Jump to content

Irene Zazians: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
mNo edit summary
Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
Bots
3,695,952 edits
m Task 20: replace {lang-??} templates with {langx|??} ‹See Tfd› (Replaced 3);
 
(30 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Iranian actress}}
{{short description|Iranian actress}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Irene Zazians
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Iren.jpg
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Iren-actress.jpg
| caption = Irene Zazians portrait from " Etela'at Haftegi " magazine, 1950s
| caption = Irene Zazians portrait, from ''Etela'at-e Haftegi'' magazine, 1950s
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|8|20}}
| native_name = Իրեն Զազյանց
⚫
| birth_place = [[Babolsar]], [[Iran]]
| birth_name =
| native_name_lang = hy
| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|7|28|1927|8|20}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|8|20}}
| death_place = [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]
| birth_place = [[Babolsar]], [[Iran]]
| other_names = Irene Asemi
| resting_place=[[:fa:گورستان ارامنه تهران (بوراستان)|Burastan Cemetery]]
| birth_name =
| nationality = [[Iranian Armenians|Iranian-Armenian]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|7|28|1927|8|20}}
| occupation = Actress
⚫
| death_place = [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]
| years_active = 1948–1982
| resting_place = [[Nor Burastan Cemetery|Burastan Cemetery]]
| spouse = Mohammad Assemi <br /> Shahrokh Rafi
| children =
| occupation = Actress
| relatives =
| years_active = 1948–1982
| website =
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* Mohammad Assemi
* Shahrokh Rafi
}}
}}
| children =
⚫
'''Irene Zazians''' ({{Lang-hy|Իրեն Զազյանց}}; {{Lang-fa|ایرن زازیانس}}; August 20, 1927 – July 28, 2012), known mononymously as '''Irene''', was an [[Iranian Armenians|Iranian-Armenian]] actress of cinema and television. She worked with famous [[Iranian new wave]]<ref>{{cite journal|title=ایرن زازیانس|journal=فصلنامه ره آورد|year=2012|volume=100|page=251}}</ref> directors both before and after the [[1979 revolution]], such as [[Samuel Khachikian]], [[Amir Naderi]], [[Nosrat Karimi]], [[Masoud Kimiai|Masoud Kimiyayi]], and [[Alireza Davood Nejad]]. Her two films after the revolution, ''The Red Line'' directed by Kimiyayi and ''The Reward'' by Davood Nejad, [[censorship in Iran|were banned]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن بازیگر ایرانی درگذشت|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/2012/07/120728_iren_died_actress.shtml|publisher=[[BBC Persian]] website}}</ref>
| relatives =
| website =
}}
⚫
'''Irene Zazians''' ({{Langx|hy|Իրեն Զազյանց}}; {{Langx|fa|ایرن زازیانس}}; August 20, 1927 – July 28, 2012), known [[mononym]]ously as '''Irene''', was an Iranian actress of cinema and television. She worked with famous [[Iranian new wave]]<ref>{{cite journal|title=ایرن زازیانس|journal=فصلنامه ره‌آورد|year=2012|volume=100|page=251}}</ref> directors both before and after the [[1979 revolution]], such as [[Samuel Khachikian]], [[Amir Naderi]], [[Nosrat Karimi]], [[Masoud Kimiai|Masoud Kimiyayi]], and [[Alireza Davood Nejad]]. Her two films after the revolution, ''The Red Line'' directed by Kimiyayi and ''The Reward'' by Davood Nejad, [[censorship in Iran|were banned]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ایرن، بازیگر ایرانی، درگذشت |date=28 July 2012 |trans-title=Iranian actress Irene has died |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/2012/07/120728_iren_died_actress.shtml |publisher=[[BBC Persian]] website}}</ref>


