Leila Hatami

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Leila Hatami
لیلا حاتمی
Hatami at the 2019 Fajr Film Festival
Born (1972-10-01) 1 October 1972 (age 52)
Tehran, Imperial State of Iran
Alma materÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1998)​
Children2
Parent(s)Ali Hatami
Zari Khoshkam
RelativesAmir Banoo Karimi (mother-in-law)

Leila Hatami (Persian: لیلا حاتمی; born 1 October 1972) is an Iranian actress. Regarded as one of the best actresses of Iranian Cinema, she is considered one of the most prominent performers in the 21st century. She is recognized for her realistic acting in drama films and she rose to international fame for her role as Simin in Academy Award-winning film A Separation (2011), for which she received the Silver Bear for Best Actress.

Hatami made her film debut in the drama Kamalolmolk (1984) portraying Kamal-ol-molk. She played her first lead role in the drama Leila (1997) as a barren woman, for which she won the Diploma of Honor at the Fajr Film Festival and gained public attention. Her portrayal of a naive woman in Penniless (2009) earned her the Crystal Simorgh for Best Actress at the Fajr Film Festival, and she later won the award again for her portrayal of a disordered woman in Subdued (2017). She has also been nominated for the Crystal Simorgh for her roles in Sheida (1999), The Deserted Station (2002), Season Salad (2005), Forty Years Old (2010), A Separation (2011), The Orange Suit (2012) and Time to Love (2015).

Hatami won the Montreal World Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Deserted Station (2002). She won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival for her performance in the drama A Separation (2011). In 2017, IndieWire praised her performance in the film as one of the best performances of the 21st century and considered Hatami deserved one Oscar Award for her performance in it.[1] She received the Crystal Globe for Best Actress at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for her performance in The Last Step (2012). In 2012, she was appointed Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government.[2] She has been included in the list of the most beautiful women in the Middle East by the website Wonderslist.[3]

Early life

[edit]
Hatami as a child with her parents Ali Hatami and Zari Khoshkam

Leila Hatami was born on 1 October 1972, in Tehran, Iran, to influential Iranian director Ali Hatami and actress Zari Khoshkam. Leila first appeared in a film when she was 10, times of the 19th century Iranian painter Kamal-ol-Molk. In it, she played the painter as a young boy. Then eight years later in 1992, she appeared in another one of her father’s films called Love-stricken where she played a blind princess. However she did not originally intend to pursue acting. At high school, she studied mathematical physics.[4] After finishing high school, she moved to Lausanne, Switzerland and started her studies in Mechanical engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). After two years she changed her major to French literature.[5] She completed her study of French before moving back to Iran. Then her father became ill and she went back to Iran. He died in 1996. That same year, she played her first adult role in drama Leila which was directed by prominent film director Dariush Mehrjui. Her acting received praise both inside and outside of Iran.[6]

Career

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Hatami played several small roles in her father's productions throughout her youth, including in the Hezar Dastan television series and the Kamalolmolk movie.[7] Her first leading film appearance was the title role in the 1997 film Leila, directed by Dariush Mehrjui. She received the Diploma of Honor for Best Actress from the 15th Fajr Film Festival.[8] Following this, she continued to act regularly in Iranian cinema.

She has starred in dozens of films, and has often garnered critical acclaim and accolades. For her performance in The Deserted Station (2002), she was nominated for the Fajr Film Festival Award for Best Actress and she won the Best Actress Award at the 26th Montreal World Film Festival.[9]

She has appeared in her husband's films as a director, Portrait of a Lady Far Away (2005) and The Last Step (2012). She also designed the sets and the costumes of The Last Step and, in addition to receiving the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance, she received a nomination for the Crystal Simorgh Fajr Film Festival Award for Best Production Design and Costume Design for her work on the film.

Hatami at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival

In 2012, she received international attention for her role in the critical acclaimed Asghar Farhadi film, A Separation, which won dozens of accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[10] Her performance earned critical acclaim and various awards, including the Silver Bear Award for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival.[11] IndieWire praised her portrayal as one of the best female performances of the 21st century.[12]

In June 2017, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited Leila Hatami to become a member.[13]

Judging at film festivals

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Hatami (second from left) alongside her fellow jury members at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival

In April 2014, she was announced as a member of the main competition jury at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.[14] Whilst there, she greeted Cannes President Gilles Jacob with a kiss on the cheek, which is a form of greeting in France.[15] Iran's Deputy Culture Minister Hossein Noushabadi offered criticism of her for this:

"I hope that those who attend international arenas as Iranian women would be careful about the chastity and dignity of Iranians so that the image of the Iranian woman is not tainted before the world," he said. "If they respect Islamic norms and the national culture and beliefs of Iran, it would be a desirable thing for Iranian celebrities to go abroad, but if their presence lacks regard for social values and ethical criteria, the Iranian nation is not going to accept it."[15]

In May 2014, after receiving significant backlash for the kiss in Iran—including calls for her to be flogged—Hatami later apologized for her actions in a letter.[16][17]

Full list

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Personal life

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She married Ali Mosaffa, her co-star in Leila (1997) in 1998. They have two children: a son named Mani (born February 2007) and a daughter named Asal (born October 2008).

