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Anthony Keyvan questioned his identity growing up. Now, he views it as a superpower.

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Yong Chavez | TFC News Hollywood

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nKIGJcJCWOo?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>Anthony Keyvan started in Hollywood as a child actor, but he said that it&#x27;s only now that he is finding roles that fully represent who he is.</p><p>The 22-year-old star played a Filipino character for the first time in the streaming series &quot;XO, Kitty.&quot;</p><p>Kevyan is a Filipino-Iranian-American.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="xokitty1" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/07/21/xokitty1.jpg"/><figcaption><address style="text-align:left">Anthony Keyvan plays a Filipino character for the first time in &quot;XO, Kitty.&quot; (Courtesy: Netflix &quot;XO, Kitty)</address></figcaption></figure></div><p>When he was eight, he appeared in an episode of the TV series &quot;Lost,&quot; where he was the young Sayid, the Iraqi character played by Naveen Andrews.</p><p>Appearances in shows like &quot;Grey&#x27;s Anatomy,&quot; &quot;Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,&quot; &quot;NCIS,&quot; and many others came along in the years that followed.</p><p>But in &quot;XO, Kitty,&quot; as a student who&#x27;s confident about who he is, he found a chance for representation that really hits home.</p><p>&quot;It means everything to me,&quot; said Keyvan. &quot;My whole life, I grew up playing characters that weren&#x27;t necessarily similar to my background.&quot;</p><p>He added: &quot;Over the past couple of years, the industry has taken a turn. I think it has become more cognizant and aware of the need for proper representation and authenticity.&quot;</p><p>The actor&#x27;s breakout role came through the hit show &quot;Love, Victor,&quot; a series known for its heartwarming story and diverse cast.</p><p>&quot;There&#x27;s a lot of adversity that comes with being a minority and of multiple backgrounds. But overall, I love being half-Filipino, half-Iranian. I think it&#x27;s really cool,&quot; Keyvan said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="xokitty2" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/07/21/xokitty2.jpg"/><figcaption><address style="text-align:left">Anthony Keyvan stars with Anna Cathcart in &quot;XO, Kitty.&quot; (Courtesy: Netflix: &quot;XO, Kitty)</address></figcaption></figure></div><p>Growing up, Keyvan shared that he questioned his identity a lot.</p><p>&quot;There was a lot of me trying to fit in,&quot; he said. &quot;But there have been some challenges, of course, growing up, looking different. I love who I am. I wouldn&#x27;t trade my ethnicity or background for the world. I think being mixed race and being Filipino and Iranian is more of a superpower than it is otherwise.&quot;</p><p>Keyvan credits his Filipino mother Joyce Raquel Cansino Candelaria for inspiring his determination to always do his best.</p><p>His grandmother, a nurse, was the first in his family to migrate to the U.S.</p><p>&quot;XO, Kitty&quot; is one of Netflix&#x27;s recent big hits and is coming back for a second season. </p><div><em><strong>***</strong></em></div><div><strong><em>Note: This interview was completed before the Hollywood actors&#x27; strike.</em></strong></div>

The 22-year-old star played a Filipino character for the first time in the streaming series 'XO, Kitty.'