She also appeared in four TV series.<ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن زازیانس، بازیگر سینما و تئاتر درگذشت|url=http://www.radiozamaneh.com/46780#.Ug67-JIwf84|publisher=[[Radio Zamaneh]] website}}</ref> She portrayed [[Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia|Mahde Olya]] ([[Nasereddin Shah]]'s mother) in ''[[Soltan-e Sahebgharan|Soltan-e Sahebgheran]]'' directed by [[Ali Hatami]] in 1976. Her role in ''[[Hezar Dastan]]'', another series directed by Ali Hatami, was cut out.<ref>{{cite web|title=یک سال از درگذشت ایرن زازیانس گذشت|url=http://art-ghadimiha.blogspot.com/2013/07/blog-post_29.html|publisher=ghadimiha.blogspot.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن بازیگر قدیمی سینمای ایران درگذشت|url=https://fa.wikinews.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%86_%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%B1_%D9%82%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%85%DB%8C_%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%AF%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B0%D8%B4%D8%AA|publisher=ویکی خبر فارسی}}</ref> After the [[Iranian revolution]] she was banned from taking part in any artistic activities. She travelled to [[Germany]], where she re-trained as a beautician.<ref>{{cite web|title=گفتگو با ایرن زازیانس: هیچوقت در زندگی ‌ام از الگویی پیروی نكردم|url=http://www.ghadimiha.blogfa.com/post-175.aspx|publisher=ghadimiha.blogfa.com}}</ref> She returned to Iran in 1986, during the harshest time of the [[Iran-Iraq war]]. Her last performance in cinema was in ''[[Shirin (film)|Shirin]]'' in 2008, a film by [[Abbas Kiarostami]]. She died of [[lung cancer]] in 2012 in [[Tehran]].<ref>{{cite web|title=بازیگر قدیمی سینمای ایران درگذشت|url=http://www.khabaronline.ir/detail/231275/culture/cinema|publisher=Khabaronline website}}</ref>
She also appeared in four TV series.<ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن زازیانس، بازیگر سینما و تئاتر، درگذشت|date=28 July 2012 |url=http://www.radiozamaneh.com/46780#.Ug67-JIwf84|publisher=[[Radio Zamaneh]] website}}</ref> She portrayed [[Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia|Mahde Olya]] ([[Nasereddin Shah]]'s mother) in ''[[Soltan-e Sahebgharan|Soltan-e Sahebgheran]]'' directed by [[Ali Hatami]] in 1976. Her role in ''[[Hezar Dastan]]'', another series directed by Ali Hatami, was cut out.<ref>{{cite web|title=یک سال از درگذشت ایرن زازیانس گذشت|url=http://art-ghadimiha.blogspot.com/2013/07/blog-post_29.html|publisher=ghadimiha.blogspot.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن، بازیگر قدیمی سینمای ایران، درگذشت|url=https://fa.wikinews.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%86_%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%B1_%D9%82%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%85%DB%8C_%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%AF%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B0%D8%B4%D8%AA|publisher=ویکی‌خبر فارسی}}</ref> After the [[Iranian revolution]] she was banned from taking part in any artistic activities. She travelled to [[Germany]], where she re-trained as a beautician.<ref>{{cite web|title=گفتگو با ایرن زازیانس: هیچ‌وقت در زندگی‌ام از الگویی پیروی نكردم|url=http://www.ghadimiha.blogfa.com/post-175.aspx|publisher=ghadimiha.blogfa.com}}</ref> She returned to Iran in 1986, during the harshest time of the [[Iran-Iraq war]]. Her last performance in cinema was in ''[[Shirin (film)|Shirin]]'' in 2008, a film by [[Abbas Kiarostami]]. She died of [[lung cancer]] in 2012 in [[Tehran]].<ref>{{cite web|title=بازیگر قدیمی سینمای ایران درگذشت|date=28 July 2012 |url=http://www.khabaronline.ir/detail/231275/culture/cinema|publisher=Khabaronline website}}</ref>


