Brett Azar On His Audition to Play Iron Sheik In Young Rock, Sheik Giving Him Advice

Brett Azar plays the Iron Sheik on NBC’s Young Rock series, and discussed his audition for the role in a new interview with Sportskeeda. You can check out some highlights and the video below:

On how his tryout for the show came about: “It was during the pandemic and lockdown, so I didn’t think any acting opportunities were going to come at all. I was with my girlfriend, and I’ve never shaved my head before. I said, ‘Babe. I feel like shaving my head. Would you shave my head?’ So we did, and she said, ‘That looks terrible. You’re going to grow it back out, right?’ Three days later, I get the call to audition for The Sheik. A month later, they confirmed I got the role. I was like, ‘Babe. We’re going to keep this look for a while now.’ I did the audition. They (producers) loved my look. I had somewhat of a mustache, and they asked, ‘Can you grow a mustache?’ I said, ‘Yeah, give me like a month. No problem.’ They said, ‘Only a month?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, you’ll see.'”

On studying Sheik’s promos for the role: “Then they asked, ‘Can you talk like him?’ I did nothing but listen to his YouTube videos and his promos, saying, ‘I’ll break your back and make you humble!’ They asked, ‘Can you do it more like NBC?’ ‘Yes, Baba, Sheik only family man.’ Then it all worked.”

On getting advice and help from the real Iron Sheik: “I called Sheik and got his approval. He loved the idea. He loved everything I was bringing to the table. He helped me with how to speak and how to act. He wanted to mentor the wrestling aspect, but he’s not in Australia. That’s where we filmed. It’s just the best role I’ve ever been apart of, best cast, best project, and to be the Sheik is a true honor because he’s a legend.”