Sepideh Moafi
Born (1985-09-18) September 18, 1985
Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active2013–present

Sepideh Moafi (Persian: سپیده معافی; born September 18, 1985) is an Iranian-American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in The Deuce (2017–2019), The L Word: Generation Q (2019–2023), and Black Bird (2022).

Early life

Moafi was born on September 18, 1985, in a refugee camp in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany.[1][2] Prior to her birth, her parents fled Iran after the Islamic Revolution. After two years in Turkey and then Germany, where Moafi's parents sought political asylum and claimed refugee status, Moafi's family were granted visas to move to the United States.[1][2] Moafi is an American citizen.[3]

During her childhood years, she studied opera and was later pulled into musical theatre and jazz.[3] Moafi started singing at 15 years old and within a year had a full scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music,[3] where she graduated in 2007.[4] Moafi attended the University of California Irvine to study acting where she later graduated with an MFA in 2013.[5]

Career

In 2013, Moafi had her first on-screen credit in a guest-starring role as Aaliya Zaki in the tenth episode of season four of CBS's Blue Bloods.

In 2015, Moafi landed what would be her breakout role, a recurring role as Loretta in HBO's The Deuce, an American drama television series created by David Simon and George Pelecanos set during the 1970s and 1980s and explored the stories of sex-workers in New York. Before filming the pilot, Simon met Moafi for a coffee date and explained to Moafi what The Deuce was going to be about and what her character's arc, Loretta, on the show was going to be. While her character on The Deuce had been planned early on, Moafi subsequently landed a lead role in Notorious (a show which was to be filmed in Los Angeles) after meeting with Simon and before the pilot of The Deuce was filmed. Moafi wrote a letter to the executive producers of The Deuce, Simon, Pelecanos and Nina Kostroff Noble hoping that they would still let her be a part of The Deuce despite her regular gig on Notorious. The executive producers on The Deuce let Moafi continue to be a part of their show and worked around her schedule as The Deuce was mainly filmed in New York.[6][7] However, as a result, Loretta's arc could not be fulfilled as initially planned and had to go a different direction because of Moafi's scheduling conflicts[6] and she was only in three episodes in the first season of The Deuce.[8] The pilot of The Deuce was shot in 2015[8] and the first season was shot a year later.[6]

In 2016, Moafi starred as Megan Byrd on ABC's Notorious.[9] The show is based on real-life criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and Larry King Live news producer Wendy Walker. Moafi's character is a junior producer and booker on the fictional number one cable news show Louise Herrick Live and her character is considered to be the number-two to Julia George, played by Piper Perabo.[10] While the show originally landed a 13-episode first season, ABC cut the first season to 10 episodes and the show was cancelled by ABC after one season.[11]

After Notorious was cancelled, Moafi continued to appear in her recurring role as Loretta on The Deuce, and her character was made a series regular in season 3, the final season. Moafi's character on The Deuce was initially a sex-worker working on the streets of New York and later became an anti-pornography activist,[12] which was one of the main reasons Moafi wanted to continue to be a part of The Deuce despite her scheduling conflicts.[8] To prepare for her role as Loretta, Moafi did research into the history of New York by reading books such as pimp and sex workers' memoirs and studied vintage porn to help her understanding of the historical context that the show was set in.[6] Moafi has stated that The Deuce has changed and influenced her relationship and view of the porn industry after the stories portrayed in the show.[6][13]

While shooting the second season of The Deuce, Moafi starred in the role of Dahna in a musical off-Broadway One Thousand Nights and One Day which opened on April 15, 2018.[14][15] Moafi has stated that her career "started out in opera and then theater" and considers opera to "forever be a part of [her] artistic identity".[16]

In 2018, Moafi was cast as a series regular on and starred as Alexis Simms in season 2 of Falling Water.[17][18] Season 2 of Falling Water premiered in January 2018. Moafi's character was introduced as the new partner of NYPD detective Taka (played by Will Yun Lee) who later discovers the supernatural world in the show. In May 2018, USA Network announced the series' cancellation after its second season.