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Irene was born in an [[Armenians|Armenian]] family who had immigrated to [[Babolsar]], Iran, after surviving the [[Armenian Genocide]]. Her father was Alexander Zazians and her mother's name was Varia. Her father was from [[Western Armenia]], while her mother was from the east. Irene was their fourth child, but all of the first three children died of causes such as disease.<ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن زازیانس متولد ۲۰ مرداد ۱۳۰۶|url=http://www.rcir.ir/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125:1392-05-08-17-31-22|website=www.rcir.ir|access-date=2013-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128114308/http://rcir.ir/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125:1392-05-08-17-31-22|archive-date=2013-11-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> She went to "Shahdokht" school in Babolsar.<ref>{{cite web|last=Abdollahi|first=Sofia|title=از لاله زار تا هزاردستان داستان زندگی نخستین ستاره زن سینمای ایران|url=http://www.pendar.net/story/iren_biography|publisher=Pendar website|access-date=2013-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818142815/http://www.pendar.net/story/iren_biography|archive-date=2013-08-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> She started acting in the Ferdowsi theater when she was 19. In 1951 she joined the Noushin group in Sa'di theater, performing in works including [[Oscar Wilde]]'s ''[[Lady Windermere's Fan]]''. She married Mohammad Asemi, also an actor in the Noushin theater, when she was 16.<ref name=BBC/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/2009/12/091212_wmt-aa-asemi.shtml |title=محمد عاصمی، شاعر و نویسنده ایرانی درگذشت |trans-title=Mohammad Asemi, an Iranian poet and author, has died |publisher=BBC news |language=Persian |date=December 22, 2009 |orig-year=December 13, 2009 }}</ref>
Irene was born in an [[Armenians|Armenian]] family who had immigrated to [[Babolsar]], Iran, after surviving the [[Armenian genocide]]. Her father was Alexander Zazians and her mother's name was Varia. Her father was from [[Western Armenia]], while her mother was from the east. Irene was their fourth child, but all of the first three children died of causes such as disease.<ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن زازیانس متولد ۲۰ مرداد ۱۳۰۶|url=http://www.rcir.ir/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125:1392-05-08-17-31-22|website=www.rcir.ir|access-date=2013-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128114308/http://rcir.ir/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125:1392-05-08-17-31-22|archive-date=2013-11-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> She went to "Shahdokht" school in Babolsar.<ref>{{cite web|last=Abdollahi|first=Sofia|title=از لاله زار تا هزاردستان داستان زندگی نخستین ستاره زن سینمای ایران|url=http://www.pendar.net/story/iren_biography|publisher=Pendar website|access-date=2013-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818142815/http://www.pendar.net/story/iren_biography|archive-date=2013-08-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> She started acting in the Ferdowsi theater when she was 19. In 1951 she joined the Noushin group in Sa'di theater, performing in works including [[Oscar Wilde]]'s ''[[Lady Windermere's Fan]]''. She married Mohammad Asemi, also an actor in the [[Abdolhossein Noushin|Noushin]] theater, when she was 16.<ref name=BBC/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/2009/12/091212_wmt-aa-asemi.shtml |title=محمد عاصمی، شاعر و نویسنده ایرانی درگذشت |trans-title=Mohammad Asemi, an Iranian poet and author, has died |publisher=BBC News |language=Persian |date=December 22, 2009 |orig-year=December 13, 2009 }}</ref>
{{Quote box
{{Quote box
| quote ="In that time (1950s in Iran) Italian films were on top and people were so passionate about [[Silvana Mangano]] and [[Sophia Loren]]. But after screening "The Messenger from Heaven" Italian films were put behind for a while. "
| quote ="In that time (1950s in Iran) Italian films were on top and people were so passionate about [[Silvana Mangano]] and [[Sophia Loren]]. But after screening "The Messenger from Heaven" Italian films were put behind for a while. "
Line 34: Line 40:
==Film career==
==Film career==
