Jump to content

Nazanin Boniadi: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Create awards section; minor ce
fix citation, remove some unnecessary blue link clutter in lead; citations out of lead; general ce; used Further reading links as citations, etc.
Line 15: Line 15:
}}
}}


'''Nazanin Boniadi''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɑː|z|ə|n|iː|n|_|ˈ|b|oʊ|n|j|ɑː|d|i}};<ref>{{Cite AV media| people =Nazanin Boniadi and Mikel Jollett | year =2012 | title =Benefit Show - May 25th at the Echo | url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ix9aqYrXS0 | publisher =[[The Airborne Toxic Event]] | access-date =6 September 2022 | time =0:03 | via =[[YouTube]]}}</ref> {{lang-fa|نازنین بنیادی}}, {{IPA-fa|nɑːzæˈniːn bonjɑːˈdiː|}}; born 1980)<ref name=birthyear>{{cite magazine|last= Terrero|first= Nina|title= This Iranian-Born Actress Is Changing the Acting World|url= https://time.com/collection/american-voices-2017/4437117/nazanin-boniadi/|magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date= January 4, 2020}}</ref> is a British<!--Do not change, see MOS:ETHNICITY--> actress and activist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amnesty International UK / Amnesty Ambassadors - Nazanin Boniadi |url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/nazanin-boniadi |website=Amnesty International UK |access-date=15 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=MacDiarmid|first=Campbell|date=2021-04-08|title=Crown star Olivia Colman joins campaign calling for release of Briton jailed in Iran|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/08/crown-star-olivia-colman-joins-campaign-calling-release-briton/|access-date=2021-09-17|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Born in [[Tehran]] and raised in [[London]], Boniadi went to university in the United States, where she landed her first major acting role as [[Leyla Mir]] in the medical drama ''[[General Hospital]]'' (2007–2009) and its spin-off ''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]'' (2007). Since then, she has played Nora in the [[CBS]] sitcom ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' (2011), Fara Sherazi in the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] spy thriller series ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'' (2013–2014), [[Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ#Characters|Esther]] in the historical drama film ''[[Ben-Hur (2016 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' (2016), Clare Quayle in the [[Starz]] sci-fi thriller series ''[[Counterpart (TV series)|Counterpart]]'' (2017–2018), Zahra Kashani in the action thriller film ''[[Hotel Mumbai]]'' (2018), and Bronwyn in the [[Amazon Prime Video|Prime Video]] fantasy series ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'' (2022–present).
'''Nazanin Boniadi''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɑː|z|ə|n|iː|n|_|ˈ|b|oʊ|n|j|ɑː|d|i}};<ref>{{Cite AV media| people =Nazanin Boniadi and Mikel Jollett | year =2012 | title =Benefit Show - May 25th at the Echo | url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ix9aqYrXS0 | publisher =[[The Airborne Toxic Event]] | access-date =6 September 2022 | time =0:03 | via =[[YouTube]]}}</ref> {{lang-fa|نازنین بنیادی}}, {{IPA-fa|nɑːzæˈniːn bonjɑːˈdiː|}}; born 1980) is a British<!--Do not change, see MOS:ETHNICITY--> actress and activist.


Born in [[Tehran]] and raised in [[London]], Boniadi went to university in the United States, where she landed her first major acting role as [[Leyla Mir]] in the medical drama ''[[General Hospital]]'' (2007–2009) and its spin-off ''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]'' (2007). Since then, she has played Nora in the sitcom ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' (2011), Fara Sherazi in the spy thriller series ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'' (2013–2014), [[Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ#Characters|Esther]] in the historical drama film ''[[Ben-Hur (2016 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' (2016), Clare Quayle in the sci-fi thriller series ''[[Counterpart (TV series)|Counterpart]]'' (2017–2018), Zahra Kashani in the action thriller film ''[[Hotel Mumbai]]'' (2018), and Bronwyn in the fantasy series ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'' (2022–present).
⚫
Boniadi was an [[Amnesty International]] spokesperson from 2009 to 2015 and served as a board member for the [[Center for Human Rights in Iran]] from October 2015 until February 2021. Her focus has been on [[youth rights|youth]] and [[women's rights]].<ref>{{cite web |title=نازنین بنیادی |url=https://www.filimo.com/crew/Nazanin-Boniadi |website=Filimo |access-date=15 November 2022}}</ref>

⚫
Boniadi was an [[Amnesty International]] spokesperson from 2009 to 2015 and served as a board member for the [[Center for Human Rights in Iran]] from October 2015 until February 2021. Her focus has been on [[youth rights|youth]] and [[women's rights]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Boniadi was born in 1980 in Tehran, Iran in the aftermath of the [[Iranian Revolution]]. Less than a month after her birth, she and her parents left Iran and applied to become [[political refugees]] in London.<ref name=birthyear /><ref name="Blake 2019-01-03">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-ca-st-nazanin-boniadi-sunday-conversation-20190103-story.html |title=The Conversation: ''Counterpart''{{'}}s Nazanin Boniadi on the complexities of playing Middle Eastern roles |first=Meredith |last=Blake |date=January 3, 2019 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=January 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-17|title=Nazanin Boniadi on a "very personal trip" to Calais|url=https://care4calais.org/news/nazanin-boniadi-calais/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Care4Calais}}</ref>
Boniadi was born in 1980 in Tehran, Iran, in the aftermath of the [[Iranian Revolution]]. Less than a month after her birth, she and her parents left Iran and applied to become [[political refugees]] in London.<ref name=birthyear>{{cite magazine|last= Terrero|first= Nina|title= This Iranian-Born Actress Is Changing the Acting World|url= https://time.com/collection/american-voices-2017/4437117/nazanin-boniadi/|magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date= January 4, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Blake 2019-01-03">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-ca-st-nazanin-boniadi-sunday-conversation-20190103-story.html |title=The Conversation: ''Counterpart''{{'}}s Nazanin Boniadi on the complexities of playing Middle Eastern roles |first=Meredith |last=Blake |date=January 3, 2019 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=January 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-17|title=Nazanin Boniadi on a "very personal trip" to Calais|url=https://care4calais.org/news/nazanin-boniadi-calais/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Care4Calais}}</ref>


She attended an [[independent school]] in [[Hampstead]], London,<ref name="telegraph-interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/homelands-nazanin-boniadi-isnt-safe-go-back-iran/|title=Homeland's Nazanin Boniadi: 'It isn't safe for me to go back to Iran'|website=The Telegraph|last=Sanghani|first=Radhika|date=31 May 2017|access-date=11 June 2020|url-status=live|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326091929/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/homelands-nazanin-boniadi-isnt-safe-go-back-iran/|archive-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> and She played [[violin]] and did [[ballet]] as a young girl.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/story/2006/05/060519_7thday_bs_nazanin.shtml |script-title=fa:نازنين بنيادی، چهره ای جديد در صنعت سينمای هاليوود |title=Nazanin Boniadi, a New Face in the Hollywood Cinema Industry |date=19 May 2006 |publisher=[[BBC Persian Television|BBC Persian]] |access-date=5 September 2012 |language=fa }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2008/10/20081022150716ajesrom0.86224.html|title=Human Rights Education a Priority for Iranian Actress |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |date=22 October 2008 |access-date=31 December 2014 }}</ref>
She attended an [[independent school]] in [[Hampstead]], London,<ref name="telegraph-interview">{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/homelands-nazanin-boniadi-isnt-safe-go-back-iran/|title=Homeland's Nazanin Boniadi: 'It isn't safe for me to go back to Iran'|website=The Telegraph|last=Sanghani|first=Radhika|date=31 May 2017|access-date=11 June 2020|url-status=live|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326091929/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/homelands-nazanin-boniadi-isnt-safe-go-back-iran/|archive-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> and She played [[violin]] and did [[ballet]] as a young girl.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/story/2006/05/060519_7thday_bs_nazanin.shtml |script-title=fa:نازنين بنيادی، چهره ای جديد در صنعت سينمای هاليوود |title=Nazanin Boniadi, a New Face in the Hollywood Cinema Industry |date=19 May 2006 |publisher=[[BBC Persian Television|BBC Persian]] |access-date=5 September 2012 |language=fa }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2008/10/20081022150716ajesrom0.86224.html|title=Human Rights Education a Priority for Iranian Actress |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |date=22 October 2008 |access-date=31 December 2014 }}</ref>


