Golshifteh Farahani

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Golshifteh Farahani
گلشیفته فراهانی
Farahani in 2023
Born
Rahavard Farahani

(1983-07-10) 10 July 1983 (age 40)
Tehran, Iran
Nationality
  • Iranian
  • French
Alma materUniversity of Applied Science and Technology[1]
Occupation
  • Actress
Years active1996–present
Parent
RelativesShaghayegh Farahani (sister)

Rahavard Farahani (Persian: رهاورد فراهانی; born 10 July 1983), known professionally as Golshifteh Farahani (گلشیفته فراهانی), is an Iranian and French actress. She is known for her performances in M for Mother (2006), Body of Lies (2008), About Elly (2009), The Patience Stone (2012), Paterson (2016), Girls of the Sun (2018), Extraction (2020) and its sequel Extraction 2 (2023), and Invasion (2021–present). She was nominated for the Most Promising Actress Award for The Patience Stone at the 2014 César Awards.

Early life

Farahani in 2006

Farahani was born in Tehran, Iran. She is the daughter of Behzad Farahani, a theatre director and actor, and Fahimeh Rahim Nia. Her sister is actress Shaghayegh Farahani.[2] Golshifteh began studying music and piano at the age of five, and later entered a music school in Tehran. At 14, she was cast as the lead in Dariush Mehrjui's The Pear Tree, a role for which she won the Crystal Roc for Best Actress from the International Section of the 16th Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran.[3]

Career

Farahani starred in the drama About Elly, which won Best Picture at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival and a Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Due to her appearance in the Hollywood movie Body of Lies, seen by Iranian authorities as a collaboration with American propaganda and a violation of Islamic law due to Farahani's appearance without hijab, she has not been allowed to return and work in Iran since 2009, and has since resided in France.[4] Farahani starred in The Patience Stone (2012), directed by Atiq Rahimi from his novel; it was favorably received by most reviewers.[5] She also starred in a 2012 César Award video in the Most Promising Actors category.

In 2016, Farahani played Anna Karenina on stage in Paris and received laudatory reviews. She also played the lead role of Laura in director Jim Jarmusch's American feature film Paterson, opposite actor Adam Driver. The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews, scoring 96% approval on the movie site Rotten Tomatoes.

In 2017, she appeared in the fantasy film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales as the sea witch Shansa.[6]

In 2020, she was in the action film Extraction as Nik Khan.[citation needed]

She was slated to appear in director Dariush Mehrjui's film Rumi's Kimia,[citation needed] which will be based on Saideh Ghods's novel Kimia Khatoon.

Non-film work

Farahani is involved in environmental causes, and is an advocate for the eradication of tuberculosis in Iran.[citation needed]

In Iran, she was a member of Kooch Neshin (Nomads), a band that won the 2nd Tehran Avenue underground rock competition. Since leaving Iran, she has teamed up with another exiled Iranian musician, Mohsen Namjoo; their album Oy was released in October 2009.[citation needed]

In December 2014, she took 6th place in the annual Independent Critics Beauty List of 2014.[7]

Since moving to Paris,[8] she has worked with directors Roland Joffé, Huner Saleem and Marjane Satrapi, among others, and was a member of the international jury at the 63rd Locarno Film Festival.

Farahani, who has been exiled from Iran since 2008 for refusing to wear a hijab while acting in international films, has publicly supported the Mahsa Amini protests.[9][10] On 28 October 2022, British rock band Coldplay invited Farahani to perform with them a cover of Shervin Hajipour's Baraye, which has been described as "the anthem" of the protests, at the band's concert at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires. The concert was broadcast live to over 3,500 theatres worldwide in more than 70 countries as part of a two-night-only live-event cinema special during the Latin America leg of the band's Music of the Spheres World Tour.[11]

Controversy

Golshifteh Farahani during an interview with BBC Persian

After Farahani's appearance in the U.S. film Body of Lies, it was reported that Iranian government authorities had prevented her from leaving Iran.[2] However, this was denied by her colleagues, and she appeared at the movie's American premiere.[12] Her last film performance in Iran was in About Elly directed by Asghar Farhadi.[4]