[[File:Irene zazians cropped.jpg|thumbnail|left|160px|Irene portrayed [[Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia|Mahd-e Olya]], the mother of [[Nasereddin Shah]] in the TV series, [[Soltan-e Sahebgharan|Soltan-e Sahebgheran]] directed by [[Ali Hatami]] in 1974]]
[[File:Irene zazians cropped.jpg|thumbnail|left|160px|Irene portrayed [[Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia|Mahd-e Olya]], the mother of [[Nasereddin Shah]] in the TV series, [[Soltan-e Sahebgharan|Soltan-e Sahebgheran]] directed by [[Ali Hatami]] in 1974]]
After some years in theater she joined the cinema industry, acting in films such as ''The Man who Suffered'' directed by Jafari and ''Waiting'' by Ataullah Zahed. Her next film was ''The Messenger from Heaven'' directed by [[Samuel Khachikian]], also an Iranian Armenian. At the time Iranian women could not act in sexy clothes, but because Irene was of an Armenian family, she did not have that limitation and wore a two-piece swim suit <ref>{{cite web|title=گفتگو با ایرن زازیانس: هیچوقت در زندگی ‌ام از الگویی پیروی نكردم|url=http://www.ghadimiha.blogfa.com/post-175.aspx}}</ref> in ''The Messenger from Heaven''. The film was on screen for four days, but then was renditioned five times<ref>{{cite book|last=Mehrabi|first=Massoud|title=The History of Iranian Cinema (1900 - 1979)|page=87}}</ref> for its taboo scenes.<ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن بازیگر مشهور سینمای ایران درگذشت|url=http://www.dw.de/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B0%D8%B4%D8%AA/a-16129529|publisher=دویچه وله فارسی}}</ref> In 1958 [[Siamak Yasemi]] invited her to perform in a movie named ''The Spring of Life''. This was [[Mohammad Ali Fardin]]'s first film. In the early 1970s she worked with many Iranian new wave directors such as Amir Naderi (''Goodbye Friend''), Masoud Kimiyai (Baluch), [[Khosrow Haritash]] (''Speeding Naked till High Noon'') and [[Shapoor Gharib]] (''The Rooster'').<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|title=ایرن بازیگر ایرانی درگذشت|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/2012/07/120728_iren_died_actress.shtml |trans-title=Irene, actress, has died |publisher=BBC news |date=August 7, 2012 |orig-year=July 28, 2012 |language=Persian }}</ref>
After some years in theater she joined the cinema industry in 1958, acting in films such as ''The Man who Suffered'' directed by Mohammad Ali Jafari and ''Awaited'' by [[Ataollah Zahed]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=يادی از يک ستاره قديمی |trans-title=Remembrance of an old star |url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/arts/story/2004/07/040713_pm-pa-eiren |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=BBC Persian}}</ref> Her next film was ''The Messenger from Heaven'' directed by [[Samuel Khachikian]], also an Iranian Armenian. At the time Iranian women could not act in sexy clothes, but because Irene was of an Armenian family, she did not have that limitation and wore a two-piece swim suit <ref>{{cite web|title=گفتگو با ایرن زازیانس: هیچوقت در زندگی ‌ام از الگویی پیروی نكردم|url=http://www.ghadimiha.blogfa.com/post-175.aspx}}</ref> in ''The Messenger from Heaven''. The film was on screen for four days, but then was renditioned five times<ref>{{cite book|last=Mehrabi|first=Massoud|title=The History of Iranian Cinema (1900 - 1979)|page=87}}</ref> for its taboo scenes.<ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن بازیگر مشهور سینمای ایران درگذشت|url=http://www.dw.de/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B0%D8%B4%D8%AA/a-16129529|publisher=دویچه وله فارسی}}</ref> In 1958 [[Siamak Yasemi]] invited her to perform in a movie named ''The Spring of Life''. This was [[Mohammad Ali Fardin]]'s first film. In the early 1970s she worked with many Iranian new wave directors such as Amir Naderi (''Goodbye Friend''), Masoud Kimiyai (Baluch), [[Khosrow Haritash]] (''Speeding Naked till High Noon'') and [[Shapoor Gharib]] (''The Rooster'').<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|title=ایرن بازیگر ایرانی درگذشت|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/2012/07/120728_iren_died_actress.shtml |trans-title=Irene, actress, has died |publisher=BBC News |date=August 7, 2012 |orig-year=July 28, 2012 |language=Persian }}</ref>


