Compilation of Assad Zaman and his love of playing with dolls + getting dolled up :)
"The backstage area is just brilliant," Zaman remarks, his buoyant energy breaking through. "It's so beautifully constructed. Mara [LePere-Schloop, the series' production designer] is a genius. The coven's costumer, Hans Luchenbaum, has this huge table right in the middle of the dressing room area, full of textiles, props, costumes, just everything you could want." Zaman blushes slightly before continuing. "When I was growing up, I used to play with dolls, and now I just love having toys or props around. Hans's table in the dressing room was my sort of happy place during shooting, I loved looking at all the useful trinkets I could play with."
(Assad Zaman for Playbill)
What were some of your biggest inspirations growing up, personally and professionally?
A: I loved cartoons, I had every single action figure from every major superhero property on the TV in the 90s. They were my inspiration for storytelling. I'd often reenact action scenes with the dolls and then elaborate my own endings. Bollywood movies were a big part of our household, and I would often give these action heroes Bollywood style romantic story lines. I'd spend hours lost in it. I guess I was inspired by those things. In terms of people, I rack my brain but can't think of anyone who surpasses my parents. They're incredible human beings.
(Assad Zaman for Wonderland Magazine)
A: They had to be completely different, but I also wanted the audience to still see the nugget of what he pretended to be in Season 1. I'll be totally honest; I think 80% to 90% of the job was done by this amazing team of makeup artists and designers. I felt transformed the first time I saw Armand's look and eyes — I didn't recognize myself! I think Rashid is closer to me than Armand is. So, I was like, wow! When you put on a suit or if you put on something that you don't normally wear, it often changes your physicality.
You carry yourself differently.
A: Absolutely. And if you wear stilettos, or you're wearing flats, whatever it is, it makes you consciously feel that you have to wear the thing or it'll wear you, you know what I mean? When I got into the costume, especially the Paris stuff that you see Armand in, it did something to me. It became really easy after that to find the language of the physicality of who Armand is in that moment. It was really a combination of the hair, the makeup, and the costumes.
Well, [costume designer] Carol Cutshall knows what she's doing!
A: Oh my gosh, she's brilliant. Absolutely genius. Then in the hair department we had this amazing guy, Francesco, who crafted these beautiful looks. Things that I'd never done with my hair he was able to achieve. Everyone keeps asking me, "Is that a wig you're wearing?" And I keep saying "No, no, he did that!" | was like, this is insane. Then Adele, who was my makeup artist, was fantastic. She created this almost matte-like effect with my face.
Yes! You look almost doll like, in perfection.
(Assad Zaman admiring his nails in IWTV S2E5 BTS)
(Assad Zaman fan encounter during the filming of IWTV S3 in Toronto)
(Assad Zaman admiring his nails at the NYCC 2025 IWTV S3 panel)