She earned a [[bachelor's degree]], with honours, in [[biological sciences]] from the [[University of California, Irvine]] (UCI). At UCI, she won the Chang Pin-Chun Undergraduate Research Award for [[Molecular biology|molecular]] research involving [[cancer treatment]] and heart [[transplant rejection]]. She was also assistant editor-in-chief of ''MedTimes'', UCI's undergraduate medical newspaper.<ref name=uci>{{cite web |url=http://news.uci.edu/features/past-uci-grads-where-are-they-now/ |title=UCI grads make good |publisher=[[University of California, Irvine]] |date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130814202858/http://news.uci.edu/features/past-uci-grads-where-are-they-now/ |archive-date=14 August 2013 }}</ref>
She earned a [[bachelor's degree]], with honours, in [[biological sciences]] from the [[University of California, Irvine]] (UCI). At UCI, she won the Chang Pin-Chun Undergraduate Research Award for [[Molecular biology|molecular]] research involving [[cancer treatment]] and heart [[transplant rejection]]. She was also assistant editor-in-chief of ''MedTimes'', UCI's undergraduate medical newspaper.<ref name=uci>{{cite web |url=http://news.uci.edu/features/past-uci-grads-where-are-they-now/ |title=UCI grads make good |publisher=[[University of California, Irvine]] |date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130814202858/http://news.uci.edu/features/past-uci-grads-where-are-they-now/ |archive-date=14 August 2013 }}</ref>
Line 28: Line 30:
In 2009, she studied a contemporary drama short course at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/en/features/1609|title=Nazanin Boniadi on Life, Acting & Human Rights|website=IranWire|date=22 January 2016|last=Bowler|first=Natasha|access-date=11 June 2020|quote=I took the Contemporary Drama course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London in 2009}}</ref>
In 2009, she studied a contemporary drama short course at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/en/features/1609|title=Nazanin Boniadi on Life, Acting & Human Rights|website=IranWire|date=22 January 2016|last=Bowler|first=Natasha|access-date=11 June 2020|quote=I took the Contemporary Drama course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London in 2009}}</ref>


==Career==
==Acting career==
Boniadi changed her career path from science and started pursuing acting in 2006. Her first major acting role was as [[Leyla Mir]] on the daytime drama ''[[General Hospital]]'' and its SOAPnet spin-off series ''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]'', making her the first contract actor to play a Middle Eastern character in American daytime television history.{{Citation needed |date=December 2014}} She is also the first actress born in Iran to ever be on contract on an American soap opera.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morse |first=Jane |url=http://www.payvand.com/news/08/oct/1234.html|title=Human Rights Education a Priority for Iranian Actress |date=23 October 2008 |publisher=[[Payvand|Payvand Iran News]] |access-date=5 September 2012 }}</ref>
Boniadi changed her career path from science and started pursuing acting in 2006. Her first major acting role was as [[Leyla Mir]] on the daytime drama ''[[General Hospital]]'' and its SOAPnet spin-off series ''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]'', making her the first contract actor to play a Middle Eastern character in American daytime television history.{{Citation needed |date=December 2014}} She is also the first actress born in Iran to ever be on contract on an American [[soap opera]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Morse |first=Jane |url=http://www.payvand.com/news/08/oct/1234.html|title=Human Rights Education a Priority for Iranian Actress |date=23 October 2008 |publisher=[[Payvand|Payvand Iran News]] |access-date=5 September 2012 }}</ref>

⚫
Boniadi played supporting roles in several major [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] film productions, such as ''[[Charlie Wilson's War (film)|Charlie Wilson's War]]'', ''[[Iron Man (2008 film)|Iron Man]]'', and ''[[The Next Three Days]]''.{{cn|date=October 2023}}


⚫
She played Nora, a love interest for [[Neil Patrick Harris]]' character [[Barney Stinson]], on the sixth season of the hit [[CBS]] show ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gelman |first=Vlad |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/01/how-i-met-your-mother-nazanin-boniadi-to-guest-as-a-love-interest.html |title=''How I Met Your Mother'': Nazanin Boniadi to guest as a love interest |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=25 January 2011 |access-date=28 February 2012 }}</ref> She reprised this role during the show's seventh and ninth seasons.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
⚫
Boniadi has also played supporting roles in several major [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] film productions, such as ''[[Charlie Wilson's War (film)|Charlie Wilson's War]]'' (directed by [[Mike Nichols]]), ''[[Iron Man (2008 film)|Iron Man]]'' (directed by [[Jon Favreau]]), and ''[[The Next Three Days]]'' (directed by [[Paul Haggis]]).


In August 2012 Boniadi starred opposite [[George Clooney]] in a [[Nespresso]] TV ad.<ref>{{cite web | last=Sadri | first=Iman | title=Prolific Persian : Nazanin Boniadi | website=Persian Observer | date=22 November 2015 | url=http://www.persianobserver.com/2015/11/107-2/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225095007/http://www.persianobserver.com/2015/11/107-2/ | archive-date=25 February 2017 | url-status=dead | access-date=27 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{youtube|ZDmMYtip5c4|Nespresso 'The Swap' Commercial}} 22 August 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/clooney-stars-with-boniadi-in-new-espresso-commercial-1.446514| website= [[The National (Abu Dhabi)| The National]]| title= Clooney stars with Boniadi in new Espresso commercial| date= 20 September 2012}}</ref>
⚫
She played Nora, a love interest for [[Neil Patrick Harris]]' character [[Barney Stinson]], on the sixth season of the hit [[CBS]] show ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gelman |first=Vlad |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/01/how-i-met-your-mother-nazanin-boniadi-to-guest-as-a-love-interest.html |title=''How I Met Your Mother'': Nazanin Boniadi to guest as a love interest |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=25 January 2011 |access-date=28 February 2012 }}</ref> She reprised this role during the show's seventh and ninth seasons.


In May 2013, Boniadi joined the cast of ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'' season 3 as [[CIA]] analyst Fara Sherazi.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/homeland-adds-boardwalk-empire-actor-535580 |title=''Homeland'' Adds ''Boardwalk Empire'' Actor to Growing List of Guest Stars (Exclusive) |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=22 May 2013 }}</ref> She was promoted to a series regular for the show's fourth season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/homeland-ups-nazanin-boniadi-series-688726 |title=''Homeland'' Ups Nazanin Boniadi to Series Regular |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=14 March 2014 }}</ref> for which she shared a [[Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Award]] nomination for [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lewis|first=Hilary|date=2014-12-10|title=SAG Awards: 'Birdman,' 'Modern Family' Land Most Nominations|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/2015-sag-award-nominations-announced-755718/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2013, Boniadi joined the cast of ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'' season 3 as [[CIA]] analyst Fara Sherazi,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/homeland-adds-boardwalk-empire-actor-535580 |title=''Homeland'' Adds ''Boardwalk Empire'' Actor to Growing List of Guest Stars (Exclusive) |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=22 May 2013 }}</ref> and was promoted to a series regular for the show's fourth season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/homeland-ups-nazanin-boniadi-series-688726 |title=''Homeland'' Ups Nazanin Boniadi to Series Regular |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=14 March 2014 }}</ref>


Boniadi also appeared in an eight episode arc on season 3 of ''[[Scandal (TV series)|Scandal]]'' as antagonist Adnan Salif.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/scandal-enlists-homeland-actress-major-679160 |title=''Scandal'' Enlists ''Homeland'' Actress for Major Season Three Arc (Exclusive) |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=11 February 2014 }}</ref> She portrayed [[Esther]], the title character's wife, in the [[Ben-Hur (2016 film)|2016 remake]] of ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2014/12/homeland-nazanin-boniadi-ben-hur-female-lead-1201306900 |title=Nazanin Boniadi to play Esther in remake of ''Ben Hur'' |first=Mike |last=Fleming Jr |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=2 December 2014 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref>
Boniadi also appeared in an eight-episode arc on season 3 of ''[[Scandal (TV series)|Scandal]]'' as antagonist Adnan Salif.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/scandal-enlists-homeland-actress-major-679160 |title=''Scandal'' Enlists ''Homeland'' Actress for Major Season Three Arc (Exclusive) |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=11 February 2014 }}</ref> She portrayed [[Esther]], the title character's wife, in the [[Ben-Hur (2016 film)|2016 remake]] of ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2014/12/homeland-nazanin-boniadi-ben-hur-female-lead-1201306900 |title=Nazanin Boniadi to play Esther in remake of ''Ben Hur'' |first=Mike |last=Fleming Jr |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=2 December 2014 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Wyatt | first=Daisy | title=Homeland actress Nazanin Boniadi to star in Ben-Hur remake | website=[[The Independent]] | date=3 December 2014 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/homeland-actress-nazanin-boniadi-to-star-in-benhur-remake-9901126.html | access-date=27 October 2023}}</ref>