===''Mohallel''===
===''Mohallel''===
Among her most acclaimed and controversial roles was the portrayal of a traditional [[Islam in Iran|Iranian Muslim]] woman in ''[[Nikah Halala (1971 film)|Mohallel]]'' while she was Armenian. The Islamic term ''mohallel'' (''[[Nikah halala]]'') refers to a man marrying a divorced woman so that she can marry her ex-husband after they have already divorced three times. Couples cannot remarry for a fourth time until the ex-wife marries another man, to ensure that divorce is not taken lightly.
Among her most acclaimed and controversial roles was the portrayal of a traditional [[Islam in Iran|Iranian Muslim]] woman in ''[[Nikah Halala (1971 film)|Mohallel]]'' while she was Armenian. The Islamic term ''mohallel'' (''[[Nikah halala]]'') refers to a man marrying a divorced woman so that she can marry her ex-husband after they have already divorced three times. Couples cannot remarry for a fourth time until the ex-wife marries another man, to ensure that divorce is not taken lightly.


[[Nosrat Karimi]] directed the film ''Mohallel'' in 1972. After all Iranian stars rejected the role, he turned to Irene, an Armenian. She spent time in a traditional Iranian household to observe their lifestyle. However, some [[Shia Islam|Shia]] [[Mojtahed|mojtaheds]] such as [[Morteza Motahhari]] wrote bitter criticisms of the film in ''[[Kayhan]]''. Other critics defended Irene's performance, and Zazians was nominated for a Sepas award that year. The film only remained on screens for three days and was renditioned.<ref>{{cite web|title=زندگینامۀ "ایرن زازیانس"هنرمند سينما|url=http://madar25.blogfa.com/post-173.aspx|access-date=2013-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707091448/http://madar25.blogfa.com/post-173.aspx|archive-date=2012-07-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[Nosrat Karimi]] directed the film ''Mohallel'' in 1972. After all Iranian stars rejected the role, he turned to Irene, an Armenian. She spent time in a traditional Iranian household to observe their lifestyle. However, some [[Shia Islam|Shia]] [[mojtahed]]s such as [[Morteza Motahhari]] wrote bitter criticisms of the film in ''[[Kayhan]]''. Other critics defended Irene's performance, and Zazians was nominated for a Sepas award that year. The film only remained on screens for three days and was renditioned.<ref name="madar25.blogfa.com">{{cite web|title=زندگینامۀ "ایرن زازیانس"هنرمند سينما|url=http://madar25.blogfa.com/post-173.aspx|access-date=2013-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707091448/http://madar25.blogfa.com/post-173.aspx|archive-date=2012-07-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Television career==
==Television career==
She played in four TV series. One was ''Soltan-e Sahebgheran'', a historical TV series about Nasereddin shah Qajar and [[Amirkabir]] and their assassination. Zazians portrayed [[Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia|Mahd-e Olya]], Shah's mother in the series.<ref>{{cite web|title=Soltan-e Sahebgharan|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830855/|publisher=IMDb}}</ref> Another TV series was ''Abunasr's Throne'' ({{Lang-fa|تخت ِ ابونصر}}), based on a story of [[Sadegh Hedayat]] and a screenplay by [[Ahmad Shamlu]].<ref>{{cite web|title=تخت ابونصر|url=http://www.tv50.blogfa.com/post/268}}</ref> Her latter two series were ''I Love You, I Love You'', directed by Morteza Alavi, and ''Hezar Dastan'', also by Ali Hatami, which was screened after the Iranian revolution with her role being totally cut out.
She played in four TV series. One was ''Soltan-e Sahebgheran'', a historical TV series about Nasereddin shah Qajar and [[Amirkabir]] and their assassination. Zazians portrayed [[Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia|Mahd-e Olya]], Shah's mother in the series.<ref>{{cite web|title=Soltan-e Sahebgharan|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830855/|publisher=IMDb}}</ref> Another TV series was ''Abunasr's Throne'' ({{Langx|fa|تخت ِ ابونصر}}), based on a story of [[Sadegh Hedayat]] and a screenplay by [[Ahmad Shamlu]].<ref>{{cite web|title=تخت ابونصر|url=http://www.tv50.blogfa.com/post/268}}</ref> Her latter two series were ''I Love You, I Love You'', directed by Morteza Alavi, and ''Hezar Dastan'', also by Ali Hatami, which was screened after the Iranian revolution with her role being totally cut out.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
⚫
[[File:Burastan Cemetery 0838.jpg|thumb|Irene grave at [[Khavaran, Tehran|Khavaran]], Tehran]]
Zazians married twice; first when she was 16, to Mohammad Asemi, an actor in the Noushin group. Asemi was also a poet and a writer and was a member of [[Tudeh Party of Iran]]. Their marriage was not stable and they got divorced. From this marriage, Irene was sometimes called Irene Asemi, her ex-husband's family name.<ref>{{cite web|last=Morteza|first=Negahi|title=محمد عاصمی هم رفت…|url=http://negahi.com/wordpress/?p=1101}}</ref> After that, she married director and producer, Shahrokh Rafi.<ref>{{cite web|title=شاهرخ رفيع|url=http://www.sourehcinema.com/People/People.aspx?Id=138209240125|publisher=Iranian Movie Database}}</ref> But this marriage also turned into divorce. After the Iranian Revolution Irene was banned from performing as an actress, so she travelled to Germany to live with her sister. She only stayed there for two years and returned to Iran in 1986. During her time in Germany, she had retrained as a beautician and, after coming back to Iran, she also worked as a beautician.
Zazians married twice; first when she was age 16, to Mohammad Asemi, an actor in the Noushin group. Asemi was also a poet and a writer and was a member of [[Tudeh Party of Iran]]. Their marriage was not stable and they got divorced. From this marriage, Irene was sometimes called Irene Asemi, her ex-husband's family name.<ref>{{cite web|last=Morteza|first=Negahi|title=محمد عاصمی هم رفت…|url=http://negahi.com/wordpress/?p=1101}}</ref> After that, she married director and producer, Shahrokh Rafi which also ended in divorce.<ref>{{cite web|title=شاهرخ رفيع|url=http://www.sourehcinema.com/People/People.aspx?Id=138209240125|publisher=Iranian Movie Database}}</ref>

After the Iranian Revolution Irene was banned from performing as an actress, so she travelled to Germany to live with her sister.<ref name=":0" /> She only stayed there for two years and returned to Iran in 1986. During her time in Germany, she had retrained in [[cosmetology]] and, after coming back to Iran, she also worked as a beautician.


