, these are very complex questions. But just trying to answer them in a short way. I grew up in a world where I didn’t see myself represented. I dealt with and I am still dealing with feelings of inferiority and self hate, due to the bullying and discrimination I have faced, due to the poverty and the traumas that I have dealt with in my life.
I really wanted to give healing, first of all, to myself. I wanted to answer this lack of knowledge that unfortunately still exists today. In the last 15 years, I tried to build a bridge between us so that we can see that we have more things in common than what differentiates us.
As a Roma woman in the film and theatre industry, how do you navigate the challenges of representation? What changes do you hope to see in the industry regarding the portrayal of Roma people?
Alina Serban: I am still a work in progress as a human and an artist. I don’t have all the solutions, but I continue to face overwhelming challenges. I try not to give up despite feeling vulnerable as a Roma woman, director and actress, especially as I grow older. I’m 36 now, and I can see that age will also play another vulnerable point in my navigation.
I definitely dream of the moment when we see a diverse representation of Roma people, not only Roma but from all the communities that are passing by on the street, whom we may struggle to empathise with, unfortunately, because we don’t know them. So, hopefully, I just wish for better access to resources for many more artists, so that the stories that we hear will be diverse……
……From your experience, what are the key barriers to equality, diversity, and inclusion in the creative industry, and how can they be overcome?
Alina Serban: The creative industry is a reflection of society. Because we suffer from systemic racism and inequality, there are significant barriers that prevent many young people, especially from minority backgrounds, from accessing education and opportunities in the arts. The arts is still an elitist world, created for people who can afford it. Hence my struggle to enter the artistic world and remain an artist. There is still much work to be done to break down these barriers and create a more inclusive industry.
“”By recognising the power of storytelling to bring people together and combat bullying and discrimination, we can use the arts as a tool for positive change. It is essential for the industry to acknowledge its lack of diversity, in the sense that they are majority white, upper class, middle class and they should take active steps to be more inclusive….
….You can read the entire interview on the website of The Romanian Diversity Chamber of Commerce (RDCC):
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