She narrated the soundtrack to the 2014 Iranian documentary film, ''[[To Light a Candle (film)|To Light a Candle]]'', made by [[Maziar Bahari]] and focusing on the state sanctioned [[persecution of Baháʼís]] in [[Baháʼí Faith in Iran|Iran]].<ref name="bio">{{cite web|title=Bio: Nazanin Boniadi|url=https://www.iranhumanrights.org/bio-nazanin-boniadi/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414094632/https://www.iranhumanrights.org/bio-nazanin-boniadi/|archive-date=14 April 2019|access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref>
She narrated the soundtrack to the 2014 Iranian documentary film, ''[[To Light a Candle (film)|To Light a Candle]]'', made by [[Maziar Bahari]] and focusing on the state sanctioned [[persecution of Baháʼís]] in [[Baháʼí Faith in Iran|Iran]].<ref name="bio">{{cite web|title=Bio: Nazanin Boniadi|url=https://www.iranhumanrights.org/bio-nazanin-boniadi/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414094632/https://www.iranhumanrights.org/bio-nazanin-boniadi/|archive-date=14 April 2019|access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref>


She starred with [[Dev Patel]] and [[Armie Hammer]] in the 2018 feature film ''[[Hotel Mumbai]]'', a dramatisation of the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]].<ref name="Blake 2019-01-03"/> For her role as British-Iranian heiress Zahra Kashani,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brieftake.com/interview-hotel-mumbai-nazanin-boniadi/|title=Interview: Hotel Mumbai's Nazanin Boniadi|website=Brief Take|last=Heilbronn|first=Leora|date=28 March 2019|access-date=11 June 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426171226/https://brieftake.com/interview-hotel-mumbai-nazanin-boniadi/|archive-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> Boniadi received a nomination for [[AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role|Best Actress in a Leading Role]] at the [[Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts|Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Winners & Nominees|url=https://www.aacta.org/aacta-awards/winners-and-nominees/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=www.aacta.org|language=en-AU}}</ref>
She starred with [[Dev Patel]] and [[Armie Hammer]] in the 2018 feature film ''[[Hotel Mumbai]]'', a dramatisation of the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]],<ref name="Blake 2019-01-03"/> as British-Iranian heiress Zahra Kashani.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brieftake.com/interview-hotel-mumbai-nazanin-boniadi/|title=Interview: Hotel Mumbai's Nazanin Boniadi| website=Brief Take|last=Heilbronn|first=Leora|date=28 March 2019|access-date=11 June 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426171226/https://brieftake.com/interview-hotel-mumbai-nazanin-boniadi/|archive-date=26 April 2020}}</ref>


From 2018 to 2019, Boniadi received critical acclaim for portraying the series regular role of Clare Quayle in the [[Starz]] espionage drama ''[[Counterpart (TV series)|Counterpart]]''.<ref name="Blake 2019-01-03" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-10|title=Are You Even Seeing What Nazanin Boniadi Is Doing On 'Counterpart'?|url=https://decider.com/2018/12/10/nazanin-boniadi-counterpart-starz/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Decider|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-06-25|title=Emmys 2018: Paste's Nominations Wish List|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/emmys-2018/emmys-2018-pastes-nominations-wish-list/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=pastemagazine.com|language=en}}</ref>
From 2018 to 2019, Boniadi received critical acclaim for portraying the series regular role of Clare Quayle in the [[Starz]] espionage drama ''[[Counterpart (TV series)|Counterpart]]''.<ref name="Blake 2019-01-03" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-10|title=Are You Even Seeing What Nazanin Boniadi Is Doing On 'Counterpart'?|url=https://decider.com/2018/12/10/nazanin-boniadi-counterpart-starz/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Decider|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-06-25|title=Emmys 2018: Paste's Nominations Wish List|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/emmys-2018/emmys-2018-pastes-nominations-wish-list/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=pastemagazine.com|language=en}}</ref>
Line 49: Line 53:
==Activism==
==Activism==
[[File:Vice President Harris met with Nazanin Boniadi on the Mahsa Amini protest.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Boniadi and [[Kamala Harris]] discuss [[Mahsa Amini protests]], October 2022]]
[[File:Vice President Harris met with Nazanin Boniadi on the Mahsa Amini protest.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Boniadi and [[Kamala Harris]] discuss [[Mahsa Amini protests]], October 2022]]
She was a spokesperson for [[Amnesty International USA]] (AIUSA), with a focus on the unjust conviction and treatment of Iranian youth, women and [[prisoner of conscience|prisoners of conscience]], from 2009 until 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/tag/nazanin-boniadi |title=Tag Archives: Nazanin Boniadi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=5 September 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.human-writes.org/?p=990 |title=An Interview with Nazanin Boniadi |first=John |last=Bezai |publisher=Human Writes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426150636/http://www.human-writes.org/?p=990 |archive-date=26 April 2014 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref> She has her own official blog page on the AIUSA website<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/author/nazanin-boniadi |title=Nazanin Boniadi profile |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref> and continues to partner with them. In 2020, she was appointed as an ambassador for [[Amnesty International UK]], with a focus on women and Iran.<ref>{{Cite web|title=News {{!}} The Media Eye|url=https://www.themediaeye.com/news?nf=5b81d8bc-d45e-4dbc-b394-abdd0092a539|access-date=2021-09-21|website=www.themediaeye.com}}</ref>
Boniaidi has been involved in [[human rights]] activism, with a focus on [[youth rights|youth]] and [[women's rights]]. She was a spokesperson for [[Amnesty International USA]] (AIUSA), with a focus on the unjust conviction and treatment of Iranian youth, women and [[prisoner of conscience|prisoners of conscience]], from 2009 until 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url =http://blog.amnestyusa.org/tag/nazanin-boniadi |title=Tag Archives: Nazanin Boniadi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=5 September 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.human-writes.org/?p=990 |title=An Interview with Nazanin Boniadi |first=John |last=Bezai |publisher=Human Writes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426150636/http://www.human-writes.org/?p=990 |archive-date=26 April 2014 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref> She has her own official blog page on the AIUSA website<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/author/nazanin-boniadi |title=Nazanin Boniadi profile |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref> and continues to partner with them. In 2020, she was appointed as an ambassador for [[Amnesty International UK]], with a focus on women and Iran.<ref>{{Cite web|title=News {{!}} The Media Eye|url=https://www.themediaeye.com/news?nf=5b81d8bc-d45e-4dbc-b394-abdd0092a539|access-date=2021-09-21|website=www.themediaeye.com}}</ref>


Boniadi provided a voiceover to AIUSA's "Power of Words" public service announcement with [[Morgan Freeman]], which won a [[Webby Award]];<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_tCtvmAm4M |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/9_tCtvmAm4M| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Morgan Freeman: The Power of Words |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=23 December 2009 |access-date=28 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> campaigned with the organization for the [[International Violence Against Women Act]] (I-VAWA);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/international-violence-against-women-act/i-vawa-supporters/page.do?id=1381015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219134644/http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/international-violence-against-women-act/i-vawa-supporters/page.do?id=1381015 |archive-date=19 February 2011 |title=I-VAWA Supporters |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2012 }}</ref> served as a panellist and emcee for events related to Iranian rights, and spearheaded The Neda Project with AIUSA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/middle-east/i-am-neda/|title=I Am Neda |date=8 June 2010 |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=5 September 2012}}</ref>
In 2009 Boniadi provided a voiceover to AIUSA's "Power of Words" public service announcement introduced by [[Morgan Freeman]];<ref name = pow>{{youtube|9_tCtvmAm4M |Morgan Freeman: The Power of Words}}, Amnesty International USA, 23 December 2009</ref> campaigned with the organization for the [[International Violence Against Women Act]] (I-VAWA);<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/international-violence-against-women-act/i-vawa-supporters/page.do?id=1381015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219134644/http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/international-violence-against-women-act/i-vawa-supporters/page.do?id=1381015 |archive-date=19 February 2011 |title=I-VAWA Supporters |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2012 }}</ref> served as a panellist and [[emcee]] for events related to Iranian rights, and spearheaded The Neda Project with AIUSA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/middle-east/i-am-neda/|title=I Am Neda |date=8 June 2010 |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=5 September 2012}}</ref>


