If you are a fan of action movies, you probably know who Golshifteh Farahani is.
She is the Iranian-French actress who played Nik Khan, the fearless mercenary who helped Chris Hemsworth‘s character rescue a kidnapped boy in Extraction (2020). But did you know that she has a long and impressive career that spans more than two decades and several countries? In this blog post, we will explore her journey from her first appearance on the big screen to her latest movie and her future project.
Golshifteh Farahani was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1983. She is the daughter of Behzad Farahani, a theatre director and actor, and Fahimeh Rahim Nia. Her sister is actress Shaghayegh Farahani. Golshifteh started her acting career in theater at the age of six, but it was at the age of 14 that she starred in her first film The Pear Tree (1998), directed by Dariush Mehrjui. She won the prize for Best Actress from the international section of the Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran, making her one of the stars of Iranian cinema.
Since then, she has appeared in more than 15 films, many of which have been screened or awarded at international festivals. Among her most notable films are M for Mother (2006), which was chosen to represent Iran for the Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards in 2008; About Elly (2009), which won a Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and a Best Narrative Feature at Tribeca Film Festival; The Patience Stone (2012), based on the novel by Atiq Rahimi, for which she was nominated for the Most Promising Actress Award at the César Awards in 2014; Paterson (2016), directed by Jim Jarmusch, opposite Adam Driver; and Girls of the Sun (2018), which competed for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Golshifteh Farahani became the first Iranian star to act in a major Hollywood production when she played Aisha, Leonardo DiCaprio’s love interest, in Body of Lies (2008) by Ridley Scott. However, this also caused her to be banned from returning and working in Iran since 2009, as Iranian authorities considered her appearance without hijab a violation of Islamic law and collaboration with American propaganda. She has since resided in France and obtained French citizenship.
Golshifteh Farahani has also been involved in other artistic endeavors besides acting. She graduated from music school and plays several instruments, including piano and guitar. She has collaborated with exiled Iranian musician Mohsen Namjoo on an album called Oy (2009). She has also performed on stage, most notably as Anna Karenina in Paris in 2016. She is also an advocate for environmental causes and the eradication of tuberculosis in Iran.
Her latest movie is Extraction 2. Golshifteh Farahani dazzled as Nik Khan in the explosive movie Extraction 2. The film hit the screens on Friday, June 16, and was a smashing follow-up to the 2020 action blockbuster Extraction. In one of the most thrilling scenes of Extraction 2, Golshifteh Farahani joins forces with Chris Hemsworth to blast a helicopter out of the sky from a speeding freight train while fending off a pair of armored thugs in a non-stop high-octane showdown. Farahani’s physical prowess paid off in more ways than one. She says it gave her a much-needed outlet for her emotions. As an Iranian actor with a global voice during a turbulent time for her country, it felt liberating to reconnect with her body. The film was a huge hit with viewers and became one of Netflix’s most streamed movies ever. The filmmakers are so thrilled with their success that they can’t stop bragging about how they made it happen.
Golshifteh Farahani is undoubtedly one of the most talented and versatile actresses working today. She has proven herself in different genres, languages, and cultures, always bringing depth and charisma to her roles. She is also a brave and outspoken woman who has faced challenges and controversies with dignity and grace. We can’t wait to see what she will do next!