In January 2012, it was reported that Farahani would not be welcome in her native Iran after posing nude in the French magazine Madame Figaro.[13] According to Britain's Daily Telegraph, Iranian government officials told her, "Iran does not need actors or artists like you. You may offer your artistic services somewhere else."[14] A picture from the shoot on her Facebook page initiated a lively debate about her behavior.[15] She also appeared topless in a short black-and-white film by Jean-Baptiste Mondino called Corps et Âmes (Bodies and Souls).[16] She also posed for fully nude photographs taken by Paolo Roversi for an Égoïste cover and editorial.[17]

Filmography

Film

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Director Notes
1998 The Pear Tree Mitra Dariush Mehrjui
2001 Seven Acts Fereshteh Farzad Motamen
2002 Zamaneh Zamaneh Hamid Reza Salahmand
2003 Two Angels Azar Mohammad Haghighat
2004 Somewhere Else Raha Mehdi Karampour
Boutique Eti Hamid Nematollah
The Tear of the Cold Ronak Azizollah Hamidnejad
2005 The Fish Fall in Love Touka Ali Rafie
Bab'Aziz Noor Nacer Khemir
2006 Gis Borideh Maryam Jamshid Heidari
In the Name of the Father Habibeh Ebrahim Hatamikia
Half Moon Niwemang Bahman Ghobadi
M for Mother Sepideh Rasoul Mollagholipour
2007 The Music Man Hanieh Dariush Mehrjui
To Each His Own Cinema Herself Abbas Kiarostami
2008 The Wall Setareh Mohammad Ali Talebi
There's Always a Woman in Between Maryam Kamal Tabrizi
Shirin Woman in audience Abbas Kiarostami
Body of Lies Aisha Ridley Scott
2009 About Elly Sepideh Asghar Farhadi
2011 If You Die, I'll Kill You Siba Huner Saleem
There Be Dragons Leila Roland Joffé
Chicken With Plums Iran Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
2012 The Patience Stone The Woman Atiq Rahimi
Just Like a Woman Mona Rachid Bouchareb
2013 My Sweet Pepper Land Govend Huner Saleem
2014 Rosewater Maryam Bahari Jon Stewart
Eden Yasmin Mia Hansen-Løve
Exodus: Gods and Kings Nefertari Ridley Scott
2015 Two Friends Mona Louis Garrel
Go Home Nada Jihane Chouaib
2016 Sophie's Misfortunes Madame de Réan Christophe Honoré
Finding Altamira Conchita Hugh Hudson
Paterson Laura Jim Jarmusch
2017 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Shansa Joachim Running, Espen Sandberg
The Song of Scorpions Nooran Anup Singh
Shelter Mona Eran Riklis
The Upside Maggie Neil Burger
Santa & Cie Amélie Alain Chabat
2018 The Night Eats the World Sarah Dominique Rocher
Girls of the Sun Bahar Eva Husson
2019 Blind Spot Elham Patrick-Mario Bernard, Pierre Trividic
Arab Blues Selma Derwich Manele Labidi
2020 Extraction Nik Khan Sam Hargrave
2022 Brother and Sister Faunia Vuillard Arnaud Desplechin
My Father's Dragon Dela Elevator Nora Twomey Voice only
A Romantic Comedy Salomé Thibault Segouin
2023 Extraction 2 Nik Khan Sam Hargrave
TBA Reading Lolita in Tehran Eran Riklis Post-production
TBA William Tell Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2018–2021 Gen:Lock Yasamin 'Yaz' Madrani Voice only
2021 VTC Nora Main role, 5 episodes
Also known as Surge
2021–present Invasion Aneesha Malik Main role, 10 episodes

Music video

Year Song Artist Notes
2014 "Pola" Jabberwocky [18]
2018 "Paradis" Orelsan

Theatre

Year Play Role Notes
2003 Maryam and Mardavij Mayan
2004 The Black Narcissus Workshop
2005 Mofatesh (The Inspector) Firoozeh Banned in Iran
2013 A Private Dream Sarah Toured North America (March–April 2013)
2016 Anna Karenina Anna Karenina Toured around France and in Paris at the Théâtre de la Tempête directed by Gaëtan Vassart

Concerts

Date Venue Notes
10 August 2009 Sala Verdi, Milan Conservatory With Mohsen Namjoo, presentation of the new album Oy
9 November 2009 Lido, Venice With Mohsen Namjoo, during the Venice Film Festival
28 October 2022 River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires Guest appearance at Coldplay's Music of the Spheres, performed Baraye[11]

