hohreh Aghdashloo born Shohreh Vaziri-Tabar on May 11, 1952) is an Iranian-American actress whose rich, deep voice and commanding presence have made her one of the most recognizable performers of Middle Eastern descent in Hollywood. Her remarkable career, spanning over five decades and multiple continents, reflects both the tumult of her homeland’s history and the global evolution of cinema. Aghdashloo’s journey — from a promising young star in pre-revolutionary Iran to an Academy Award-nominated actress and Emmy winner in the United States — represents not only personal triumph but also the persistence of art across political and cultural divides.
Early Life and Education
Shohreh Aghdashloo was born Shohreh Vaziri-Tabar in Tehran, Iran, into an upper-middle-class family. Her father, Anushiravan Vaziri-Tabar, worked in government service, and her mother, Effie, encouraged artistic pursuits. Growing up in a cosmopolitan environment during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, young Shohreh was exposed to both Persian and Western art, cinema, and literature. From an early age, she displayed an inclination toward performance — reciting poetry, imitating characters, and taking part in school plays.
