By Iman Sadri
May 14, 2020
Homeland on Showtime was a riveting series that just aired its last episode on April 26. After eight seasons producers wrapped the show up in dramatic fashion. Looking back on the Golden Globe and Emmy winning show it’s interesting to note that it provided a boon for actors of Persian descent. Navid Negahban starred as Abu Nazir, a terrorist mastermind who took up most of the plot in Seasons 1 and 2. Nazanin Boniadi starred as Fara Sherazi, a CIA analyst who helped Saul (Mandy Patinkin) and Carrie (Claire Danes) catch some villains.
One of those bad guys was played Shaun Toub. His role of Majid Javadi was a fan favorite. Toub had a notable on screen chemistry with Patinkin in many episodes. Other actors of Persian descent in the series include Omid Abtahi, who is a wonderful character actor and believable in every scene. Mary Apick, Parviz Sayyad, Alain Washnevsky and Anthony Azizi had Farsi-speaking roles as well.
As diversity still has a long way to go in Hollywood, it’s refreshing to see so many Iranians in one award winning series. Homeland will be missed.
“Homeland was a Boon for Actors of Iranian Descent.” – Iman Sadri
Iman Sadri is the publisher of @LASmileMagazine + @ThePersianObserver
