With society asking for more inclusion across productions, many studios have heeded the call. Organizations like Time’s Up and production companies like LuckyChap are opening doors for actors, producers, and writers who are either typecast or work exponentially much harder to be recognized. This strain of the industry is an uphill battle for those who are not white, thin, and blonde. While the Bechdel Test measures gender diversity in film, Nikesh Shukla created the Shulka Test, which measures racial diversity in a film. Indeed,PBSreports that in 2015, 73.1% of the 30,000 characters in entertainment are white, 12.5% are Black, 5.3% are Asian, 4.9% are Hispanic, and 4.2% were other. Yet, these categories are generalist, considering the continent of Asia is made up of 48 countries like Russia, Indonesia, and Iran.
Over the past eight decades or so, western audiences have enjoyed Asian-made movies and TV shows. However, the countries represented as “Asian” are predominantly Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Korean — just four nationalities to somehow represent nearly 50 countries. When it comes to Western Asian representation, the portrayal of Middle Eastern characters is often down to a select few actors who are largely typecast. Whether the Middle Eastern woman is silent or submissive or the Middle Eastern man is a terrorist or a taxi driver, the typecasting of Middle Eastern characters is just as inadequate and troublesome as the moniker “Asian.” At present, however, with all eyes on Iran and its ongoing revolution, some Iranian actresses have become activists in between filming their next feature film or TV show. Here are the best Iranian actresses working in Hollywood today.
9Nazanin Boniadi
Fans ofLord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerwill recognizeNazanin Boniadi, who portrays Bronwyn, a healer in Tirharad. Bronwyn is a bold leader, something Boniadi does naturally. In a round table interview, covered byThe Wrap, Boniadi said that her audition for Bronwyn was inspired by her roots: “My audition, way before the current crisis in Iran, and I remember doing the scene and drawing strength from all the women I’d been fighting for and whose stories I’ve been hearing inside Iran and I remember thinking, OK, if I get this role, those women were gonna be my inspiration for this role.” Currently, Boniadi is spreading awareness about the ongoing revolution in Iran.
8Sepideh Moafi
Starring in theminiseriesBlack BirdandThe L Word: Generation Q,Sepideh Moafiis a powerhouse on screen. OnThe L Word: Generation Q, she portrays Gigi Ghorbani, who is finding herself after a divorce. Moafi discusses the importance of being an openly queer Iranian woman with Awards Radar: “Seeing an Iranian or really any person from the S.W.A.N.A. region, the Southwest Asia-North African region, who is openly queer, is still stigmatized… If you’re gay, and they find out, you will be tried…and that is an executable offense. Seeing that kind of bravery makes it even more important to echo their bravery and keep this representation alive.” In between roles, Moafi spends her time speaking at marches and art installations.
7Nina Ameri
Atypicalis a comedy-drama that centers on the experience of Sam, an 18-year-old man with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Elsa, Sam’s mother, relies on her friend Luisa for support. Luisa is portrayed byNina Ameri. Currently, Ameri is starring in Iranian playwright Sanaz Toossi’s play,English. In the play, four women students in Iran are studying for the Test of English as a Foreign Language to earn their green cards.Englishpremieres in January 2023 at Milton Theater.
Related:Jafar Panahi: Celebrating the Imprisoned Director Who Fought For Freedom in Iran
6Nazanin Nour
Nazanin Nouris a judge onPersia’s Got Talent. She has also appeared in episodes ofMadam SecretaryandCriminal Minds. In May 2022, she starred alongside Colin Ferguson and Rebecca Liddiard inA Thousand Little Cuts, a thriller centering on a woman who wakes up in a hospital only to discover she experienced something so traumatic. When Nour isn’t onPersia’s Got Talentor acting, she is meeting with world leaders or sharing the horrific events of the current revolution in Iran onCNN.
5Ana Lily Amirpour
Actress, writer, director, and advocateAna Lily Amirpouris booked. Although she has starred in indie films likeA Girl Walks Home Alone at NightandThe Bad Batch, she has become quite comfortable behind the camera as a director. Her first directorial role where she wasn’t also acting was in the horror seriesLegion. One of her biggest titles is the indie filmMona Lisa and the Blood Moon, starring Kate Hudson and Jeon Jong-seo. She has also directed an episode ofGuillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.In between projects, Amirpour uses her TikTok and Instagram accounts to discuss the Islamic Republic’s atrocious acts toward Iranians.
4Zar Amir-Ebrahimi
Starring inHoly Spider, Iranian actressZar Amir-Ebrahimiportrays an investigative journalist named Rahimi. The film is based on real-life serial killer Saeed Hanaei, who killed 16 sex workers in the name of God. InHoly Spider, Rahimi discovers that uncovering the truth will be difficult as many people believe the Spider Killer is a hero. The film premiered in theaters on December 20. In between promoting the film, Amir-Ebrahimi uses her Instagram account to share videos of protests in Iran.
Related:Iranian Cinema: A Decades-Long Medium of Resistance and Protest
3Nasim Pedrad
One of the most recognizable Iranian-American actresses,Nasim Pedrad, was a regular onSaturday Night Live,New Girl, and starred in the live-actionAladdin. She has her own autobiographical show calledChadand is currently starring inPretzel and the Puppiesas Greta. Pedrad has long been championing Iranian stories and characters in her projects. She doesn’t shy away from big topics likeracism or misogynyeither. Along with Boniadi and Nour, Pedrad has been attending council hearings at the United Nations on behalf of the Iranian people.
2Shohreh Aghdashloo
Another top contender for the most recognizable Iranian-American actress isShohreh Aghdashloo. She has appeared on countless hit TV shows likeWill & Grace,Portlandia, andFlight Attendant. One of her recognizable features is her poetic voice, which is sharp but gentle. Aghdashloo also starred in plenty of films likeSeptembers of Shiraz, which details many Iranians escaping the regime just after it came into power in 1979. Her biggest role was as Chrisjean Avasarala on the futuristic series,The Expanse.
1Taraneh Alidoosti
By far the most famous Iranian actress isTaraneh Alidoosti. She has starred in many Iranian films and TV series likeSubtractionandShahrazad. Recently, Alidoosti criticized the regime for the execution of activist Mohsen Shakeri in a post on Instagram and was arrested by the state police. According to CNN, her social media accounts have been deleted over her condemnation of the regime. The Oscar-winner is one of many Iranian celebrities and journalists who have been arrested for supporting women’s liberation inside of Iran.
