Thiago Cortés

Mojean Aria is an Australian actor, writer, producer and filmmaker.

As an actor, Mojean has worked alongside producers Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Mike De Luca, Aaron Ryder and others. He has starred opposite the likes of Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Antonio Banderas and Jason Momoa.

Early life and education Aria first started taking acting lessons at the age of six. He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) at the age of fourteen in advanced (adult) classes. In 2004 he won a scholarship to The McDonald College High School of Performing Arts.

Career

In 2007 he landed a lead role in the feature film Cross Life directed by Claire McCarthy, which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival. He later relocated to Los Angeles.

In 2016, Aria starred as Steve in Call of the Void, a noir-inspired film directed by Dustin Kahia. Aria portrayed a man struggling with emotional turmoil and lost love. His performance was noted for balancing intensity and restraint, effectively conveying the character’s distress. Aria’s portrayal complemented the film’s style, fitting into its introspective atmosphere.

In the same year, Mojean also starred in Hara Kiri, directed by Aitch Alberto.

In 2017, Mojean became the first ever unsigned recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship, as well as being the first from a multi-cultural background. The judging panel consisted of Gary Oldman and Bruna Papandrea and was backed by benefactors Michelle Williams and Nicole Kidman, among others. Kimberly Peirce, who served on the judges' panel, praised Aria's work as "rich, nuanced, precise, beautiful, authentic, emotive and fierce". In his acceptance speech, he reflected on Heath Ledger's influence on his career, recalling a childhood encounter with the late actor at a screening in Sydney. Aria credited Ledger's openness and charisma as inspirations for his artistic journey. He also acknowledged his mother's sacrifices after immigrating from Iran to build a future for their family in Australia. During the speech, Aria became emotional and was comforted on stage by Ledger's father, Kim Ledger.

In 2019, Aria starred as Gether Bax in See for Apple TV+. Set in a dystopian future where humanity has lost the ability to see, the show featured Aria as a disloyal member of his village. Aria described the production as one of the most intense experiences of his career, citing its logistical challenges and artistic ambition. He also praised the show's themes of power, vision, and diversity, noting its broader societal reflections.

GQ Magazine reported that Aria developed a professional relationship with Jason Momoa while filming See, which contributed to increased recognition for the young actor. Momoa publicly acknowledged Aria’s performance on social media, drawing attention to his work. During production, Momoa praised Aria’s dedication and performance in an intense scene they rehearsed together. He later expressed interest in working with Aria on future projects, recognizing his versatility as an actor.

That same year, Variety reported that Aria was cast in the independent immigrant drama Thief of Sleep, with filming planned in Scotland. The film, directed by Darwin Serink and co-written with Stuart Thomas, follows a young closeted gay man fleeing persecution in Iran. Producers Chelsea Winstanley and Tommee May expressed support for Aria’s casting, noting its significance in his career. Aria had previously collaborated with Serink on the short film Aban + Khorshid. However, since the initial announcement in 2019, there have been no further updates or confirmation regarding the film's production status.

In 2020, Mojean decided to take all his experience into his production company venture of Mystic Makers with his primary collaborator, screenwriter and development executive, Lauren Campi. His first project was the Hawaiian fantasy drama KaPō, which he co-produced with Chelsea Winstanley. He went on to produce several notable short films.

In 2021, Aria joined the cast of the noir thriller The Enforcer, which began filming in Thessaloniki, Greece. He starred alongside Antonio Banderas, Kate Bosworth, and 2 Chainz. The film, directed by Richard Hughes and written by W. Peter Iliff, follows an enforcer who turns against his own organisation to save a young runaway from cyber sex trafficking. Millennium Media introduced The Enforcer at the Cannes Virtual Market in June 2021.

In 2023 he co-starred in Shayda which was executive produced by Cate Blanchett. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it picked up the Audience Award and he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at th 2024 AACTA Awards.

In 2024, Mojean co-starred in The Correspondent opposite Richard Roxburgh, as the activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

Mojean co-stars opposite Russell Crowe in Beast in Me, directed by Tyler Atkins, co-written and produced by Crowe.

Other activities Mojean started the first scholarship for MENA actors in Australia.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2007 Cross Life Donald 2009 Fate Train Angus Short film 2010 Purgatory John Everton Short film Surprise! Ben Short film 2011 The Unforgettable Key Logan Aria Short film; writer and producer 2012 Revolution Jack Short film The Sweetest Chord Jack Short film 2013 Avenge My Eyes Young Ray Leonard Short film 2014 Aban and Khorshid Aban Short film 2015 Hybrids Blaz 2016 Hara Kiri Beto Short film The Bronx Bull Young Jake LaMotta Primitive Technology Keith Short film Boys on Film 14: Worlds Collide Aban 2017 The Suitcase Joe Franek Call of the Void Steve 2019 Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp 2021 Reminiscence Sebastian Sylvan 2022 The Enforcer Stray 2023 Shayda Farhad 2025 This Tempting Madness Detective Colton 2026 Beast Malon James

Television

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2017 Australians In Film Heath Ledger Scholarship N/A