Minerva Khodabande

Minerva is a bilingual (Farsi/English) actor, commanding vocalist, and musician. Born and raised in Iran, her earliest memories are steeped in music, poetry, and tradition. Her artistic spark was ignited by her grandfather’s devotion to Persian classical singing and mastery of Iranian instruments – a legacy that led her to study cello at the renowned Pars Music Institute in Tehran and later perform with the Sydney Youth Orchestra.

At the age of nine, Minerva migrated to Australia with her mother. Navigating a new language and culture, she found solace in film and television, discovering the transformative power of storytelling. In high school, she poured herself into the arts – acting in school productions and beatboxing her heart out in the TarAcapella group. Committed to deepening her craft, Minerva adds this degree to her existing Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Psychology from UNSW and a Diploma of Musical Theatre from NIDA. Equally at home on stage, screen, and in the sound studio, Minerva is driven by a profound curiosity about the human condition. She is drawn to characters that challenge her perspective and expand her emotional depth. With each role, she aims to awaken something real – whether a flicker of joy, a pang of truth, or the comfort of shared experience. As her artistic journey unfolds, she looks forward to broadening her practice into writing and directing.

NIDA Productions