==Death==
==Death==
⚫
She suffered [[lung cancer]] in the last decade of her life.<ref name="madar25.blogfa.com"/> She had three surgeries and was working less, as recommended by her doctors. She died on July 28, 2012, in Tehran. She is buried in the Armenian cemetery in Khavaran road in southeast Tehran.<ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن، بازیگر قدیمی سینمای ایران درگذشت|url=http://www.zarvaragh.com/news-details/fa/1622}}</ref>
⚫
[[File:Burastan Cemetery 0838.jpg|thumb|Irene grave at [[Khavaran, Tehran|Khavaran]], Tehran]]
⚫
She suffered [[lung cancer]] in the last decade of her life.<ref>{{cite web|title=زندگینامۀ "ایرن زازیانس"هنرمند سينما|url=http://madar25.blogfa.com/post-173.aspx|access-date=2013-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707091448/http://madar25.blogfa.com/post-173.aspx|archive-date=2012-07-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> She had three surgeries and was working less, as recommended by her doctors. She died in July 28, 2012 in Tehran. She is buried in the Armenian cemetery in Khavaran road in southeast Tehran.<ref>{{cite web|title=ایرن، بازیگر قدیمی سینمای ایران درگذشت|url=http://www.zarvaragh.com/news-details/fa/1622}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Irene Zazians' filmography
|+
|-
|-
! Year
! Year
Line 61: Line 69:
! Director
! Director
! class="unsortable" | Notes
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
|-
| 1958
| 1958
| ''The Man who Suffered''
| ''The Man Who Suffered''
| مردی که رنج می‌برد
| مردی که رنج می‌برد
|
|
| Mohammad Ali Jafari
| Mohammad Ali Jafari
|<ref name=":0" />
|
|-
|-
| 1958
| 1958
| ''Waiting''
| ''Awaited''
|چشم‌به‌راه
|چشم‌به‌راه
|
|
| Ataullah Zahed
| [[Ataollah Zahed]]
|<ref name=":0" />
|
|-
|-
| 1959
| 1959
Line 86: Line 93:
| 1960
| 1960
| ''The Spring of Life''
| ''The Spring of Life''
|چشمه‌ی آب حیات
|چشمه‌ آب حیات
|
|
|[[Siamak Yasemi]]
|[[Siamak Yasemi]]
Line 100: Line 107:
| 1962
| 1962
| ''The Shadow of the Fate''
| ''The Shadow of the Fate''
| سایه‌ی سرنوشت
| سایه‌ سرنوشت
|
|
|[[Esmail Koushan|Esmaeel Kooshan]]
|[[Esmail Koushan|Esmaeel Kooshan]]
Line 148: Line 155:
|-
|-
| 1972
| 1972
|''Goodbye Friend''
|''[[Khodahafez Rafigh]]''
| خداحافظ رفیق
| خداحافظ رفیق
|
|
Line 250: Line 257:
|Mahd-e Olya
|Mahd-e Olya
|[[Ali Hatami]]
|[[Ali Hatami]]
| television series<ref name=":0" />
| TV Series
|-
|-
| 1984
| 1984
Line 257: Line 264:
|
|
|[[Alireza Davood Nejad]]
|[[Alireza Davood Nejad]]
| Banned in Iran
| banned in Iran
|-
|-
| 1984
| 1984
Line 264: Line 271:
| Lale's mother
| Lale's mother
| Masoud Kimiai
| Masoud Kimiai
| Banned in Iran
| banned in Iran
|-
|-
| 2008
| 2008
Line 272: Line 279:
| [[Abbas Kiarostami]]
| [[Abbas Kiarostami]]
|
|
|-
|}
|}


Line 286: Line 292:
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Iran]]
⚫
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer]]
⚫
[[Category:Iranian Armenian people]]
⚫
[[Category:Iranian actresses]]
⚫
[[Category:People from Tehran]]
[[Category:People from Babolsar]]
[[Category:People from Babolsar]]
⚫
[[Category:Actresses from Tehran]]
⚫
[[Category:Iranian Christians]]
[[Category:Iranian film actresses]]
[[Category:Iranian film actresses]]
⚫
[[Category:Iranian stage actresses]]
[[Category:Ethnic Armenian actresses]]
[[Category:Iranian television actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Iranian actresses]]
⚫
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Iran]]
⚫
[[Category:Iranian people of Armenian descent]]

Latest revision as of 00:34, 2 November 2024

Irene Zazians
Իրեն Զազյանց
Irene Zazians portrait, from Etela'at-e Haftegi magazine, 1950s
Born(1927-08-20)August 20, 1927
Babolsar, Iran
DiedJuly 28, 2012(2012-07-28) (aged 84)
Tehran, Iran
Resting placeBurastan Cemetery
Other namesIrene Asemi
OccupationActress
Years active1948–1982
Spouses
  • Mohammad Assemi
  • Shahrokh Rafi

Irene Zazians (Armenian: Իրեն Զազյանց; Persian: ایرن زازیانس; August 20, 1927 – July 28, 2012), known mononymously as Irene, was an Iranian actress of cinema and television. She worked with famous Iranian new wave[1] directors both before and after the 1979 revolution, such as Samuel Khachikian, Amir Naderi, Nosrat Karimi, Masoud Kimiyayi, and Alireza Davood Nejad. Her two films after the revolution, The Red Line directed by Kimiyayi and The Reward by Davood Nejad, were banned.[2]

She also appeared in four TV series.[3] She portrayed Mahde Olya (Nasereddin Shah's mother) in Soltan-e Sahebgheran directed by Ali Hatami in 1976. Her role in Hezar Dastan, another series directed by Ali Hatami, was cut out.[4][5] After the Iranian revolution she was banned from taking part in any artistic activities. She travelled to Germany, where she re-trained as a beautician.[6] She returned to Iran in 1986, during the harshest time of the Iran-Iraq war. Her last performance in cinema was in Shirin in 2008, a film by Abbas Kiarostami. She died of lung cancer in 2012 in Tehran.[7]

Early life and career

[edit]

