OnlyOnAOL: 'Tyrant' star Moran Atias dishes on kissing Mr. Big
By: Donna Freydkin
Things are getting big for "Tyrant" matriarch Leila Al-Fayeed. Quite literally. As in, Mr. Big.
Moran Atias, who plays the ambitious woman at the center of a power struggle in a fictional Middle Eastern country, has found love. With an American general, of all people played by Chris Noth. She's giddy about sharing the screen with Noth, who famously romanced Carrie Bradshaw on "Sex and the City."
"One time he was smoking a cigar and I was like, 'Boy, you better freshen up.' He's such a great guy. He's so easy. He's serious about the work but so playful. We would laugh so much," says Atias of her show, which airs Wednesdays on FX.
Her character finds herself at the center of a political crisis. And Atias, who was born and raised in Israel, is well-versed in international ups and downs. "We're influenced by so many places and people. From each we take a little bit. One of the people I was influenced by was Eva Peron," she says of her character.
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Atias is bright and aware, well-versed in world events and familiar with global leaders. "When I started this career, maybe in my 20s, I was the spokesperson for city hall of Milan. Immediately I found myself talking about the situation in Israel -- somehow what peace really means and what is terrorism," she says.
She doesn't take anything for granted, especially her career. "America is an inspiration for so many countries. Look how many people want to come here and live here and work here. You don't have that desire in other countries. America represents all that," says Atias. "We can criticize this country. But I look at the glorious part of it. I'm here and I'm very grateful to be here."
