Natasha Rothwell’s Hulu series How to Die Alone might initially seem like your run-of-the-mill dramedy series, mixing humor and sadness to balance out the stakes. But while watching, you realize that Rothwell and her team have struck a stark relatability that delves deeper than most shows.

Namely, How to Die Alone takes its title very seriously, giving its protagonist Mel (Natasha Rothwell) a raw introspection on daily life and a key drive at breaking past the mundanities imposed on her and her fellow working class friends. One of these new friends she makes is Allie, played by Chinese-Kurdish-Iranian and queer actor Jaylee Hamidi (they/she), and who comes to support Mel at her lowest points.

Besides being a great all around performer, Hamidi’s casting is a landmark for Kurdish representation in western media. As a Kurd, I have literally never seen any Kurd in any western production, and we’re even scant when it comes to still overall scant West Asian or broader SWANA representation. So to have Hamidi now with their tremendous performance is incredibly gratifying. Even though her character isn’t necessarily stated to be Kurdish-Iranian, seeing Allie wear a nazar necklace was a lovely cultural touch that will have Kurds, Iranians, and other SWANA people who know and treasure this protective symbol feel seen.

We got to speak with Hamidi earlier this week on their role as Allie. Our conversation covered how they booked the role, how it feels to be the first Kurdish actor on a major network and show, and the overall landscape of both West Asian and East Asian representation. You can watch our conversation below:

How to Die Alone is now streaming exclusively on Hulu