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award Year Category Nominated Work Result Ref.
Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2012 Best Actress – New Horizons The Patience Stone Won
Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2009 Best Performance by an Actress About Elly Nominated
2013 My Sweet Pepper Land Nominated
Asian Film Awards 2013 Best Actress The Patience Stone Nominated
People's Choice for Best Actress Nominated
Asolo Art Film Festival 2008 Eleonora Duse Award Herself Won
Chlotrudis Awards 2018 Best Supporting Actress Paterson Nominated
César Awards 2014 Most Promising Actress The Patience Stone Nominated
Fajr International Film Festival 1998 Best Actress – International Competition The Pear Tree Won
2004 Best Actress in a Leading Role – National Competition The Tear of the Cold Nominated
2008 There's Always a Woman in Between Nominated
Gijón International Film Festival 2012 Best Actress The Patience Stone Won
Hafez Awards 2005 Best Actress – Motion Picture The Tear of the Cold Won
2007 M for Mother Nominated
2011 About Elly Nominated
Indiana Film Journalists Association US 2016 Best Supporting Actress Paterson Nominated
International Online Cinema Awards 2015 Best Actress About Elly Nominated
Iran Cinema Celebration 2004 Best Actress in a Leading Role The Tear of the Cold Won
Boutique Nominated
2005 Best Actress in a Supporting Role The Fish Fall in Love Nominated
2006 Best Actress in a Leading Role M for Mother Nominated
2010 About Elly Nominated
Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association 2008 Best Actress in a Leading Role The Wall Nominated
Kazan International Film Festival 2006 Best Actress The Tear of the Cold Won
2008 M for Mother Won
Kowsar Film Festival 2007 Best Actress M for Mother Won
Lumières Award 2016 Best Female Revelation Two Friends Nominated
Nantes Three Continents Festival 2004 Best Actress Boutique Won
Roshd International Film Festival 2007 Best Actress M for Mother Won
Stony Brook Film Festival 2014 Outstanding Performance My Sweet Pepper Land Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Golshifteh Farahani" (in Persian). Soureh Cinema. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b Tehrani, Souraya (22 August 2008). "Hollywood postponed". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  3. ^ Rouiller, Nathalie (14 October 2019). "Golshifteh Farahani, aveuglante". liberation.fr. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2021. Sur les registres, la belle s'appelle Rahavard, "cadeau de la route", en allusion aux chemins de hasard et à leurs surprises d'importance. [...] On l'imaginait double nationale, elle affirme n'avoir qu'un passeport, le tricolore [...] "On n'est pas responsable de la peur des hommes", dit l'ex de Louis Garrel, deux fois mariée et séparée....
  4. ^ a b Christianson, Emily. "FRESH FACE: Golshifteh Farahani". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  5. ^ "The Patience Stone". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Golshifteh Farahani in Pirates of the Caribbean". Archived from the original on 30 November 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  7. ^ "100 Most Beautiful Faces 2014... – Independent Critics by TC Candler | Independent Critics by TC Candler". Tccandler.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  8. ^ "DiCaprio Co-Star in Islamic Hot Water? at Hollywood.com". Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Exiled Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani lauds protests over Amini's death". Agence France-Presse. 11 October 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2022 – via Al Arabiya.
  10. ^ Makooi, Bahar (1 October 2022). "French feminists mobilise in solidarity with Iranian protesters". France 24. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b Gillett, Katy (30 October 2022). "Coldplay perform 'Baraye' in Farsi with Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani". The National. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Colleague denies Iran actress faced travel ban: report" Archived 10 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, Tehran, 26 August 2008.
  13. ^ Tait, Robert (17 July 2012). "Iran imposes travel ban on star actresses". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  14. ^ McElroy, Damien (18 January 2012). "Iranian actress banned from homeland after naked magazine shoot". Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Iranian reactions to Golshifteh Farahani's nude photo". Tabeer. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  16. ^ Memarian, Omid (20 January 2012). "Nude Photo of Iranian Actress Golshifteh Farahani Roils Iran". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  17. ^ Richford, Rhonda (20 May 2015). "Cannes: Golshifteh Farahani Talks Nudity and Middle East Politics at Women in Motion Panel (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Jabberwocky: Pola, le titre lancinant et addictif dévoilé". Lefigaro.fr. 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2016.

External links