Yara Shahidi
| Yara Shahidi | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Yara Sayeh Shahidi February 10, 2000 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Nationality |
 United States |
| Occupation | Actress, model |
| Years active | 2007 – present |
| Known for | Black-ish, The First Family, Bad Teacher (TV Series) |
Yara Sayeh Shahidi[1] (Persian: یارا سایه شهیدی[2], Persian pronunciation: [jɑːɾɑː sɑːje ʃæhiːdiː]) (born February 10, 2000) is an Iranian-American[3][2] actress and model, best known for playing Zoey on the sitcom Black-ish.[4]
Life and career
Shahidi was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to an African-American mother, Keri Salter Shahidi, and an Iranian-American father, Afshin Shahidi.[5] Her father is a photographer.[4][6] The family moved to California for Afshin's work, when Yara was 4. She is the older sister of child actor and model Sayeed Shahidi and a second cousin to rapper Nas. The name Yara is an Iranian name meaning "Someone who is close to your heart".[5]
She began her career when she was 6 years old,[7] appearing in television and print advertisements for companies such as McDonald's, Ralph Lauren, Target, GapKids, Disney, Guess Kids and The Children's Place. She frequently worked with her mother and younger brother in various print and broadcast campaigns.
Shahidi made her theatrical debut in 2009, starring opposite Eddie Murphy in Paramount Pictures' Imagine That,[4] for which she received a Young Artist Award nomination for the best performance in a feature film category.[8]
In September 2014, Shahidi starred in ABC's prime-time comedy Black-ish as 14-year-old Zoey Johnson.[9] In December 2014 she won an NAACP Image Award in the category of 'Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy'.[10]
In 2016 she signed to model with New York’s Women Management modeling agency, in hopes of providing a platform to see more women of color in diverse roles.[9]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Imagine That | Olivia Danielson | |
| 2010 | Salt | Salt's Young Neighbor | |
| 2010 | Unthinkable | Katie | |
| 2011 | Rip City | Montana | Television movie |
| 2011 | Butter | Destiny | |
| 2012 | Alex Cross | Janelle Cross |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Entourage | Kandace West | Episode: "No Cannes Do" |
| 2009 | In the Motherhood | Esther | 5 episodes |
| 2009 | Cold Case | Meesha Sullivan '91 | Episode: "Read Between the Lines" |
| 2009 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Olive | Episode: "Doll House" |
| 2010 | Lie to Me | Olivia | Episode: "Teacher and Pupils" |
| 2010 | $h*! My Dad Says | Girl Scout | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2011 | The Cape | Layla | Episode: "Endgame" |
| 2011 | Family Guy | Little Girl (voice) | Episode: "Episode VI: It's a Trap" |
| 2012 | The Finder | Adina | Episode: "The Conversation" |
| 2012–2013 | The First Family | Chloe Johnson | 23 episodes |
| 2013 | Scandal | Young Olivia Pope | 2 episodes |
| 2014–present | Black-ish | Zoey Johnson | Main Role NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated – BET Awards for YoungStar |
| 2014 | Bad Teacher | Jalissa | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2014 | The Fosters | Maddie | 2 episodes |
See also
References
- ↑ Minnesota Birth Index, 1935–2002
- 1 2 "Yara Shahidi [Prominent Iranian-Americans]". Virtual embassy of the United States, Tehran.Iran (in Persian). persian.iran.usembassy.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- ↑ "Yara Shahidi, [Prominent Iranian-Americans]". Virtual embassy of the United States, Tehran.Iran. iran.usembassy.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "All about Yara". June 1, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- 1 2 "C.J.: Mother of Minneapolis-born "Black-ish" star is having a good day when there's no eye twitch". Star Tribune Minnesota. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
- ↑ Brother Troy R. Gibson II "Yara Shahidi: A Star On The Rise". Drfunkenberry.com. October 22, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ↑ "Yara Shahidi". Young Black Stars. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
- ↑ "Nominations and Special Awards". 31st Annual Young Artist Awards. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
- 1 2 Okwodu, Janelle (2016-04-19). "Black-ish's Yara Shahidi Is a Model With a Cause". Vogue Magazine. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
- ↑ "Blackish Nominated for Six NAACP Image Awards". Blackish Fans. Retrieved 12 January 2015.