Distinguished actor and artist Edward Akrout reflects on the emotional demands of acting and how the Transcendental Meditation technique supports him in managing stress, cultivating emotional clarity, and moving fluidly between inner experience and creative expression. He also talks about his visual art practice in contemporary abstraction, his lifelong fascination with texture and emotional presence in painting, and the ways creativity, spirituality, and psychological depth intersect in his work.

Mr. Akrout also discusses his humanitarian efforts, including founding ArtShield in 2022 to support artists in Ukraine and other crisis regions by protecting cultural voices and providing creative tools for resilience and healing. He speaks about how witnessing courage, humanity, and unwavering artistic expression in the midst of war profoundly reshaped his understanding of beauty, strength, and responsibility.

Edward Akrout was raised between France and England by a Franco-British Jewish mother and a Turkish Palestinian Muslim father—a rich multicultural background that continues to shape his artistic vision. He grew up navigating multiple cultures across Europe and beyond, including time in Romania and Latin America.

Edward Akrout reflects on the emotional demands of acting and how the Transcendental Meditation technique supports him in managing stress, cultivating emotional clarity, and moving fluidly between inner experience and creative expression.

A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (2008), Mr. Akrout has earned recognition for his compelling performances, notably as the Dauphin in the BBC’s The Hollow Crown and as Edward Steichen in Rodin, an Official Selection of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

His visual art encompasses painting, drawing, and sculpture. He has had solo shows in London and participated in group exhibitions in Athens, London, and New York. His 2017 art film, Quantum Political Feedback, premiered at the Pompidou Centre in Paris and later opened at Berlin’s House of World Cultures.

In 2013, Mr. Akrout traveled to Ukraine to film Bitter Harvest, a poignant portrayal of Ukraine’s history. The ensuing conflict profoundly affected him, inspiring his return in 2022 to launch ArtShield for the support of artists in conflict zones.

Christine Albers, host of TM Talks, interviewed Edward Akraut. This interview was aired on January 4, 2026.