In December 2010, she initiated an Amnesty International petition for Iranian film directors [[Jafar Panahi]] and [[Mohammad Rasoulof]], who had been convicted of "propaganda against the state". The petition generated more than 21,000 signatures, including prominent Hollywood directors and actors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGUSA20101228001&lang=e |title=Paul Haggis, Sean Penn, Martin Scorsese and Harvey Weinstein Join Amnesty International to Condemn Harsh Sentence for Acclaimed Iranian Director Jafar Panahi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329091356/http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGUSA20101228001&lang=e |archive-date=29 March 2011 }}</ref> On 8 June 2011, she joined a delegation, led by Hollywood director [[Paul Haggis]] and AIUSA Executive Director [[Larry Cox (Amnesty International)|Larry Cox]], to deliver the petition to the Iran Mission to the [[United Nations]] in New York.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/iran-mission-to-the-united-nations-accepts-21000-plus-petition-signatures-from-amnesty-international |title=Iran Mission to the United Nations Accepts 21,000-Plus Petition Signatures from Amnesty International Delegation of Hollywood Luminaries |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Nazanin |last=Boniadi |url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/hollywood-unites-for-iranian-filmmakers |title=Hollywood Unites for Iranian Filmmakers |date=9 June 2011 |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>
In December 2010, she initiated an Amnesty International petition for Iranian film directors [[Jafar Panahi]] and [[Mohammad Rasoulof]], who had been convicted of "propaganda against the state". The petition generated more than 21,000 signatures, including prominent Hollywood directors and actors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGUSA20101228001&lang=e |title=Paul Haggis, Sean Penn, Martin Scorsese and Harvey Weinstein join Amnesty International to condemn harsh sentence for acclaimed iranian director Jafar Panahi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329091356/http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGUSA20101228001&lang=e |archive-date=29 March 2011 }}</ref> On 8 June 2011, she joined a delegation, led by Hollywood director [[Paul Haggis]] and AIUSA Executive Director [[Larry Cox (Amnesty International)|Larry Cox]], to deliver the petition to the Iran Mission to the [[United Nations]] in New York.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/iran-mission-to-the-united-nations-accepts-21000-plus-petition-signatures-from-amnesty-international |title=Iran Mission to the United Nations Accepts 21,000-Plus Petition Signatures from Amnesty International Delegation of Hollywood Luminaries |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Nazanin |last=Boniadi |url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/hollywood-unites-for-iranian-filmmakers |title=Hollywood Unites for Iranian Filmmakers |date=9 June 2011 |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>


On 3 June 2011, Boniadi joined [[Sarah Shourd]] in a rolling [[hunger strike]] and wrote an article in support of the [[2009–11 detention of American hikers by Iran|Free the Hikers]] campaign, pertaining to the imprisonment of [[Shane Bauer]] and [[Josh Fattal]] in Iran.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zavis |first=Alexandra |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/04/local/la-me-iran-hikers-20110604 |title=Freed hiker fasts for two men still in Iran |date=4 June 2011 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref>
On 3 June 2011, Boniadi joined [[Sarah Shourd]] in a rolling [[hunger strike]] and wrote an article in support of the [[2009–11 detention of American hikers by Iran|Free the Hikers]] campaign, pertaining to the imprisonment of [[Shane Bauer]] and [[Josh Fattal]] in Iran.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zavis |first=Alexandra |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/04/local/la-me-iran-hikers-20110604 |title=Freed hiker fasts for two men still in Iran |date=4 June 2011 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref>


On 9 April 2012, Boniadi returned to her alma mater, UCI, in support of the ''Education Under Fire'' campaign, calling for an end to state sanctioned discrimination and [[persecution of Baháʼís]] in Iran.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asuci.uci.edu/rainnwilsoneuf |title=Rainn Wilson – Education Under Fire |publisher=[[University of California, Irvine]] |access-date=28 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409171234/http://www.asuci.uci.edu/rainnwilsoneuf/ |archive-date=9 April 2012 }}</ref>
On 9 April 2012, Boniadi returned to her alma mater UCI in support of the ''Education Under Fire'' campaign, calling for an end to state sanctioned discrimination and [[persecution of Baháʼís]] in Iran.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asuci.uci.edu/rainnwilsoneuf |title=Rainn Wilson – Education Under Fire |publisher=[[University of California, Irvine]] |access-date=28 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409171234/http://www.asuci.uci.edu/rainnwilsoneuf/ |archive-date=9 April 2012 }}</ref>


Boniadi delivered the keynote closing remarks at the 2012 XX Factor, Amnesty International USA's annual [[town hall meeting]] on [[women's rights]], in [[Washington, D.C.]].<ref>{{Cite video |publisher=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnweXOPSzB4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/vnweXOPSzB4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Nazanin Boniadi on Women's Rights at Amnesty's XX Factor Event |access-date=28 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Boniadi delivered the keynote closing remarks at the 2012 XX Factor, Amnesty International USA's annual [[town hall meeting]] on [[women's rights]], in [[Washington, D.C.]].<ref>{{Cite video |publisher=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnweXOPSzB4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/vnweXOPSzB4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Nazanin Boniadi on Women's Rights at Amnesty's XX Factor Event |access-date=28 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Line 63: Line 67:
In December 2012, Boniadi worked with [[Roxana Saberi]] to launch an Amnesty International petition and campaign to free wrongfully imprisoned filmmaker Behrouz Ghobadi, brother of acclaimed filmmaker [[Bahman Ghobadi]], in Iran.<ref name=":1" /> The petition included signatures from prominent Hollywood directors and actors, as well as major film industry organizations and festivals.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/music-and-the-arts/join-hollywood-and-amnesty-international-in-calling-for-the-release-of-behrouz-ghobadi |title=Join Hollywood and Amnesty International in Calling for the Release of Behrouz Ghobadi |first=Nazanin |last=Boniadi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |date=21 December 2012 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/hollywood-film-directors-and-actors-demand-freedom-for-brother-of-acclaimed-iranian-filmmaker-bahman |title=Hollywood Film Directors and Actors Demand Freedom for Brother of Acclaimed Iranian Filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/behrouz_ghobadi_petition_120312_0.pdf |title=Petition: Free Filmmaker Behrouz Ghobadi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=519067 |title=Brother of Prominent Iranian Film Director Detained |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121141833/http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=519067 |archive-date=21 January 2013 |access-date=14 January 2019 }}</ref> On 22 January 2013, Amnesty International announced that Behrouz Ghobadi had been released on bail from prison in Iran.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/iranian-filmmaker-behrouz-ghobadi-released-from-prison-following-amnesty-campaign-with-hollywood-art |title=Iranian Filmmaker Behrouz Ghobadi Released from Prison Following Amnesty Campaign with Hollywood Artists |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |date=22 January 2013 |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>
In December 2012, Boniadi worked with [[Roxana Saberi]] to launch an Amnesty International petition and campaign to free wrongfully imprisoned filmmaker Behrouz Ghobadi, brother of acclaimed filmmaker [[Bahman Ghobadi]], in Iran.<ref name=":1" /> The petition included signatures from prominent Hollywood directors and actors, as well as major film industry organizations and festivals.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/music-and-the-arts/join-hollywood-and-amnesty-international-in-calling-for-the-release-of-behrouz-ghobadi |title=Join Hollywood and Amnesty International in Calling for the Release of Behrouz Ghobadi |first=Nazanin |last=Boniadi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |date=21 December 2012 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/hollywood-film-directors-and-actors-demand-freedom-for-brother-of-acclaimed-iranian-filmmaker-bahman |title=Hollywood Film Directors and Actors Demand Freedom for Brother of Acclaimed Iranian Filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/behrouz_ghobadi_petition_120312_0.pdf |title=Petition: Free Filmmaker Behrouz Ghobadi |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=519067 |title=Brother of Prominent Iranian Film Director Detained |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121141833/http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=519067 |archive-date=21 January 2013 |access-date=14 January 2019 }}</ref> On 22 January 2013, Amnesty International announced that Behrouz Ghobadi had been released on bail from prison in Iran.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/iranian-filmmaker-behrouz-ghobadi-released-from-prison-following-amnesty-campaign-with-hollywood-art |title=Iranian Filmmaker Behrouz Ghobadi Released from Prison Following Amnesty Campaign with Hollywood Artists |publisher=[[Amnesty International USA]] |date=22 January 2013 |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>


