Iranian-American Actor/Comedian: Maz Jobrani, Original Photo: MazJobrani.com

Iranian-American actor and mega-comedian, Maz Jobrani, is set to star in ABC’s first Iranian-American comedy pilot based on Firoozeh Dumas’s book about growing up in the 1970s in Newport Beach, California: Funny in Farsi.

For those that know, Persian humor is truly some of the most clever and unique form of comedy. And with Maz Jobrani’s timing and skills, we’re positive that he’ll be providing some authentic Persian flavor to the mainstream tube; which will surely prove to be funny in English as well.

How does Maz feel about being a part of this project?

“Like Tony the Tiger,” he tells us. “Grrrrrrreeeat!”

Ana Lily Amirpour is working on her next project, a short film called KETAB, about a lonely young guy in Tehran who goes to buy a book.  On the surface it appears to be a very basic story, but as it unfolds, a more intricate world is revealed, one that touches on the current dichotomies faced by Tehrani youth and their fight for basic freedoms.  The film will star Sam Golzari who debuted as the star of American Dreamz and 21.  Co-stars include exciting up-and-coming Persian talent like comedian Max Amini and actress Sheila Vand, as well as veteran Iranian actor Marshall Manesh who has appeared in dozens of films and television shows including Year One, True Lies, How I Met Your Mother, Will and Grace and Entourage, among many others. 
 
“KETAB is actually a scene from my feature script THE STONES. I plan to use this short film to show the industry that a foreign film about Iranian youth is not just important and topical, it’s also a fun ride as well… with what’s going on in Iran today, it’s never felt more necessary to tell these types of stories.” Amirpour says.

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Iranian-American Actress and Author: Shiva Rose, Original Photo; En Luce

Daughter of perpetual-Iranian-TV-personality, Gharib Afshar, the Persian beauty who says she’s “not going to be the cougar in mini-skirts” and is yearning for “suits for the first time in [her] adult life”, Shiva Rose doesn’t just write human rights essays for the Huffington Post.

“A certain dress only serves to remind me of eating petites fraises with my ex, Dylan, in Provence, and more acutely, of how moments like that are gone.” She whimsically reminisces.

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Shohreh Aghdashloo @ 61st Emmy Awards - Original Image: CBS

Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo walked off the stage at the 61st annual Emmy Awards, a green-wristband-wearing winner for her nomination in the “Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie” category Sunday night in Los Angeles, which makes her the first Iranian to win an Emmy Award for her grouping.

We had predicted that the baritone-voiced actress would get at least an Emmy nod for her role as Sajida in HBO’s House of Saddam, but we hadn’t considered the fact that she would be joining the ranks of previous winners like, Anne Bancroft, Mary Tyler Moore, and Judy Davis.

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Photo Credits: Left, HBO - Right, Gdcgraphics

We’re glad to see Shohreh Aghdashloo maintain a steady career in Hollywood after her Oscar-nominated performance in “House of Sand and Fog” in 2003.

The baritone-voiced Aghdashloo, shines in her most current role (and perhaps the ticket to her first Emmy nod) as Saddam’s first wife, Sajida Khairallah Talfah Hussein, on HBO’s four-part miniseries: House of Saddam.

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Have you been watching Sarah Shahi as the uber-life-like ”D. Reese” on her second season of NBC’s Life?

We’re really starting to appreciate her believable performance as a tough-chick cop. And it must be said that: it’s due to her super-powerful-yet-natural acting chops, although her beauty can be quite distracting – as her magnetism is penetrating enough to pull one through the tv screen – Sarah Shahi is further proof that Persian girls can do it all.

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Born on January 10th, 1980, the hypnotizing Persian-bombshell Sarah Shahi – whose real name is Aahoo Jahansouz Shahi (Aahoo is a Persian name meaning deer) - is back in your life and on your Tv screen!

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