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IMDbPro

Nazanin Boniadi

  • Actress
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000281
Nazanin Boniadi at Elle Women in Television event
In this extended interview, stars Nazanin Boniadi, Markella Kavenagh, Ismael Cruz Cordova, and Benjamin Walker share their most memorable moments working on "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." From stepping into costume to sitting down with Stephen Colbert in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, the cast has been on an epic journey together.
Play interview8:15
How "The Rings of Power" Cast Felt "The Lord of the Rings" Legacy [Extended Cut]
54 Videos
99+ Photos
Nazanin Boniadi is rapidly making her mark in both film and television. She co-starred as CIA analyst Fara Sherazi on seasons three and four of the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning drama Homeland (2011), for which she shared a 2015 SAG Award nomination in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series category. Boniadi appeared in the 2016 MGM-Paramount remake of Ben-Hur. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the film stars Ms. Boniadi in the female lead role of Esther opposite Jack Huston, Morgan Freeman and Toby Kebbell. She will next appear in a leading role opposite Armie Hammer and Dev Patel in Anthony Maras's Hotel Mumbai.

Among her many television credits, Boniadi portrayed Nora, a relatively longstanding love interest to Neil Patrick Harris's Barney Stinson, in seasons six and seven of How I Met Your Mother (2005). She also appeared as the notorious Adnan Salif in season three of Shonda Rhimes' hit political drama Scandal (2012). She will next star alongside J.K. Simmons in the original Starz series Counterpart (2017), created by Justin Marks and Executive Produced by Morten Tyldum.

On film, Boniadi appeared as Amira Ahmed in Jon Favreau's Iron Man (2008) and portrayed a young mother, Elaine, in Paul Haggis' The Next Three Days (2010). She also has several independent features to her credit.

Born in Tehran at the height of the Iranian Revolution, Boniadi's parents relocated to London, England, shortly thereafter, where she was raised with an emphasis on education. While she was involved in theatre early in life, Boniadi later decided she wanted to become a physician. She moved to the United States at the age of 19 to attend the University of California, Irvine, where she received her Bachelor's Degree, with Honors (Dean's Academic Achievement and Service Award) in Biological Sciences, and won the "Chang Pin Chun" Undergraduate Research Award for her work in heart-transplant rejection and cancer research.

Switching gears to pursue her first love, Boniadi then decided to study acting, which included training in Contemporary Drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London under the supervision of dramaturge Lloyd Trott.

Boniadi is fluent in both English and Persian. She is a dedicated human rights activist. Boniadi served as a spokesperson for Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) 2009-2015, and continues to partner with the non-profit as an AIUSA Artist of Conscience. In 2014, she was selected for term membership by the Council on Foreign Relations.
BornMay 22, 1980
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMay 22, 1980
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000281
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 3 nominations

Photos101

Nazanin Boniadi at an event for The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards (2015)
Claire Danes, Maury Sterling, and Nazanin Boniadi in Homeland (2011)
Nazanin Boniadi
Tracy Letts, Laila Robins, Maury Sterling, and Nazanin Boniadi in Homeland (2011)
Neil Patrick Harris and Nazanin Boniadi in How I Met Your Mother (2005)
Still of Jack Huston and Nazanin Boniadi in Ben-Hur
Nazanin Boniadi and Ismael Cruz Cordova in Partings (2022)
Nazanin Boniadi in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Nazanin Boniadi in Grey's Anatomy (2005)
Tyroe Muhafidin, Nazanin Boniadi, Ismael Cruz Cordova, and Charlie Vickers in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Nazanin Boniadi and Ismael Cruz Cordova in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Nazanin Boniadi in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)

Known for

Jason Isaacs, Anupam Kher, Nazanin Boniadi, Armie Hammer, and Dev Patel in Hotel Mumbai (2018)
Hotel Mumbai
7.6
  • Zahra
  • 2018
J.K. Simmons in Counterpart (2017)
Counterpart
8.0
TV Series
  • Clare Quayle
Claire Danes in Homeland (2011)
Homeland
8.3
TV Series
  • Fara Sherazi
Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segel, Josh Radnor, and Cobie Smulders in How I Met Your Mother (2005)
How I Met Your Mother
8.3
TV Series
  • Nora

