Shohreh Aghdashloo Biography

Though she has been a prominent actress on both stage and screen, Shohreh Aghdashloo has remained a virtual unknown in the United States. However, after a critically acclaimed performance in the Oscar-worthy “House of Sand and Fog” (2003), Aghdashloo has positioned herself to gain the recognition she deserves—including a well-deserved Oscar nod. Aghdashloo began her career in her native Iran at age 20 and spent the last twenty-five years honing her craft. Following numerous roles on stage, Aghdashloo appeared in her first film, “Gozaresh” (“The Report”, 1977), directed by acclaimed director Abbass Kiarostami. Aghdashloo played the wife of a tax collector, who, besides being accused of taking bribes, must deal with her attempted suicide. The film went on to win the Critics Award at the Moscow Film Festival, though it was ultimately banned in her native country.

Aghdashloo went on to star in “Shatranje Bad” (loosely translated as “Chess With the Wind”, 1977). Though the film was screened at several festivals across the globe, “Shatranje Bad”, was also banned in Iran due to strict censorship laws. Undeterred, Aghdashloo broke through the barrier and established herself as one of Iran’s leading actresses with her appearance in “Sooteh-Delan” (“Broken Hearts”, 1978), directed by the late Ali Hatami. In 1978, the Islamic Revolution swept Iran and Aghdashloo was fled to England via Turkey and Venice with her first husband. Unfortunately, her husband longed for his native country and returned home, leaving Aghdashloo in London, where her interest in politics and social justice prompted her to earn a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. Her desire to act remained strong, however, as Aghdashloo continued to perform on stage.

In 1987, Aghdashloo moved to Los Angeles to further her career. She met and eventually married actor and playwright Houshang Touzie, with whom she formed a theater company that performed its plays in their native tongue of Farsi for the benefit of the Iranian community. Aghdashloo began receiving small roles on television for “Columbo” and “Matlock” (NBC, ABC, 1986-95), and did the small indie feature, “Twenty Bucks” (1993), about the trials and tribulations of a $20 bill and the people it comes into contact with. Aghdashloo also began receiving roles for terrorists, which she vehemently refused on principle. Then after watching Oprah’s Book Club, Aghdashloo read “House of Sand and Fog” and fell in love with Nadi, the wife of a retired Iranian general who tries to build a new life in the United States. Aghdashloo felt so strongly about Nadi that she thought it unfair if she didn’t get the part if the book were made into a movie. Luckily, Aghdashloo nailed the audition once the adaptation became reality—in fact, director Vadim Perelman said he would put the audition on the DVD as an added feature because it was so powerful. At 51, Aghdashloo finally arrived, but she did so on her own term and through the perseverance of her convictions—and the actress was rewarded with an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress.

Her captivating performance in “House of Sand and Fog” led to a wider array of projects on screens both big and small. She landed a recurring role on the hit Fox series, “24” (2001- ), playing the murderous matriarch of a Muslim family-cum-terrorist cell. Though normally reluctant to play terrorists, Aghdashloo was attracted to the complexity of the character, which was exemplified by the contradiction between being a ruthless killer and a loving mother. Though her playing a terrorist did attract criticism, particularly from the Muslim community, Aghdashloo steadfastly defended the role, even though she feared becoming the most hated woman in America—something that thankfully did not come to pass. Meanwhile, Aghdashloo appeared in “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005), playing an anthropologist who studies demonic possession called upon to testify in the trial of a priest (Tom Wilkinson) charged negligent homicide after a failed attempt to exorcise demons from a 19 year-old college student (Jennifer Carpenter).

• Born:
  on 05/11/52 in Tehran, Iran
• Job Titles:
  Actress

Milestones

• — Acted in “Shatranje Bad” (loosely translated “Chess With the Wind”), directed by Mohammad Reza Aslani, which screened at several film festivals; film was banned in her home country
• — Began acting career with Theater Workshops in Iran, where she performed in numerous plays
• — Film debut was in a family drama, “Gozaresh (The Report)” by the world renowned director, Abbas Kia-Rostami
• — Had he stage debut with the Drama Workshop of Tehran.
• 1978 Appeared in “Sootah Delaan (Heart-brokens)” by the legendary Iranian Writer/Director, Ali Hatami; film was banned in her home country
• 1978 Emigrated to Britain, where she completed her education and continued acting in the theater
• 1987 Performed in Los Angeles, met future husband
• 2003 Portrayed Ben Kingsley’s wife in Vadim Perelman’s “House of Sand and Fog,” based on the best-selling novel by Andre Dubus III; received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• 2003 Portrays Sir Ben Kingsley’s wife in the dramatic movie “House of Sand and Fog,” based on the best-selling novel by Andre Dubus III; writen and directed by Vadim Perelman; received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• 2004 Joined the cast of the FOX drama “24″ as a Middle Eastern woman
• 2004 Joined the cast of the real-time drama “24″ (Fox)
• 2005 Played a doctor, opposite Tom Wilkinson and Laura Linney in “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” a film based on a true story
• Began acting career, performing in numerous plays with Theater Workshops in Iran
• Film debut in the family drama, “Gozaresh (The Report)” by the world renowned director, Abbas Kia-Rostami
• Will play an Iranian professor in “Reading Lolita in Tehran” (lensed 2005)
• Will star opposite Sandra Bullock in the romantic drama “Il Mare,” based on the Korean film “Siworae” (lensed 2005)