She was a keynote speaker at Congresswoman [[Eddie Bernice Johnson]]'s 13th annual "A World of Women for World Peace" conference in Dallas, Texas in May 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ebjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-eddie-bernice-johnson-hosts-her-13th-annual-a-world-of |title=Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Hosts Her 13th Annual "A World of Women for World Peace" Conference |publisher=[[Eddie Bernice Johnson]] |date=6 May 2013 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref>
She was a keynote speaker at Congresswoman [[Eddie Bernice Johnson]]'s 13th annual "A World of Women for World Peace" conference in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]] in May 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ebjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-eddie-bernice-johnson-hosts-her-13th-annual-a-world-of |title=Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Hosts Her 13th Annual "A World of Women for World Peace" Conference |publisher=[[Eddie Bernice Johnson]] |date=6 May 2013 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref>


She has written op-eds for media outlets such as [[CNN]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/02/opinion/boniadi-activists-kail-iran |title=Opinion: In Iran, an actress faces prison |first=Nazanin |last=Boniadi |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref> [[The Washington Post]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=Opinion {{!}} Why Iran's coronavirus pandemic is also a crisis of human rights|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/23/why-irans-coronavirus-pandemic-is-also-crisis-human-rights/|access-date=2021-09-21|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> and [[Defense One]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=I'm an Actor and Activist. Silence Is Just Not an Option|url=https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2018/06/im-actor-and-activist-silence-just-not-option/148676/|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Defense One|language=en}}</ref>
She has written [[op-ed]]s about human rights for media outlets such as [[CNN]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/02/opinion/boniadi-activists-kail-iran |title=Opinion: In Iran, an actress faces prison |first=Nazanin |last=Boniadi |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref> [[The Washington Post]],<ref>{{Cite news|title= Why Iran's coronavirus pandemic is also a crisis of human rights |language=en-US|newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/23/why-irans-coronavirus-pandemic-is-also-crisis-human-rights/|access-date=2021-09-21|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> and [[Defense One]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=I'm an actor and activist. silence is just not an option|url=https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2018/06/im-actor-and-activist-silence-just-not-option/148676/|access-date=2021-09-21 |website=Defense One|language=en}}</ref>


In 2014, Boniadi was selected as a term member by the [[think tank]] [[Council on Foreign Relations]].<ref name=bio/> She was subsequently selected as a lifetime member of the CFR in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Council on Foreign Relations|url=https://www.cfr.org/membership/roster|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Council on Foreign Relations|language=en}}</ref>
In 2014, Boniadi was selected as a term member by the think tank [[Council on Foreign Relations]] (CFR).<ref name=bio/> She was subsequently selected as a lifetime member of the CFR in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Council on Foreign Relations|url=https://www.cfr.org/membership/roster|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Council on Foreign Relations|language=en}}</ref>


She served as a member of the board of directors of the [[Center for Human Rights in Iran]] from October 2015 until February 2021.<ref name=bio/>
She served as a member of the board of directors of the [[Center for Human Rights in Iran]] from October 2015 until February 2021.<ref name=bio/>
Line 73: Line 77:
In April 2019, she was interviewed by [[CBC News Network]] anchor [[Natasha Fatah]] about the fate of [[international human rights law|human rights lawyer]], [[Nasrin Sotoudeh]], recently sentenced for up to 38 years in Tehran.<ref>{{cite web|website=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/NatashaFatah/status/1116883264596140032/video/1|title=Natasha Fateh: We speak with actor & activist @NazaninBoniadi about female activists detained in Iran, the lack of support for ordinary people, and how the world has turned away|medium=video}}</ref> She has also appeared on [[BBC World News]]<ref>{{Citation|title=Nazanin Boniadi on Global -- BBC World News|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtF4-jBg9GI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/AtF4-jBg9GI| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-09-21}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and [[CNN International]].<ref>{{Citation|title=CNN International's 'Connect the World.'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-heuwGzlzkE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/-heuwGzlzkE| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-09-21}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In April 2019, she was interviewed by [[CBC News Network]] anchor [[Natasha Fatah]] about the fate of [[international human rights law|human rights lawyer]], [[Nasrin Sotoudeh]], recently sentenced for up to 38 years in Tehran.<ref>{{cite web|website=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/NatashaFatah/status/1116883264596140032/video/1|title=Natasha Fateh: We speak with actor & activist @NazaninBoniadi about female activists detained in Iran, the lack of support for ordinary people, and how the world has turned away|medium=video}}</ref> She has also appeared on [[BBC World News]]<ref>{{Citation|title=Nazanin Boniadi on Global -- BBC World News|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtF4-jBg9GI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/AtF4-jBg9GI| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-09-21}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and [[CNN International]].<ref>{{Citation|title=CNN International's 'Connect the World.'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-heuwGzlzkE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/-heuwGzlzkE| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-09-21}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


In September 2022, she became active during the [[Mahsa Amini protests]], and urged foreign governments to aid the protesters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/mahsa-amini-death-protests-nazanin-boniadi-guest-column-lotr-iran-1235131413/ |title='LOTR: The Rings Of Power's Nazanin Boniadi Calls For Action After Death Of Mahsa Amini In Iran – Guest Column |website=Deadline |date=30 September 2022 }}</ref> On October 14, 2022, she met with [[Vice President of the United States of America|Vice President]] [[Kamala Harris]], following the protests in Iran.<ref>{{cite web |title=Readout of Vice President Harris's Meeting with Activist Nazanin Boniadi on Iran Protests |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/10/14/readout-of-vice-president-harriss-meeting-with-activist-nazanin-boniadi-on-iran-protests/ |website=The White House |access-date=15 November 2022 |date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="farsnews.ir">{{cite news |title=نازنین بنیادی کیست؟/ اپوزیسیونی که مهم‌ترین سابقه‌اش ارتباط عاطفی با تام کروز است! |url=https://www.farsnews.ir/news/14010814000304/%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%DA%A9%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%BE%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%87%D9%85%E2%80%8C%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B7-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%81%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7 |access-date=15 November 2022 |agency=[[Fars News Agency]] |date=5 November 2022 |language=Persian |trans-title=Who is Nazanin Fanadi? The opposition whose most important history is an emotional relationship with Tom Cruise!}}</ref>
In September 2022, she became active during the [[Mahsa Amini protests]], and urged foreign governments to aid the protesters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/mahsa-amini-death-protests-nazanin-boniadi-guest-column-lotr-iran-1235131413/ |title='LOTR: The Rings Of Power's Nazanin Boniadi Calls For Action After Death Of Mahsa Amini In Iran – Guest Column |website=Deadline |date=30 September 2022 }}</ref> On 14 October 2022, she met with [[Kamala Harris]], [[Vice President of the United States]], following the protests in Iran.<ref>{{cite web |title=Readout of Vice President Harris's Meeting with Activist Nazanin Boniadi on Iran Protests |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/10/14/readout-of-vice-president-harriss-meeting-with-activist-nazanin-boniadi-on-iran-protests/ |website=The White House |access-date=15 November 2022 |date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="farsnews.ir">{{cite news |title=نازنین بنیادی کیست؟/ اپوزیسیونی که مهم‌ترین سابقه‌اش ارتباط عاطفی با تام کروز است! |url=https://www.farsnews.ir/news/14010814000304/%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%DA%A9%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%BE%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%87%D9%85%E2%80%8C%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B7-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%81%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7 |access-date=15 November 2022 |agency=[[Fars News Agency]] |date=5 November 2022 |language=Persian |trans-title=Who is Nazanin Fanadi? The opposition whose most important history is an emotional relationship with Tom Cruise!}}</ref> In an informal session of [[United Nations Security Council]] in November 2022, she denounced as a "[[myth]]" the idea that the [[hijab]] was a part of Iran's culture.<ref>{{cite news |title=Parents of Iranian woman killed during protests 'harassed by security forces' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/02/parents-of-iranian-woman-killed-during-protests-harassed-by-security-forces |access-date=15 November 2022 |work= [[The Guardian]] |date=2 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

In an informal session of [[United Nations Security Council]], she denounced as a "myth" the idea that the [[hijab]] was a part of Iran's culture.<ref>{{cite news |title=Parents of Iranian woman killed during protests 'harassed by security forces' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/02/parents-of-iranian-woman-killed-during-protests-harassed-by-security-forces |access-date=15 November 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=2 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


