Shohreh Aghdashloo

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).

Aghdashloo next had a supporting role in the satire-that-never-was, “American Dreamz” (2006), an obvious and toothless take on politics, pop culture and terrorism from writer-director Paul Weitz. She played the relative of a hapless, would-be terrorist (Sam Golzari) whose penchant for show tunes over strap-on bombs drives him to be a contestant on an “American Idol”-like talent show. After a small role as Dr. Kativa Rao in “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006), the third installment to the comic book series, Aghdashloo landed a major role in the so-called science fiction/romantic comedy, “The Lake House” (2006), starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves as lovers exchanging romantic letters while living in the same house—only two years apart. As she awaited the release of “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “The Lake House,” she costarred in “The Nativity Story” (2006), a drab look at the two-year period of Mary and Joseph’s life which culminates in their leaving Nazareth for Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. Aghdashloo played Elizabeth, Mary’s older cousin who miraculously gives birth to John the Baptist despite her advanced age.