Golshifteh Farahani.

Golshifteh Farahani began acting in theater at age 6, but her first major break came at 14 when she played the lead in Dariush Mehrjui’s The Pear Tree 1998. The daughter of director Behzad Farahani and artist Fahimeh Rahimnia, she was born in Tehran, Iran, on July 10, 1983. She grew up with two siblings, Shaghayegh and Azarakhsh Farahani. Her passion for music led her to graduate from music school, where she learned to play piano and sing. She also studied at Islamic Azad University.

Golshifteh Farahani’s breakthrough came with The Pear Tree 1998, for which she won Best Actress at the Fajr film festival’s international section. She then starred in Half Moon 2006, winner of the Golden Seashell at San Sebastián, and The Music Man 2007, directed by Dariush Mehrjui but banned in Iran. In 2008, she became the first Iranian actress since the 1979 revolution to appear in a major Hollywood film, playing Aisha in Body of Lies directed by Ridley Scott alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. That role caused her to be barred from leaving Iran, and she subsequently moved to Paris. Her last Iranian film, About Elly 2009, won a Silver Bear at Berlin and Best Narrative Feature at Tribeca. She later appeared in international productions including Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales 2017 as Shansa, Extraction 2020 as Nik Khan, and the TV series Invasion 2021.

Golshifteh Farahani married French actor Louis Garrel in 2012; the couple divorced in 2014. She was previously married to Amin Mahdavi from 2003 to 2011. She has a sister, Shaghayegh Farahani, and a brother, Azarakhsh Farahani. In 2009, she relocated to Paris, France, where she continues to reside. She is fluent in English, French, and Farsi, with some knowledge of Arabic and Kurdish.

Golshifteh Farahani broke barriers as the first Iranian star after the 1979 revolution to appear in a major Hollywood film, a milestone that inspired other Iranian actors to pursue international careers. Her performance in About Elly 2009 garnered critical acclaim and showcased Iran’s cinematic talent globally. She was awarded the Knight of the National Order of Merit and the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, recognizing her cultural contributions. She also served on the international jury at the 63rd Locarno Film Festival in 2010. Today, she is best known for her roles in Body of Lies 2008, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales 2017, and the Extraction series 2020, 2023.