There’s nothing better than starring in a play in the native language. This is what well-known Armenian actress Nora Armani said in an interview with NEWS.am. Nora Armani is in Armenia to star in the play “Mercedes” at the Young Spectators’ Theater in Yerevan.

“Nothing compares to your native language. You go so deep into it that you even ask yourself if you’re speaking in Eastern Armenian or Western Armenian. That’s how important it is to star in a play in the native language. When you star in a play in the native language abroad, you’ll rarely be working with professionals. You might be professional yourself, but the people around you can’t be professional in terms of language,” the actress said.

Nora Armani (Ekserjian) was born to an Armenian family in Giza, Egypt. The play “Mercedes”, which is about immigration and repatriation, is not new to her. She hasn’t immigrated, but remembers the large chest in which her family would keep warm clothes to return to Armenia and settle there someday.

“The stories about Armenia were a part of my childhood. When I was little, there was a large chest at our house. There were socks and warm clothes in that box. When I would ask what that was, my grandmother would say, ��?It’s for Armenia’. In the 1940s, my grandparents wanted to move from Egypt to Armenia, but for some reasons, it didn’t work out. So, I fully understand the play “Mercedes”. The feelings and experiences of the main character are not strange to me. A good actress must play any role, but when you know what kind of a play you’re starring in, everything works out better. This is a story about Western Armenians, and the language that I speak in is Western Armenian. So, I’m very happy to be playing this role,” the actress mentioned.

Nora Armani is collaborating with the Young Spectators’ Theater and director Hakob Ghazanchyan for the third time.

The premiere of the play “Mercedes”, which is dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, will be held at the Young Spectators’ Theater in Yerevan on May 3 and 4..

Nora Armani stars in films directed by Armenian, French, American and Egyptian film directors. She has received several awards in cinema and theater and is an honorary member of the Union of Theater Figures of Armenia. The media and critics have praised the many roles that the actress has played. One of her famous plays is the mono play called “On The Couch With Nora Armani” in which Nora presents the story of her family who survived the Armenian Genocide.