==Recognition and awards==
==Recognition and awards==
* {{circa|2000}}: UCI's Chang Pin-Chun Undergraduate Research Award, for molecular research involving cancer treatment and heart transplant rejection<ref name=uci/>
* {{circa|2000}}: UCI's Chang Pin-Chun Undergraduate Research Award, for molecular research involving cancer treatment and heart transplant rejection<ref name=uci/>
* 2008: Nomination, [[NAACP Image Award]] for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 2008 for her role in ''General Hospital''<ref>{{cite web |last=De Leon |first=Kris |url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/general-hospital/general-hospital-star-nominate-15669.aspx |title=''General Hospital'' Star Nominated for NAACP Image Award |date=15 January 2008 |publisher=buddytv.com |access-date=28 February 2012 }}</ref>
* 2008: Nominated, [[NAACP Image Award]] for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 2008 for her role in ''General Hospital''<ref>{{cite web |last=De Leon |first=Kris |url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/general-hospital/general-hospital-star-nominate-15669.aspx |title=''General Hospital'' Star Nominated for NAACP Image Award |date=15 January 2008 |publisher=buddytv.com |access-date=28 February 2012 }}</ref>
* 2009: [[Webby Award]] for AIUSA's "Power of Words" public service announcement, introduced by [[Morgan Freeman]], voiceover by Boniadi<ref name = pow/>
* 2011: Social Cinema Award at the [[Ischia Global Film & Music Festival]] for her human rights work with Amnesty International<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nazaninboniadi.com/site |title=Giving Back |publisher=Nazanin Boniadi |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enzo-tex.it/eventi/evento-253599.htm |title=Ischia Global Fest 2011 — Music & Film |publisher=enzo-tex.it |access-date=28 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109205250/http://www.enzo-tex.it/eventi/evento-253599.htm |archive-date=9 November 2013 }}</ref>
* 2011: Social Cinema Award at the [[Ischia Global Film & Music Festival]] for her human rights work with Amnesty International<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nazaninboniadi.com/site |title=Giving Back |publisher=Nazanin Boniadi |access-date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enzo-tex.it/eventi/evento-253599.htm |title=Ischia Global Fest 2011 — Music & Film |publisher=enzo-tex.it |access-date=28 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109205250/http://www.enzo-tex.it/eventi/evento-253599.htm |archive-date=9 November 2013 }}</ref>
* 2014: [[Program for Torture Victims]] City of Second Chances Award<ref name=aiuk>{{Cite web|title=Nazanin Boniadi: Amnesty Ambassador |url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/nazanin-boniadi|access-date=2021-09-21|website= Amnesty International UK}}</ref>
* 2014: [[Program for Torture Victims]] City of Second Chances Award<ref name=aiuk>{{Cite web|title=Nazanin Boniadi: Amnesty Ambassador |url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/nazanin-boniadi|access-date=2021-09-21|website= Amnesty International UK}}</ref>
* 2015: Nominated, [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series]], for ''Homeland''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lewis|first=Hilary|date=2014-12-10|title=SAG Awards: 'Birdman,' 'Modern Family' Land Most Nominations|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/2015-sag-award-nominations-announced-755718/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref>
* 2018: Selected by [[People (magazine)|''People'' magazine]] as one of their "25 Women Changing the World"<ref name=aiuk/>
* 2018: Selected by [[People (magazine)|''People'' magazine]] as one of their "25 Women Changing the World"<ref name=aiuk/>
* 2019: Nominated, [[AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role|Best Actress in a Leading Role]] at the [[Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts|Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards]], for ''[[Hotel Mumbai]]''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Winners & Nominees|url=https://www.aacta.org/aacta-awards/winners-and-nominees/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=www.aacta.org|language=en-AU}}</ref>
* 2020: [[Freedom House]] Raising Awareness Award<ref name=aiuk/>
* 2020: [[Freedom House]] Raising Awareness Award<ref name=aiuk/>
* 2020: [[Ellis Island Medal of Honor]].<ref name=aiuk/>
* 2020: [[Ellis Island Medal of Honor]].<ref name=aiuk/>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Boniadi is fluent in English and [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Biography |website=The Official Website of Nazanin Boniadi | date=13 May 2014 | url=https://nazaninboniadi.com/biography/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729060949/https://nazaninboniadi.com/biography/ | archive-date=29 July 2021 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Her nationality is [[British nationality| British]].<ref name=aiuk/><ref>{{Cite news |last=MacDiarmid |first=Campbell|date=2021-04-08|title=Crown star Olivia Colman joins campaign calling for release of Briton jailed in Iran|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/08/crown-star-olivia-colman-joins-campaign-calling-release-briton/|access-date=2021-09-17|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
Boniadi is fluent in English and [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref>[http://nazaninboniadi.com/biography/ Official website of Nazanin Boniadi - Biography]</ref> She lives in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref name="telegraph-interview"/>

She was living in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S., in 2017.<ref name="telegraph-interview"/>


Since she and her parents fled in her infancy, Boniadi has only once visited Iran, as a teenager.<ref name="Blake 2019-01-03"/>
{{as of| 2019}} Boniadi had only once visited Iran, as a teenager, since she and her parents fled in her infancy.<ref name="Blake 2019-01-03"/>


===Scientology===
===Scientology===
Line 265: Line 272:
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading ==
*{{cite web |title=Prolific Persian : Nazanin Boniadi |url=http://www.persianobserver.com/2015/11/107-2/ |website=The Persian Observer}}
*{{cite web |last1=Wyatt |first1=Daisy |title=''Homeland'' actress Nazanin Boniadi to star in ''Ben-Hur'' remake |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/homeland-actress-nazanin-boniadi-to-star-in-ben-hur-remake-9901126.html |website=[[The Independent]] |date=3 December 2014 }}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Official|https://nazaninboniadi.com/}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{IMDb name}}


Revision as of 10:22, 27 October 2023

Nazanin Boniadi
Boniadi in 2018
Born1980 (age 43–44)
Tehran, Iran
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of California, Irvine (BS)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • activist
Years active2006–present
Websitenazaninboniadi.com

Nazanin Boniadi (/ˈnɑːzəniːn ˈboʊnjɑːdi/;[1] Template:Lang-fa, [nɑːzæˈniːn bonjɑːˈdiː]; born 1980) is a British actress and activist.

Born in Tehran and raised in London, Boniadi went to university in the United States, where she landed her first major acting role as Leyla Mir in the medical drama General Hospital (2007–2009) and its spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift (2007). Since then, she has played Nora in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother (2011), Fara Sherazi in the spy thriller series Homeland (2013–2014), Esther in the historical drama film Ben-Hur (2016), Clare Quayle in the sci-fi thriller series Counterpart (2017–2018), Zahra Kashani in the action thriller film Hotel Mumbai (2018), and Bronwyn in the fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022–present).

Boniadi was an Amnesty International spokesperson from 2009 to 2015 and served as a board member for the Center for Human Rights in Iran from October 2015 until February 2021. Her focus has been on youth and women's rights.

Early life

Boniadi was born in 1980 in Tehran, Iran, in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution. Less than a month after her birth, she and her parents left Iran and applied to become political refugees in London.[2][3][4]

She attended an independent school in Hampstead, London,[5] and She played violin and did ballet as a young girl.[6][7]

She earned a bachelor's degree, with honours, in biological sciences from the University of California, Irvine (UCI). At UCI, she won the Chang Pin-Chun Undergraduate Research Award for molecular research involving cancer treatment and heart transplant rejection. She was also assistant editor-in-chief of MedTimes, UCI's undergraduate medical newspaper.[8]

In 2009, she studied a contemporary drama short course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[9]

Acting career

Boniadi changed her career path from science and started pursuing acting in 2006. Her first major acting role was as Leyla Mir on the daytime drama General Hospital and its SOAPnet spin-off series General Hospital: Night Shift, making her the first contract actor to play a Middle Eastern character in American daytime television history.[citation needed] She is also the first actress born in Iran to ever be on contract on an American soap opera.[10]

Boniadi played supporting roles in several major Hollywood film productions, such as Charlie Wilson's War, Iron Man, and The Next Three Days.[citation needed]

She played Nora, a love interest for Neil Patrick Harris' character Barney Stinson, on the sixth season of the hit CBS show How I Met Your Mother in 2011.[11] She reprised this role during the show's seventh and ninth seasons.[citation needed]

In August 2012 Boniadi starred opposite George Clooney in a Nespresso TV ad.[12][13][14]

In May 2013, Boniadi joined the cast of Homeland season 3 as CIA analyst Fara Sherazi,[15] and was promoted to a series regular for the show's fourth season.[16]

Boniadi also appeared in an eight-episode arc on season 3 of Scandal as antagonist Adnan Salif.[17] She portrayed Esther, the title character's wife, in the 2016 remake of Ben-Hur.[18][19]

She narrated the soundtrack to the 2014 Iranian documentary film, To Light a Candle, made by Maziar Bahari and focusing on the state sanctioned persecution of Baháʼís in Iran.[20]

