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Shohreh AghdashlooIranian-American actress
Date of Birth: 11.05.1952
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Shohreh Aghdashloo
Shohreh Aghdashloo, an Iranian-American actress and Oscar nominee, was born as Parvaneh Vaziri-Tabar on May 11, 1952, in Tehran, Iran, into a wealthy Shiite Muslim family. She adopted the surname "Aghdashloo" from her husband, renowned Iranian painter Aydin Aghdashloo.
Early Career in Iran
Aghdashloo began her career at the age of 20. After starring in several notable stage roles, she was offered her first film role in Abbas Kiarostami's drama "Gozaresh" (The Report), which won the Critics' Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival. She then appeared in the Iranian melodrama "Shatranje Bad" (Chess with the Wind) by Mohammad Reza Aslani, which was presented at various film festivals. Unfortunately, both "Gozaresh" and "Shatranje Bad" were banned in her native country. However, Aghdashloo gained recognition in Iran for her role in Ali Hatami's film "Sooteh Delan" (Broken-Hearted) in 1978.
During the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Aghdashloo left Iran and settled in Windermere, Cumbria, on the northwest coast of England. She pursued her long-standing ambition to complete her education. Her interest in politics and concern for social injustice, especially in her homeland of Iran, motivated Aghdashloo to earn a bachelor's degree in international relations. She continued to develop her acting career, eventually leading her to Los Angeles.
International Success
In 1987, Aghdashloo married actor and playwright Houshang Touzie. The couple has a daughter named Tara. After her marriage, Aghdashloo appeared in numerous productions written by Touzie, which were successful both nationally and internationally, particularly within the Iranian community.
Aghdashloo made her debut in American cinema in 1989, appearing in the American-Dutch film "Guests of Hotel Astoria." She made her television debut on September 25, 1990, in a guest role in the two-hour episode of the NBC series "Matlock," titled "Nowhere to Turn: A Matlock Mystery Movie." In this episode, she portrayed a saleswoman and was credited simply as "Shohreh." She returned to American television three years later, playing the character Malik in an episode of the popular comedy series "Martin" on April 1, 1993. That same year, she portrayed Holidai in the comedy film "Twenty Bucks."
Seven years later, in 2000, Aghdashloo made a comeback in the American film industry, playing Homayoon Armin in the critically acclaimed drama "Maryam" and Parvaneh in the adventure drama "Surviving Paradise." Her portrayal of a deported actress in "Surviving Paradise" accelerated her rise to fame, leading to her nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Vadim Perelman's 2003 drama "House of Sand and Fog," alongside Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly.
After this pivotal moment in her career, Aghdashloo received numerous accolades for her appearances in the television series "24," playing the character Dina Araz, a secret Muslim terrorist living in Los Angeles as a wealthy woman and mother. However, this storyline sparked controversy among Iranian-Americans and Muslims. Aghdashloo initially shared the concerns about perpetuating the stereotype that all Muslims are terrorists but was convinced to accept the role by the strength of the character and the complexity of portraying her.
Continued Success
Aghdashloo continued her acting career while moderating her pace. She played Dr. Sadira Adani in Scott Derrickson's horror film "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" in 2005 and Asian-Indian Dr. Kavita Rao in the fantasy action film "X-Men: The Last Stand" in 2006.
In the same year, Aghdashloo appeared as Pam, an aspiring interior designer, in the comedy series "Will & Grace" and as a grieving mother whose daughter dies in the emergency room in the medical drama series "ER."
Aghdashloo also produced and narrated the documentary film "Mystic Iran: The Unseen World," provided commentary for the PBS documentary "Iran: A Celebration of Art and Culture," narrated the audiobook "Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia," and showcased her vocal talents in the animated short film "Babak & Friends: A First Norooz."
She appeared in the pilot episode of the drama series "The Secret Service" and played the role of Charlie in two out of three episodes of the failed television series "Thieves."
In 2006, Aghdashloo portrayed Elizabeth in Catherine Hardwicke's family drama "The Nativity Story," a biblical account of the life of Mary and Joseph, who become the earthly parents of Jesus Christ. Aghdashloo, a Muslim, found irony in playing a Jewish character.
Additionally, Aghdashloo has been announced to appear in several films, including "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2," "In NorthWood," "The Stoning of Soraya M.," and the drama "The Rhythm of Chaos." She received numerous awards for her role in "House of Sand and Fog," including the New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and Online Film Critics Society Awards, as well as an Independent Spirit Award.
Aghdashloo received the Arpa Career Achievement Award in 2007 and was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in "House of Sand and Fog" in 2004, as well as a Satellite Award for her performance in the series "24" in 2005.
