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'{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = | image =http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/09/1412854981516_wps_54_Nazanin_Boniadi_as_Fara_i.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|5|22}} | birth_place = [[Tehran]], Iran | occupation = Actress, activist | years_active = 2006–present | website = {{url|NazaninBoniadi.com}} | imagesize = 170px }} '''Nazanin Boniadi''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|n|ɑː|z|ən|iː|n|_|'|b|oʊ|n|j|ɑː|ˌ|d|iː}} {{lang-fa|نازنین بنیادی}}, {{IPA-fa|nɑzæˈniːn ɛ bonjɑˈdiː|IPA}}; born 22 May 1980) is an Iranian-American actress. ==Early life== Boniadi was born in Tehran at the height of the [[Iranian Revolution]]; her parents relocated to [[London]] shortly thereafter. She performed violin and 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|date=19 May 2006|publisher=[[BBC Persian Television|BBC Persian]]|accessdate=5 September 2012|language=Persian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2008/10/20081022150716ajesrom0.86224.html#axzz332bnZwCv|title=Human Rights Education a Priority for Iranian Actress|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|date=22 October 2008|accessdate=31 December 2014}}</ref> She attended a private high school and later moved to the United States where she earned a bachelor's degree, with Honors, in Biological Sciences from the [[University of California, Irvine]]. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.uci.edu/features/past-uci-grads-where-are-they-now/ |title=UCI grads make good|publisher=News.uci.edu|date=6 June 2011}}</ref> ==Career== Boniadi changed her career path from science and started pursuing acting in 2006.<ref>{{IMDb title|2258164|Nazanin Boniadi}}</ref> Her first major acting role was as [[Leyla Mir]] on the [[Emmy Award]]-winning 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.com|accessdate=5 September 2012}}</ref> She was nominated for an [[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|publisher=buddytv.com|accessdate=28 February 2012}}</ref> Boniadi has also played supporting roles in several major [[Hollywood]] film productions, such as ''[[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]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2258164|title=Nazanin Boniadi profile at|work=IMDb|accessdate=28 February 2012}}</ref> She played Nora, a love interest for [[Neil Patrick Harris]]' character [[Barney Stinson]], on the sixth season of the hit [[CBS]] sitcom ''[[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|date=25 January 2011|publisher=latimes.com|accessdate=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=http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/homeland-adds-boardwalk-empire-actor-535580|title='Homeland' Adds 'Boardwalk Empire' Actor to Growing List of Guest Stars (Exclusive)|publisher=M.hollywoodreporter.com|accessdate=28 February 2012}}</ref> She was promoted to series regular for the show's fourth season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/homeland-ups-nazanin-boniadi-series-688726|title='Homeland' Ups Nazanin Boniadi to Series Regular|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=28 February 2012}}</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=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/scandal-enlists-homeland-actress-major-679160|title='Scandal' Enlists 'Homeland' Actress for Major Season Three Arc (Exclusive)|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=28 February 2012}}</ref> She portrayed [[Esther]], the title character's love interest, in the [[Ben-Hur (2016 film)|2016 remake]] of ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]''.<ref>[http://deadline.com/2014/12/homeland-nazanin-boniadi-ben-hur-female-lead-1201306900 "Nazanin Boniadi to play Esther in remake of ''Ben Hur''"], deadline.com; accessed 28 February 2015.</ref> ==Activism== Boniadi is a spokeswoman 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/tag/nazanin-boniadi|title=Tag Archives: Nazanin Boniadi|publisher=blog.amnestyusa.org|accessdate=5 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.human-writes.org/?p=990|title=An Interview with Nazanin Boniadi|publisher=Human Writes|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref> She has her own official blog page on the [[Amnesty International USA]] website<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/author/nazanin-boniadi|title=Nazanin Boniadi profile|publisher=Blog.amnestyusa.org|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref> and 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|publisher=CNN.com|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref> and ''[[The Huffington Post]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nazanin-boniadi/challenge-to-irans-new-pr_b_3977500.html|title=Rouhani: Meaningful Reforms or Political Games?