In 2019, Moafi was cast as Gigi Ghorbani on Showtime's The L Word: Generation Q, a reboot of the early 2000s lesbian classic The L Word.[19] Generation Q premiered on December 8, 2019.[20] At the beginning of season 1 of Generation Q, Moafi's character was introduced as the ex-wife of Natalie "Nat" Bailey (played by Stephanie Allynne) who is currently dating Alice Pieszecki (played by Leisha Hailey), a character that originated in The L Word. Her character was well received by fans and quickly became a fan-favorite among the new cast.[16] In season 1, her character Gigi was involved in a "throuple"/polyamorous relationship with Alice and Nat. In season 2, her character further explored romantic relationships with Bette Porter (played by Jennifer Beals) and Dani Núñez (played by Arienne Mandi).

In 2020, Moafi starred alongside Clayne Crawford in The Killing of Two Lovers, an American drama film written, directed, produced and edited by Robert Machoian. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2020, and the film was released on May 14, 2021.[21] The film tells the separation between the parents of four children in which Moafi plays Niki, the wife of Clayne Crawford's David.[22]

In April 2021, Moafi was cast in the Apple TV+ American crime drama limited series Black Bird. Produced by Dennis Lehane, Moafi stars alongside Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser and Greg Kinnear. Production for the series began in New Orleans in April 2021 and is based on the novel In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene. Moafi plays FBI agent Lauren McCauley in the true crime drama, an FBI agent who approaches protagonist Jimmy Keene about the Larry Hall operation.[23] Moafi attended the premiere event on Wednesday June 29, 2022, at the Regency Bruin Theater in Los Angeles, California[24]. The six-episode limited series premiered globally on July 8, 2022, on Apple TV+.

In November 2021, Moafi was cast as "Hour" in the FX limited series Class of '09 alongside Brian J. Smith, Jake McDorman, Brooke Smith, joining previously announced leads Brian Tyree Henry and Kate Mara. The eight-part series produced by FX Productions revolves around a group of FBI agents who graduated from Quantico in 2009 and are reunited following the death of a mutual friend.[25] The series is executive produced by Tom Rob Smith, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.[26] Class of '09 is set to air some time in 2023 exclusively on FX on Hulu.[25]

Personal life

Moafi adopted a puppy named Simone de Beauvoir in March 2019.

Moafi is an activist and works to support the International Rescue Committee.[27]

In 2019, Moafi penned a first person essay sharing her experience as a refugee.[2]