Irene was born in an Armenian family who had immigrated to Babolsar, Iran, after surviving the Armenian genocide. Her father was Alexander Zazians and her mother's name was Varia. Her father was from Western Armenia, while her mother was from the east. Irene was their fourth child, but all of the first three children died of causes such as disease.[8] She went to "Shahdokht" school in Babolsar.[9] She started acting in the Ferdowsi theater when she was 19. In 1951 she joined the Noushin group in Sa'di theater, performing in works including Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan. She married Mohammad Asemi, also an actor in the Noushin theater, when she was 16.[10][11]

"In that time (1950s in Iran) Italian films were on top and people were so passionate about Silvana Mangano and Sophia Loren. But after screening "The Messenger from Heaven" Italian films were put behind for a while. "

Irene, on The Messenger from Heaven [12]

Film career

[edit]
Irene portrayed Mahd-e Olya, the mother of Nasereddin Shah in the TV series, Soltan-e Sahebgheran directed by Ali Hatami in 1974

After some years in theater she joined the cinema industry in 1958, acting in films such as The Man who Suffered directed by Mohammad Ali Jafari and Awaited by Ataollah Zahed.[13] Her next film was The Messenger from Heaven directed by Samuel Khachikian, also an Iranian Armenian. At the time Iranian women could not act in sexy clothes, but because Irene was of an Armenian family, she did not have that limitation and wore a two-piece swim suit [14] in The Messenger from Heaven. The film was on screen for four days, but then was renditioned five times[15] for its taboo scenes.[16] In 1958 Siamak Yasemi invited her to perform in a movie named The Spring of Life. This was Mohammad Ali Fardin's first film. In the early 1970s she worked with many Iranian new wave directors such as Amir Naderi (Goodbye Friend), Masoud Kimiyai (Baluch), Khosrow Haritash (Speeding Naked till High Noon) and Shapoor Gharib (The Rooster).[10]

Mohallel

[edit]

Among her most acclaimed and controversial roles was the portrayal of a traditional Iranian Muslim woman in Mohallel while she was Armenian. The Islamic term mohallel (Nikah halala) refers to a man marrying a divorced woman so that she can marry her ex-husband after they have already divorced three times. Couples cannot remarry for a fourth time until the ex-wife marries another man, to ensure that divorce is not taken lightly.

Nosrat Karimi directed the film Mohallel in 1972. After all Iranian stars rejected the role, he turned to Irene, an Armenian. She spent time in a traditional Iranian household to observe their lifestyle. However, some Shia mojtaheds such as Morteza Motahhari wrote bitter criticisms of the film in Kayhan. Other critics defended Irene's performance, and Zazians was nominated for a Sepas award that year. The film only remained on screens for three days and was renditioned.[17]

Television career

[edit]

She played in four TV series. One was Soltan-e Sahebgheran, a historical TV series about Nasereddin shah Qajar and Amirkabir and their assassination. Zazians portrayed Mahd-e Olya, Shah's mother in the series.[18] Another TV series was Abunasr's Throne (Persian: تخت ِ ابونصر), based on a story of Sadegh Hedayat and a screenplay by Ahmad Shamlu.[19] Her latter two series were I Love You, I Love You, directed by Morteza Alavi, and Hezar Dastan, also by Ali Hatami, which was screened after the Iranian revolution with her role being totally cut out.

Personal life

[edit]
Irene grave at Khavaran, Tehran

Zazians married twice; first when she was age 16, to Mohammad Asemi, an actor in the Noushin group. Asemi was also a poet and a writer and was a member of Tudeh Party of Iran. Their marriage was not stable and they got divorced. From this marriage, Irene was sometimes called Irene Asemi, her ex-husband's family name.[20] After that, she married director and producer, Shahrokh Rafi which also ended in divorce.[21]

After the Iranian Revolution Irene was banned from performing as an actress, so she travelled to Germany to live with her sister.[13] She only stayed there for two years and returned to Iran in 1986. During her time in Germany, she had retrained in cosmetology and, after coming back to Iran, she also worked as a beautician.

Death

[edit]

She suffered lung cancer in the last decade of her life.[17] She had three surgeries and was working less, as recommended by her doctors. She died on July 28, 2012, in Tehran. She is buried in the Armenian cemetery in Khavaran road in southeast Tehran.[22]