|publisher=Huffingtonpost.com|accessdate=28 February 2015|date=25 September 2013}}</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|title=Morgan Freeman: The Power of Words|publisher=youtube.com|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</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|archiveurl=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|archivedate=28 February 2015|title=I-VAWA Supporters|publisher=amnestyusa.org|accessdate=28 February 2012}}</ref> has served as a panellist and emcee for events related to Iranian rights, and spearheaded The Neda Project with AIUSA in May/June 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/middle-east/i-am-neda/|title=I Am Neda|date=8 June 2010|publisher=blog.amnestyusa.org|accessdate=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 was co-signed by prominent Hollywood directors and industry leaders such as [[Paul Haggis]], [[Martin Scorsese]], [[Sean Penn]], [[Harvey Weinstein]], [[Ron Howard]] and others, and generated more than 21,000 signatures.<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=amnestyusa.org|accessdate=28 February 2012}}</ref> On 8 June 2011, she joined a delegation, led by Haggis and AIUSA Executive Director 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=amnestyusa.org|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Nazanin Boniadi|url=http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/hollywood-unites-for-iranian-filmmakers|title=Hollywood Unites for Iranian Filmmakers|date=9 June 2011|publisher=blog.amnestyusa.org|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref> On 3 June 2011, Boniadi joined [[Sarah Shourd]] in a rolling hunger strike in solidarity with [[Shane Bauer]] and [[Josh Fattal]] and wrote an article in support of the Free The Hikers campaign.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zavis|first=Alexandra|url=http://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|publisher=latimes.com|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref> Boniadi received the 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=nazaninboniadi.com|accessdate=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|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref> On 9 April 2012, Boniadi returned to her alma mater, [[University of California, Irvine|UC-Irvine]], in support of the ''Education Under Fire'' campaign, calling for an end to discrimination against and persecution of [[Baha'i]]s in Iran.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asuci.uci.edu/rainnwilsoneuf|title=Rainn Wilson – Education Under Fire|publisher=asuci.uci.edu|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</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>{{youtube|vnweXOPSzB4|Nazanin Boniadi on Women's Rights at Amnesty's XX Factor Event|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref> She helped launch an Amnesty International petition and campaign with [[Roxana Saberi]] in December 2012, to free wrongfully imprisoned filmmaker [[Behrouz Ghobadi]], brother of acclaimed filmmaker [[Bahman Ghobadi]], in Iran. {{Citation needed|date=December 2014}} The petition was signed by prominent Hollywood directors such as [[Martin Scorsese]] and [[Paul Haggis]], actors such as [[Liam Neeson]], [[Mila Kunis]], [[James Franco]] and [[Adrien Brody]], as well as major film industry organizations and festivals.<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=Amnestyusa.org|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/behrouz_ghobadi_petition_120312_0.pdf Boniadi's Amnesty International petition], amnestyusa.org; accessed 28 February 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=519067|title=404 Page|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{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|publisher=Blog.amnestyusa.org|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</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=Amnestyusa.org|accessdate=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.<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=Ebjohnson.house.gov|accessdate=28 February 2015}}</ref> ==Personal life== Boniadi is fluent in English and [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref>[http://nazaninboniadi.com/biography/ Official website of Nazanin Boniadi - Biography]</ref> In the mid 2000s, she was a dedicated [[Scientologist]]. Her mother had also been a Scientologist.