She starred with Dev Patel and Armie Hammer in the 2018 feature film Hotel Mumbai, a dramatisation of the 2008 Mumbai attacks,[3] as British-Iranian heiress Zahra Kashani.[21]

From 2018 to 2019, Boniadi received critical acclaim for portraying the series regular role of Clare Quayle in the Starz espionage drama Counterpart.[3][22][23]

In early 2020, it was revealed that Boniadi had been cast in an undisclosed role in The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime.[24] February 2022, it was announced she would be playing the character of Bronwyn, described as a single mother and healer.[25]

Activism

Boniadi and Kamala Harris discuss Mahsa Amini protests, October 2022

Boniaidi has been involved in human rights activism, with a focus on youth and women's rights. She was a spokesperson for Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), with a focus on the unjust conviction and treatment of Iranian youth, women and prisoners of conscience, from 2009 until 2015.[26][27] She has her own official blog page on the AIUSA website[28] and continues to partner with them. In 2020, she was appointed as an ambassador for Amnesty International UK, with a focus on women and Iran.[29]

In 2009 Boniadi provided a voiceover to AIUSA's "Power of Words" public service announcement introduced by Morgan Freeman;[30] campaigned with the organization for the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA);[31] served as a panellist and emcee for events related to Iranian rights, and spearheaded The Neda Project with AIUSA.[32]

In December 2010, she initiated an Amnesty International petition for Iranian film directors Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, who had been convicted of "propaganda against the state". The petition generated more than 21,000 signatures, including prominent Hollywood directors and actors.[33] On 8 June 2011, she joined a delegation, led by Hollywood director Paul Haggis and AIUSA Executive Director Larry Cox, to deliver the petition to the Iran Mission to the United Nations in New York.[34][35]

On 3 June 2011, Boniadi joined Sarah Shourd in a rolling hunger strike and wrote an article in support of the Free the Hikers campaign, pertaining to the imprisonment of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal in Iran.[36]

On 9 April 2012, Boniadi returned to her alma mater UCI in support of the Education Under Fire campaign, calling for an end to state sanctioned discrimination and persecution of Baháʼís in Iran.[37]

Boniadi delivered the keynote closing remarks at the 2012 XX Factor, Amnesty International USA's annual town hall meeting on women's rights, in Washington, D.C..[38]

In December 2012, Boniadi worked with Roxana Saberi to launch an Amnesty International petition and campaign to free wrongfully imprisoned filmmaker Behrouz Ghobadi, brother of acclaimed filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi, in Iran.[39] The petition included signatures from prominent Hollywood directors and actors, as well as major film industry organizations and festivals.[39][40][41][42] On 22 January 2013, Amnesty International announced that Behrouz Ghobadi had been released on bail from prison in Iran.[43]

She was a keynote speaker at Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson's 13th annual "A World of Women for World Peace" conference in Dallas, Texas in May 2013.[44]

She has written op-eds about human rights for media outlets such as CNN,[45] The Washington Post,[46] and Defense One.[47]

In 2014, Boniadi was selected as a term member by the think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).[20] She was subsequently selected as a lifetime member of the CFR in 2020.[48]

She served as a member of the board of directors of the Center for Human Rights in Iran from October 2015 until February 2021.[20]

In April 2019, she was interviewed by CBC News Network anchor Natasha Fatah about the fate of human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, recently sentenced for up to 38 years in Tehran.[49] She has also appeared on BBC World News[50] and CNN International.[51]

In September 2022, she became active during the Mahsa Amini protests, and urged foreign governments to aid the protesters.[52] On 14 October 2022, she met with Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, following the protests in Iran.[53][54] In an informal session of United Nations Security Council in November 2022, she denounced as a "myth" the idea that the hijab was a part of Iran's culture.[55]

Recognition and awards

Personal life

Boniadi is fluent in English and Persian.[62] Her nationality is British.[59][63]

She was living in Los Angeles, California, U.S., in 2017.[5]

As of 2019 Boniadi had only once visited Iran, as a teenager, since she and her parents fled in her infancy.[3]

Scientology

In the mid 2000s, she was a dedicated Scientologist. Her mother had also been a Scientologist.[64]

In late 2004 to early 2005, she allegedly had a brief relationship with actor Tom Cruise. According to claims in the documentary Going Clear, her acquaintance with Cruise was not accidental and the Church of Scientology prepared and planted her for this role wanting to ensure his commitment to the church after he had drifted away from it during his marriage to Nicole Kidman.[65] The Church also vetted her along with dozens of other women as a potential wife for Cruise, but she was not selected.[66][67]

In October 2004, Boniadi was volunteering for the Office of Special Affairs in Los Angeles when she was told by Church official Greg Wilhere that she had been selected for a special project. Boniadi was told that her dental braces had to be removed and that her red hair highlights had to be corrected; she was also encouraged to end her relationship with her longtime boyfriend. After being flown to New York by the church, Boniadi learned that her project was to become a suitable girlfriend for Cruise.[68]

According to Boniadi, Cruise initially overwhelmed her with the intensity of his affection but she was isolated from her family and the two of them were rarely alone, always surrounded by an entourage of Scientologists. Allegedly, he became cool and withdrawn after something she said to David Miscavige was misconstrued as an insult. She was later asked to leave and move into the Celebrity Centre. [69]

After their relationship ended in January 2005, Boniadi confessed her devastation to a friend and fellow church member. She was allegedly punished by having to dig ditches at midnight and scrub floor tiles. [70] The Church of Scientology denied that any such project existed or that David Miscavige has any involvement in Cruise's personal life.[69]

Afterwards

Boniadi left the Church of Scientology soon afterwards[71] and in October 2014 called herself a "non-practising Muslim".[72]

On 10 May 2017, American journalist Tony Ortega reported on FBI testimony that Boniadi had given in January 2010 regarding her relationship with Cruise through the Church of Scientology.[70] Boniadi's testimony describes how the Church's Office of Special Affairs selected her to be Cruise's girlfriend.[66]

In 2017, she tweeted congratulations to Leah Remini and Mike Rinder on their series Scientology and the Aftermath winning an Emmy Award.[73]

In a later interview with the Los Angeles Times, Boniadi described her role in Counterpart as cathartic and therapeutic, saying "sometimes there are personal traumas that you don't ever talk about publicly but you pour it into your work". She continued: "this idea of shedding indoctrination and finding out who you are for me is a strong one. It has been extremely therapeutic for me to be able to put it out into the world through my art as opposed to openly discussing it."[3]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2006 Kal: Yesterday & Tomorrow Simmi Short film
2007 Gameface Taylor
2008 Charlie Wilson's War Afghan Refugee Woman Uncredited
Iron Man Amira Ahmed Cameo
2009 Diplomacy Persian Interpreter Short film
2010 The Next Three Days Elaine
2012 Shirin in Love Shirin
2015 Desert Dancer Parisa Ghaffarian
2016 Ben-Hur Esther
2016 Passengers Wake-Up Hologram Uncredited
2018 Hotel Mumbai Zahra Kashani
2019 Bombshell Rudi Bakhtiar

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Game Josie 2 episodes
General Hospital: Night Shift Leyla Mir 13 episodes
2007–2009 General Hospital Leyla Mir 119 episodes
2010 The Deep End Heather Mosson Episode: "To Have and to Hold"
24 Blonde Woman 2 episodes
Hawthorne Aneesa Amara Episode: "Final Curtain"
2011 Suits Lauren Pearl Episode: "Errors and Omissions"
2011, 2014 How I Met Your Mother Nora 10 episodes
2012 CSI Nurse Lauren Episode: "Seeing Red"
Best Friends Forever Naya 2 episodes
2013 Go On Hannah Episode: "Gooooaaaallll Doll!"
Grey's Anatomy Amrita Episode: "The Face of Change"
2013–2014 Homeland Fara Sherazi 12 episodes
2014 Scandal Adnan Salif 7 episodes
2017–2018 Counterpart Clare Quayle 17 episodes
2022 The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Bronwyn[25] Main role