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Charles Edwards, Lloyd Owen, Sophia Nomvete, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Owain Arthur, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, and Markella Kavenagh in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
    The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
    • Bronwyn
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, and Margot Robbie in Bombshell (2019)
    Bombshell
    • Rudi Bakhtiar
    • 2019
  • J.K. Simmons in Counterpart (2017)
    Counterpart
    • Clare Quayle
    • TV Series
    • 2018–2019
  • Jason Isaacs, Anupam Kher, Nazanin Boniadi, Armie Hammer, and Dev Patel in Hotel Mumbai (2018)
    Hotel Mumbai
    • Zahra
    • 2018
  • Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence in Passengers (2016)
    Passengers
    • Wake-up Hologram (uncredited)
    • 2016
  • Toby Kebbell and Jack Huston in Ben-Hur (2016)
    Ben-Hur
    • Esther
    • 2016
  • Ben Stiller, Penélope Cruz, and Owen Wilson in Zoolander 2 (2016)
    Zoolander 2
    • 'Old and Lame' Show Attendee
    • 2016
  • Claire Danes in Homeland (2011)
    Homeland
    • Fara Sherazi
    • TV Series
    • 2013–2014
  • Homeland: Spies Among Us
    • Fara Sharazi
    • TV Movie
    • 2014
  • Reece Ritchie and Freida Pinto in Desert Dancer (2014)
    Desert Dancer
    • Parisa Ghaffarian
    • 2014
  • Kerry Washington in Scandal (2012)
    Scandal
    • Adnan Salif
    • TV Series
    • 2014
  • Shirin in Love (2014)
    Shirin in Love
    • Shirin
    • 2014
  • Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segel, Josh Radnor, and Cobie Smulders in How I Met Your Mother (2005)
    How I Met Your Mother
    • Nora
    • TV Series
    • 2011–2014
  • James Pickens Jr., Ellen Pompeo, and Chandra Wilson in Grey's Anatomy (2005)
    Grey's Anatomy
    • Amrita
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Matthew Perry, Bill Cobbs, Suzy Nakamura, Julie White, Laura Benanti, Brett Gelman, and Tyler James Williams in Go On (2012)
    Go On
    • Hannah
    • TV Series
    • 2013

Writer

  • Stateless (2020)
    Stateless
    • Writer
    • Short
    • 2020

Producer

  • Stateless (2020)
    Stateless
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2020

Videos56

When "The Rings of Power" Cast Felt Connected to "The Lord of the Rings" Legacy
Clip 4:17
When "The Rings of Power" Cast Felt Connected to "The Lord of the Rings" Legacy
How "The Rings of Power" Cast Felt "The Lord of the Rings" Legacy [Extended Cut]
Interview 8:15
How "The Rings of Power" Cast Felt "The Lord of the Rings" Legacy [Extended Cut]
Season 1 Finale Trailer
Trailer 2:15
Season 1 Finale Trailer
Season Finale Trailer
Trailer 2:16
Season Finale Trailer
Official Trailer: "Together"
Trailer 2:40
Official Trailer: "Together"
Official Trailer
Trailer 3:02
Official Trailer
Main Teaser
Trailer 2:32
Main Teaser
Watch Trailer
Trailer 0:31
Watch Trailer
Premieres Sunday, Jan. 21
Trailer 0:31
Premieres Sunday, Jan. 21
"Hero" Trailer
Trailer 2:16
"Hero" Trailer
New Trailer
Trailer 0:56
New Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:20
Official Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Height
    • 5′ 3¾″ (1.62 m)
  • Born
    • May 22, 1980
    • Tehran, Iran
  • Relatives
      Safi Ali Shah(Great Grandparent)
  • Other works
    Commercial opposite George Clooney for Nespresso, called "The Swap", directed by Grant Heslov.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    She was born in Tehran, Iran, raised in London, England, and moved to the U.S. to attend university. She is a British-American dual citizen.

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