<ref>[http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2012/09/tom-cruise-scientology-nazanin-boniadi Profile], vanityfair.com; accessed 28 February 2015.</ref> In 2005, she was commended for setting a record in selling scientology books. In 2004, she had a brief relationship with actor [[Tom Cruise]]. According to claims of the documentary ''[[Going Clear (film)|Going Clear]]'', her acquaintance with Cruise was not accidental and the [[Church of Scientology]] prepared and planted her for this role.<ref>''[[Going Clear (film)]]'', time code ca 1:27:50</ref> The church also vetted her along with dozens of other women as a potential wife for Cruise, but she was not selected.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/new-homeland-star-nazanin-boniadi-vetted-by-scientologists-to-become-tom-cruises-wife-8869144.html|title=New Homeland star Nazanin Boniadi 'vetted by Scientologists to become Tom Cruise's wife'|work=The Independent|accessdate=28 February 2015|location=London|first=Daisy|last=Wyatt|date=9 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Scientology, Tom Cruise, and Katie Holmes: What Katie Didn’t Know|url = http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2012/10/katie-holmes-divorce-scientology|website = Vanity Fair|accessdate = 2015-11-01}}</ref> Boniadi later left the Church of Scientology and now calls herself a "non-practising [[Muslim]]".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/oct/14/homeland-nazanin-boniada-hijabs-islam-prejudice-on-tv|title=Homeland’s Nazanin Boniadi on hijabs and tackling prejudice on primetime|last=Elan|first=Priya|date=14 October 2014|accessdate=31 December 2014|newspaper=''[[The Guardian]]''}}</ref> ==Filmography== ===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | rowspan="2"|2007 | ''[[The Game (U.S. TV series)|The Game]]'' | Josie | 2 Episodes |- | ''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]'' | [[Leyla Mir]] | 13 Episodes |- | 2007–2009 | ''[[General Hospital]]'' | [[Leyla Mir]] | 119 Episodes |- | rowspan="3"|2010 | ''[[The Deep End (TV series)|The Deep End]]'' | Heather Mosson | Episode: "To Have and to Hold" |- | ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'' | Blonde Woman | 2 Episodes |- | ''[[Hawthorne (TV series)|Hawthorne]]'' | Aneesa Amara | Episode: "Final Curtain" |- ||2011 | ''[[Suits (TV series)|Suits]]'' | Lauren Pearl | Episode: "Errors and Omissions" |- ||2011, 2014 | ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' | Nora |Season 6–7 (recurring; 9 episodes)<br/>Season 9 (guest; 1 episode) |- | rowspan="2"|2012 | ''[[CSI (TV series)|CSI]]'' | Nurse Lauren | Episode: "Seeing Red" |- | ''[[Best Friends Forever (TV series)|Best Friends Forever]]'' | Naya |2 Episodes |- | rowspan="2"|2013 | ''[[Go On (TV series)|Go On]]'' | Hannah | 1 episode |- | ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' | Amrita | 1 episode |- |2013–2014 |''[[Homeland (season 3)|Homeland]]'' | Fara Sherazi | Season 3 (recurring; 6 episodes)<br/>Season 4 (series regular; 6 episodes) |- ||2014 |''[[Scandal (season 3)|Scandal]]'' | Adnan Salif | Season 3 (recurring; 7 episodes) |} ===Film=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Film ! Role ! Notes |- | 2006 | ''Kal: Yesterday & Tomorrow'' | Simmi | Short Film |- | 2007 | ''Gameface'' | Taylor | |- | rowspan="2"|2008 | ''[[Charlie Wilson's War]]'' | Afghan Refugee Woman | Uncredited |- | ''[[Iron Man (2008 film)|Iron Man]]'' | Amira Ahmed | |- | 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 (2016 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' | [[Esther (character)|Esther]] | |- | 2017 | ''[[Hotel Mumbai]]'' | | Filming |- |} ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.nazaninboniadi.com}} *{{IMDb name|2258164|Nazanin Boniadi}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Boniadi, Nazanin}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses from London]] [[Category:People from Tehran]] [[Category:English emigrants to the United States]] [[Category:English people of Iranian descent]] [[Category:English film actresses]] [[Category:English television actresses]] [[Category:Former Scientologists]] [[Category:Iranian emigrants to the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Iranian emigrants to the United States]] [[Category:University of California, Irvine alumni]] [[Category:21st-century American actresses]] [[Category:British Muslims]]'