References

  1. ^ Nazanin Boniadi and Mikel Jollett (2012). Benefit Show - May 25th at the Echo. The Airborne Toxic Event. Event occurs at 0:03. Retrieved 6 September 2022 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ Terrero, Nina. "This Iranian-Born Actress Is Changing the Acting World". Time. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e Blake, Meredith (3 January 2019). "The Conversation: Counterpart's Nazanin Boniadi on the complexities of playing Middle Eastern roles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Nazanin Boniadi on a "very personal trip" to Calais". Care4Calais. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b Sanghani, Radhika (31 May 2017). "Homeland's Nazanin Boniadi: 'It isn't safe for me to go back to Iran'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Nazanin Boniadi, a New Face in the Hollywood Cinema Industry" نازنين بنيادی، چهره ای جديد در صنعت سينمای هاليوود (in Persian). BBC Persian. 19 May 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Human Rights Education a Priority for Iranian Actress". United States Department of State. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  8. ^ a b "UCI grads make good". University of California, Irvine. 6 June 2011. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013.
  9. ^ Bowler, Natasha (22 January 2016). "Nazanin Boniadi on Life, Acting & Human Rights". IranWire. Retrieved 11 June 2020. I took the Contemporary Drama course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London in 2009
  10. ^ Morse, Jane (23 October 2008). "Human Rights Education a Priority for Iranian Actress". Payvand Iran News. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  11. ^ Gelman, Vlad (25 January 2011). "How I Met Your Mother: Nazanin Boniadi to guest as a love interest". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  12. ^ Sadri, Iman (22 November 2015). "Prolific Persian : Nazanin Boniadi". Persian Observer. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ^ Nespresso 'The Swap' Commercial on YouTube 22 August 2012
  14. ^ "Clooney stars with Boniadi in new Espresso commercial". The National. 20 September 2012.
  15. ^ "Homeland Adds Boardwalk Empire Actor to Growing List of Guest Stars (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 22 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Homeland Ups Nazanin Boniadi to Series Regular". The Hollywood Reporter. 14 March 2014.
  17. ^ "Scandal Enlists Homeland Actress for Major Season Three Arc (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 February 2014.
  18. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (2 December 2014). "Nazanin Boniadi to play Esther in remake of Ben Hur". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  19. ^ Wyatt, Daisy (3 December 2014). "Homeland actress Nazanin Boniadi to star in Ben-Hur remake". The Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  20. ^ a b c "Bio: Nazanin Boniadi". Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  21. ^ Heilbronn, Leora (28 March 2019). "Interview: Hotel Mumbai's Nazanin Boniadi". Brief Take. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Are You Even Seeing What Nazanin Boniadi Is Doing On 'Counterpart'?". Decider. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Emmys 2018: Paste's Nominations Wish List". pastemagazine.com. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  24. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (14 January 2020). "'The Lord Of The Rings': Amazon Studios Sets Series Cast – TCA". Deadline. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  25. ^ a b Breznican, Anthony; Robinson, Joanna (10 February 2022). "Amazon's Lord of the Rings Series Rises: Inside 'The Rings of Power'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Tag Archives: Nazanin Boniadi". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  27. ^ Bezai, John. "An Interview with Nazanin Boniadi". Human Writes. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  28. ^ "Nazanin Boniadi profile". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  29. ^ "News | The Media Eye". www.themediaeye.com. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  30. ^ a b Morgan Freeman: The Power of Words on YouTube, Amnesty International USA, 23 December 2009
  31. ^ "I-VAWA Supporters". Amnesty International USA. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  32. ^ "I Am Neda". Amnesty International USA. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  33. ^ "Paul Haggis, Sean Penn, Martin Scorsese and Harvey Weinstein join Amnesty International to condemn harsh sentence for acclaimed iranian director Jafar Panahi". Amnesty International USA. Archived from the original on 29 March 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  34. ^ "Iran Mission to the United Nations Accepts 21,000-Plus Petition Signatures from Amnesty International Delegation of Hollywood Luminaries". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  35. ^ Boniadi, Nazanin (9 June 2011). "Hollywood Unites for Iranian Filmmakers". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  36. ^ Zavis, Alexandra (4 June 2011). "Freed hiker fasts for two men still in Iran". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  37. ^ "Rainn Wilson – Education Under Fire". University of California, Irvine. Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  38. ^ Nazanin Boniadi on Women's Rights at Amnesty's XX Factor Event. YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  39. ^ a b Boniadi, Nazanin (21 December 2012). "Join Hollywood and Amnesty International in Calling for the Release of Behrouz Ghobadi". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  40. ^ "Hollywood Film Directors and Actors Demand Freedom for Brother of Acclaimed Iranian Filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  41. ^ "Petition: Free Filmmaker Behrouz Ghobadi" (PDF). Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  42. ^ "Brother of Prominent Iranian Film Director Detained". Amnesty International USA. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  43. ^ "Iranian Filmmaker Behrouz Ghobadi Released from Prison Following Amnesty Campaign with Hollywood Artists". Amnesty International USA. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  44. ^ "Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Hosts Her 13th Annual "A World of Women for World Peace" Conference". Eddie Bernice Johnson. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  45. ^ Boniadi, Nazanin (2 May 2014). "Opinion: In Iran, an actress faces prison". CNN. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  46. ^ "Why Iran's coronavirus pandemic is also a crisis of human rights". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  47. ^ "I'm an actor and activist. silence is just not an option". Defense One. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  48. ^ "Council on Foreign Relations". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  49. ^ "Natasha Fateh: We speak with actor & activist @NazaninBoniadi about female activists detained in Iran, the lack of support for ordinary people, and how the world has turned away". Twitter (video).
  50. ^ Nazanin Boniadi on Global -- BBC World News, archived from the original on 12 December 2021, retrieved 21 September 2021
  51. ^ CNN International's 'Connect the World.', archived from the original on 12 December 2021, retrieved 21 September 2021
  52. ^ "'LOTR: The Rings Of Power's Nazanin Boniadi Calls For Action After Death Of Mahsa Amini In Iran – Guest Column". Deadline. 30 September 2022.
  53. ^ "Readout of Vice President Harris's Meeting with Activist Nazanin Boniadi on Iran Protests". The White House. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  54. ^ "نازنین بنیادی کیست؟/ اپوزیسیونی که مهم‌ترین سابقه‌اش ارتباط عاطفی با تام کروز است!" [Who is Nazanin Fanadi? The opposition whose most important history is an emotional relationship with Tom Cruise!] (in Persian). Fars News Agency. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  55. ^ "Parents of Iranian woman killed during protests 'harassed by security forces'". The Guardian. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  56. ^ De Leon, Kris (15 January 2008). "General Hospital Star Nominated for NAACP Image Award". buddytv.com. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  57. ^ "Giving Back". Nazanin Boniadi. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  58. ^ "Ischia Global Fest 2011 — Music & Film". enzo-tex.it. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  59. ^ a b c d e "Nazanin Boniadi: Amnesty Ambassador". Amnesty International UK. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  60. ^ Lewis, Hilary (10 December 2014). "SAG Awards: 'Birdman,' 'Modern Family' Land Most Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  61. ^ "Winners & Nominees". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  62. ^ "Biography". The Official Website of Nazanin Boniadi. 13 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021.
  63. ^ MacDiarmid, Campbell (8 April 2021). "Crown star Olivia Colman joins campaign calling for release of Briton jailed in Iran". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  64. ^ Ball, Sarah (1 September 2012). "Scientology, Katie Holmes, and Tom Cruise: Who is Nazanin Boniadi?". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  65. ^ Alex Gibney (2015). Going Clear. Event occurs at 1:27:50.
  66. ^ a b Orth, Maureen (October 2012). "What Katie Didn't Know". Vanity Fair. New York City: Condé Nast. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  67. ^ Wyatt, Daisy (9 October 2013). "New Homeland star Nazanin Boniadi 'vetted by Scientologists to become Tom Cruise's wife'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  68. ^ Wright, Lawrence (2013). Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief. Alfred A. Knopf. p. 288. ISBN 978-0-307-70066-7. OL 25424776M.
  69. ^ a b Orth, Maureen (September 2012). "What Katie Didn't Know". Vanity Fair. Conde Nast. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  70. ^ a b Ortega, Tony (10 May 2017). "Nazanin Boniadi's FBI testimony: Cast as Tom Cruise's girlfriend by Scientology". The Underground Bunker. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  71. ^ The crazy story of how Scientology allegedly once groomed a girlfriend for Tom Cruise — and then tore them apart, April 1, 2015, Business Insider
  72. ^ Elan, Priya (14 October 2014). "Homeland's Nazanin Boniadi on hijabs and tackling prejudice on primetime". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  73. ^ Sanchez, Rosa (11 September 2017). "Tom Cruise's Ex Congratulates His Nemesis Leah Remini For Anti-Scientology Show". Radar Online.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nazanin Boniadi.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Nazanin_Boniadi&oldid=1182134714"