Filmography

[edit]
Irene Zazians' filmography
Year Title Persian Title Role Director Notes
1958 The Man Who Suffered مردی که رنج می‌برد Mohammad Ali Jafari [13]
1958 Awaited چشم‌به‌راه Ataollah Zahed [13]
1959 The Messenger from Heaven قاصد بهشت Samuel Khachikian Renditioned
1960 The Spring of Life چشمه‌ آب حیات Siamak Yasemi
1961 The Black Pearl مروارید سیاه Mehdi Reisfirooz
1962 The Shadow of the Fate سایه‌ سرنوشت Esmaeel Kooshan
1963 Dread دلهره Roshanak Niknezhad Samuel Khachikian
1963 The Shore is not far ساحل دور نیست Simin Sardar Saker
1969 Noah's Arc کشتی نوح Leyla Khosrow Parvizi
1971 The Son of Zayandeh Roud پسر زاینده‌رود Hosein Madani
1972 Subah-o-Shyam همای سعادت Tapi Chanakya Indo-Iranian film
1972 Amoo Yadegar عمو یادگار Parviz Kardan
1972 Khodahafez Rafigh خداحافظ رفیق Amir Naderi
1972 Nikah Halala محلل Shamsi Nosrat Karimi Renditioned
1972 The Triple Bed تخت‌خواب سه‌نفره Nosrat Karimi
1973 The Doctor حکیم‌باشی Parviz Noori
1973 Balouch بلوچ Farangis Masoud Kimiyai
1974 The Rooster خروس The Woman Shapoor Gharib
1974 The Translator Akbar اکبر دیلماج Akbar's wife Khosrow Parvizi
1974 Chasing to Hell تعقیب تا جهنم Robert Ekhart
1975 Red Hair موسرخه Nayyer Abdollah Ghiabi
1976 Dotted Daddy بابا خال‌دار Abdol's mother Masoud Asadollahi
1977 Anxiety اضطراب Shahla Samuel Khachikian
1977 The Last Supper شام آخر Esmat Shahyar Ghanbari
1977 Speeding Naked till High Noon برهنه تا ظهر با سرعت Khosrow Haritash
1980 The Friend's Stabbing زخم خنجر رفیق Azizollah Bahadori
1980 Soltan-e Sahebgharan سلطان صاحبقران Mahd-e Olya Ali Hatami television series[13]
1984 The Reward جایزه Alireza Davood Nejad banned in Iran
1984 The Red Line خط قرمز Lale's mother Masoud Kimiai banned in Iran
2008 Shirin شیرین Herself Abbas Kiarostami

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ایرن زازیانس". فصلنامه ره‌آورد. 100: 251. 2012.
  2. ^ "ایرن، بازیگر ایرانی، درگذشت" [Iranian actress Irene has died]. BBC Persian website. 28 July 2012.
  3. ^ "ایرن زازیانس، بازیگر سینما و تئاتر، درگذشت". Radio Zamaneh website. 28 July 2012.
  4. ^ "یک سال از درگذشت ایرن زازیانس گذشت". ghadimiha.blogspot.com.
  5. ^ "ایرن، بازیگر قدیمی سینمای ایران، درگذشت". ویکی‌خبر فارسی.
  6. ^ "گفتگو با ایرن زازیانس: هیچ‌وقت در زندگی‌ام از الگویی پیروی نكردم". ghadimiha.blogfa.com.
  7. ^ "بازیگر قدیمی سینمای ایران درگذشت". Khabaronline website. 28 July 2012.
  8. ^ "ایرن زازیانس متولد ۲۰ مرداد ۱۳۰۶". www.rcir.ir. Archived from the original on 2013-11-28. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  9. ^ Abdollahi, Sofia. "از لاله زار تا هزاردستان داستان زندگی نخستین ستاره زن سینمای ایران". Pendar website. Archived from the original on 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  10. ^ a b "ایرن بازیگر ایرانی درگذشت" [Irene, actress, has died] (in Persian). BBC News. August 7, 2012 [July 28, 2012].
  11. ^ "محمد عاصمی، شاعر و نویسنده ایرانی درگذشت" [Mohammad Asemi, an Iranian poet and author, has died] (in Persian). BBC News. December 22, 2009 [December 13, 2009].
  12. ^ صحرایی, شوکا. "ایرن، نخستین ستاره ایران". Jadidonline.com.
  13. ^ a b c d e "يادی از يک ستاره قديمی" [Remembrance of an old star]. BBC Persian. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  14. ^ "گفتگو با ایرن زازیانس: هیچوقت در زندگی ‌ام از الگویی پیروی نكردم".
  15. ^ Mehrabi, Massoud. The History of Iranian Cinema (1900 - 1979). p. 87.
  16. ^ "ایرن بازیگر مشهور سینمای ایران درگذشت". دویچه وله فارسی.
  17. ^ a b "زندگینامۀ "ایرن زازیانس"هنرمند سينما". Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  18. ^ "Soltan-e Sahebgharan". IMDb.
  19. ^ "تخت ابونصر".
  20. ^ Morteza, Negahi. "محمد عاصمی هم رفت…".
  21. ^ "شاهرخ رفيع". Iranian Movie Database.
  22. ^ "ایرن، بازیگر قدیمی سینمای ایران درگذشت".
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Irene_Zazians&oldid=1254848900"