Our family is full of heart, creativity, and curiosity. My husband, Mark, is a professional drummer and percussionist and a dedicated educator. I’ve proudly served as a civil servant for over 30 years, and I’m also an actor, producer, and screenwriter. I also wrote a children’s book, Anoushka’s Extraordinary Heroes. Our daughter, Anoushka, is already making her mark as a young model, having appeared in campaigns for Rubie’s Costume Company, Apple, and Primary Clothing. As a family, we love to laugh and explore the world together. Whether we’re traveling, discovering new restaurants, enjoying live music, playing board games, or spending time with loved ones, we cherish every moment we share.
One of my favorite memories with [students] Julia and Naphthalie was seeing their delight at being welcomed with a breakfast mini spread. In both my husband’s and my own cultural background, we believe that meaningful communication begins with a well-prepared table. Good food doesn’t just nourish the body—it opens the ears and softens the heart.
What are one or two themes that you try to emphasize with students?
I shared with students my personal birth story and the difficult encounter I had with the doctor who delivered Anoushka. I recalled how the doctor offered no congratulations and lacked empathy in my care. I told them no medical professional has the right to project their personal feelings onto a new mother — the only appropriate response in that moment is “Congratulations.” Every mother deserves to be celebrated.
In my culture, childbirth is viewed as a sacred journey—a passage to the edge of life and back. When a mother returns from that journey with a living child, it is not just a moment—it is a triumph. And that triumph should always be honored.
Is there a student interaction you had that made you happy to be involved with Operation House Call?
Anoushka is an only child, so whenever we have guests, she’s so happy to have new playmates. She loves showing off her room and sharing her toys. We were especially grateful for how patient and engaged the students were with her, happily following her lead, for example, when they willingly played along as “suspects” being “arrested” by Officer Anoushka during one of her imaginative games.