In 2021, Moafi was a special guest on Girls Write Now, a writing and mentoring organisation for girls and gender-expansive teens. Moafi hosted a program titled "Belonging: From Refugee to Hollywood" as part of the Summer Salon series in February 2021."[1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010 Violet is Single Violet Short film
2014 Best Man in the Dark Tereza Lopez
2017 Quest: The Truth Always Rises Susan
2018 The Arrangements Short film
2020 The Killing of Two Lovers Nikki [28]
2023 I'll Be Right There TBA [29]
TBA Wild Berries Pre-production [30]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 Blue Bloods Aaliya Zaki Episode: "Mistaken Identity"
2014 Unforgettable Lisa Martinez Episode: "Manhunt"
Nurse Jackie Mrs. Harrison Episode: "Love Jungle"
Black Box Dr. Farrah Mahmoud
The Good Wife Sylmar Knausgaard Episode: "Old Spice"
Red Zone Frida Moussaf Television film
2015 Forever Melanie Sparo Episode: "The Wolves of Deep Brooklyn"
The Blacklist Mary Henning Episode: "The Deer Hunter (no. 93)"
Limitless Dr. Pauline Wilson Episode: "Side Effects May Include..."
2016 Elementary Sofia Darrow Episode: "All In"
Notorious Megan Byrd Main role
2017–2019 The Deuce Loretta Recurring role (seasons 1–2); Main role (season 3)
2019–2023 The L Word: Generation Q Gigi Ghorbani Main role (seasons 1–2)
2022 Black Bird Lauren McCauley Main role [31]
2023 Class of '09 Hour Nazari Main role [32]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Belonging: From Refugee to Hollywood with Sepideh Moafi, retrieved September 29, 2021
  2. 1 2 3 "Sepideh Moafi Opens Up About Being Born in a Refugee Camp, Why She Wants to Help Other Immigrants". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Solis, Jose (April 9, 2018). "Sepideh Moafi is a Master at Subverting Seduction and Sex; Interview: Sepideh Moafi on 'One Thousand Nights and One Day'". StageBuddy.
  4. ↑ "Crossover Star Sepideh Moafi '07 Turns Big Dreams into Reality". sfcm.edu. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Sepideh Moafi Booked a Role in Notorious | Claire Trevor School of the Arts | UC Irvine". www.arts.uci.edu. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "You Might Know Her From: Sepideh Moafi on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  7. ↑ Plitt, Amy (September 12, 2017). "Mapping the NYC filming locations for HBO's '70s porn drama 'The Deuce'". Curbed NY. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 "The Deuce" Star Sepideh Moafi Talks About The Final Season Of The HBO Series, retrieved September 29, 2021
  9. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE : NOTORIOUS Scoop: Interview with Sepideh Moafi | Seat42F". seat42f.com. September 21, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  10. ↑ Sepideh Moafi interviewed at ABC's "Notorious" red carpet premiere screening #Notorious, retrieved September 29, 2021
  11. ↑ "Notorious: Cancelled; ABC Drama Officially Not Returning for Season Two". canceled + renewed TV shows - TV Series Finale. May 12, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  12. ↑ "'Maggie Gyllenhaal Devours The Moment': Sepideh Moafi On HBO's 'The Deuce' & Showtime's 'L Word: Generation Q'". September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ Stagnitta, Ali (October 28, 2019). "'The Deuce' Finale: Sepideh Moafi Reveals How Loretta's Story Has Influenced Her View Of The Porn Industry". Hollywood Life. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  14. ↑ Clement, Olivia (April 13, 2018). "Watch Highlights From New Musical One Thousand Nights and One Day". Playbill. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Sepideh Moafi and Ben Steinfeld to Star in One Thousand Nights and One Day | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Specter, Emma (August 17, 2021). "Sepideh Moafi Knows You're Obsessed With Gigi on 'The L Word: Generation Q'". Vogue. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  17. ↑ Petski, Denise (August 28, 2017). "'Falling Water': Sepideh Moafi Cast As Series Regular For Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Sepideh Moafi – Falling Water". Starry Constellation Magazine. January 28, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  19. ↑ Milligan, Kaitlin. "Sepideh Moafi Joins Cast of THE L WORD: GENERATION Q". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Gigi Ghorbani Played by Sepideh Moafi - The L Word: Generation Q | SHOWTIME". SHO.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  21. ↑ "The Killing of Two Lovers | NEON". neonrated.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  22. ↑ DeBolt, Virginia (September 17, 2021). "The Killing of Two Lovers: Is Sepideh Moafi worth it?". Old Ain't Dead. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Meet the cast of Black Bird, Apple TV's gripping true crime thriller". Radio Times. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Apple TV+ hosts premiere for the highly anticipated debut of thrilling crime drama "Black Bird" ahead of its global debut on July 8". Apple TV+ Press. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  25. 1 2 Petski, Rosy Cordero,Denise; Cordero, Rosy; Petski, Denise (November 10, 2021). "'Class of '09': Raúl Castillo, Jake McDorman, Sepideh Moafi, Brian J. Smith Among 7 Cast In FX Limited Series". Deadline. Retrieved July 8, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ↑ Otterson, Joe (June 22, 2021). "Brian Tyree Henry, Kate Mara to Star in Limited Series 'Class of '09' for FX on Hulu". Variety. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  27. ↑ "IRC Celebrity Ambassadors: Why I Support the IRC's Work With Refugees". International Rescue Committee (IRC). Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Clayne Crawford & The Killing of Two Lovers Team on Their On-Set Family". Collider. February 6, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  29. ↑ Grobar, Matt (December 7, 2022). "Edie Falco To Topline Indie Comedy 'I'll Be Right There' From 'Nurse Jackie' Helmer Brendan Walsh; Charlie Tahan, Jeannie Berlin, Bradley Whitford & More Also Set". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  30. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (May 10, 2023). "'Wild Berries,' Starring Cannes Winner Shahab Hosseini, 'The L Word's' Sepideh Moafi, Picked Up by Grandave Intl. (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  31. ↑ Tauer, Kristen (July 11, 2022). "Sepideh Moafi Is on the Case in New Apple Series 'Black Bird'". WWD. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  32. ↑ Petski, Rosy Cordero,Denise; Cordero, Rosy; Petski, Denise (November 10, 2021). "'Class of '09': Raúl Castillo, Jake McDorman, Sepideh Moafi, Brian J. Smith Among 7 Cast In FX Limited Series". Deadline. Retrieved June 3, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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