An Interview with Rosie Malek-Yonan

by Ninos Adams

07 March 2006


Ms. Malek-Yonan, tell us about your life.

My life has been a series of events that each began with a dream. But through determination and hard work, I transformed the dreams to reality: acting, directing, writing, concert pianist, and figure skating. I believe most everything in life can be achieved as long as we don’t get in our own way of success. My life is about succeeding only on my own terms. I am my own toughest critic. And I set the bar high. I have only one life and one chance to get it right. Failure is never an option. But while I set out to achieve my goals, I never forget who I am. Being an Assyrian and acknowledging that fact is a fundamental aspect of who I am.


How did you start your career as an actor?

I studied drama for many years and then began in the theatre as I worked on my craft by doing Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Ibsen, Chekov, Shaw, Moliere, Neil Simon, and all the other great classics. I studied drama at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco as well as drama and music at San Francisco State University. Subsequently I won an invitation to study acting and theatre at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA). While still a student at AADA, I landed my first national AT&T commercial where I actually spoke in Assyrian. It was the first ever commercial in Assyrian for American audiances. I don’t think there’s been another one since. I’ve worked on feature films both comedy and drama as well as episodic television and soaps such as Star Trek, Babylon 5, NYPD Blue, CSI: Miami and Days of Our Lives to name just a few.


Do you still act now?

Yes, I still do. Once you have the acting bug, you can’t get rid of it!


You have written a book called The Crimson Field. What is it about?

The Crimson Field is an historical and literary reality based novel that chronicles my family’s story set to the backdrop of the Assyrian Genocide/Seyfo of 1914-1918. I believe this story is worth telling because it matters. It will open a dialogue on a subject that has been closed for nearly a century. I hope that The Crimson Field will bring about awareness. Our national tragedy has been overlooked and understudied for far too many years. The pages that have been ripped out of history books must be replaced. I hope that my book will shed light on the events of our past not just for Assyrians but more so for the western reader.


The book is now available in English. Will you publish The Crimson Field in other languages too?

Yes, I hope to have it translated into other languages.


Will you publish other books as well?


Certainly. I am also a playwright. I have written many plays that have been produced in Los Angeles and Hollywood. I sometimes write plays with my writing partner and sister, Monica, who is the editor of The Crimson Field.


What are your plans for the future?

I plan to keep reaching for the stars. There will always be new stories to tell and music to write. New dreams will be born every day. But I also plan to continue with the message of The Crimson Field. That dream has just begun to take shape. Within my own capacity, I will continue to fight and demand for the recognition of my people by whatever name they are called: Assyrian, Syrian or Chaldean. The Crimson Field unites us as a people. We share this tragic history. It is our history. No one can be excluded from The Crimson Field…Khaghla Smooghta…U Afro Semoko.

What is The Yonan Codex?

The Yonan Codex is a parchment manuscript of the Assyrian New Testament that belonged to the Malek-Yonan Family for centuries. On April 5, 1955, it was exhibited in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress. President Eisenhower was photographed with it the White House. In November 1955, the Yonan Codex began its tour aboard the “Sprit of Galilee” at the Capitol Plaza in Washington D.C. At the opening ceremony, Vice President Richard Nixon announced, “This book of the Holy Scriptures will be taken to every city and hamlet in America in order that the American people may participate in the ownership of this ancient manuscript.”