Beside her native Persian language she is fluent in French, English, and German.[18]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Director Notes
1984 Kamalolmolk Young Kamal-ol-molk Ali Hatami
1992 Love-stricken Leila Ali Hatami
1997 Leila Leila Dariush Mehrjui
1999 Sheida Sheida Fatemi Kamal Tabrizi
2000 The Mix Ms. Salimi Dariush Mehrjui Cameo appearance
2001 Water and Fire Maryam Fereydoun Jeyrani
Sweet Jam Jalal's Mother Marzieh Boroomand
2002 The Deserted Station Mahtab Alireza Raeesian
Low Heights Narges Ebrahim Hatamikia
2005 Season Salad Leila Fereydoun Jeyrani
Portrait of a Lady Far Away The Young Lady Ali Mosaffa
Poet of the Wastes The Young Lady Mohammad Ahmadi
The Command Foroozandeh Masoud Kimiai
2007 Every Night, Loneliness Atiyeh Rasoul Sadrameli
2008 Shirin Woman in Audience Abbas Kiarostami
2009 Penniless Shokouh Hamid Nematollah
2010 Forty Years Old Negar Alireza Raeesian
A Walk in the Fog Roya Bahram Tavakkoli
There Are Things You Don't Know Doctor Fardin Sahebzamani
2011 Felicity Land Yasi Maziar Miri
A Separation Simin Asghar Farhadi
Beloved Sky The Lady Dariush Mehrjui
2012 The Last Step Leyli Ali Mosaffa Also costume designer
The Orange Suit Nahal Nahavandi Dariush Mehrjui
Meeting Leila Leila Adel Yaraghi
2013 The Sealed Secret Saba Hadi Moghaddamdoost
2014 What's the Time in Your World? Goli Ebtehaj Safi Yazdanian
2015 Time to Love Bita Tamadon Alireza Raeesian
2016 I Azar Mirzaei Soheil Beiraghi
2017 Subdued Mina Hamid Nematollah
2018 The Last Fiction Shahrzad (Voice) Ashkand Rahgozar Animation
Pig Shiva Mohajer Mani Haghighi
Bomb: A Love Story Mitra Peyman Moaadi
Tale of the Sea Parvaneh Bahman Farmanara
2019 A Man Without a Shadow Saye Tamadon Alireza Raeesian
We Are All Together Mrs. Mozhdehi Kamal Tabrizi
2022 Imagine Various Ali Behrad Hatami played 8 roles.
2024 The Old Bachelor Rana Oktay Baraheni
2025 The Killer and the Savage Ziba Hamid Nematollah
TBA A Time in Eternity Maryam Mehdi Norowzian Completed
TBA The Way of the Wind Mary Magdalene Terrence Malick Completed
TBA The Rook Hamid Nematollah Post-production

Web

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Year Title Role Director Platform Notes
2019 Blue Whale Anahita Kashef Fereydoun Jeyrani Filimo Recurring role
2022–2024 Women's Secret Network Delbar Afshin Hashemi Namava Main role

Television

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Year Title Role Director Network Notes
1977 Divorce Bahare Massoud Asadollahi NIRT Episode: "Addicted"
1987 Hezar Dastan Young Amine-aghdas Ali Hatami IRIB TV1 1 episode
Mr. Hekayati Iraj Tahmasb IRIB TV1 Childern's TV show
1984 Guys Wake Up, Guys Be Alert Herself Marzieh Boroumand
2000 The English Briefcase Mastaneh Pirayesh Ziaeddin Dorri IRIB TV1 Main role
2007 Paridokht Paridokht Saman Moghaddam IRIB TV2 Main role

Awards and nominations

[edit]
List of awards and nominations received by Leila Hatami
Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 2011 Silver Bear for Best Actress A Separation Won [19]
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2012 Best Actress The Last Step Won [20]
Montreal World Film Festival 2002 Best Actress The Deserted Station Won [21]
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2012 the FIPRESCI for Best Actress A Separation Won [22][23]
Asian Film Awards 2012 Best Actress Nominated [24]
Favorite Actress Nominated
International Cinephile Society 2012 Best Supporting Actress Nominated [25]
Zimbabwe International Film Festival 2010 Best Actress Every Night, Loneliness Won [26]
Fajr Film Festival 1997 Best Actress Leila Runner-up [27]
1999 Sheida Nominated [28]
2002 The Deserted Station Nominated [29]
2005 Season Salad Nominated [30]
2009 Penniless Won [31]
2010 Forty Years Old Nominated [32]
2011 A Separation Nominated [33]
There Are Things You Don't Know Nominated [34]
2012 Orange Suit Nominated [35]
2015 Time to Love Nominated [36]
2017 Subdued Won [37]
Hafez Awards 1997 Best Actress– Motion Picture Leila Won [38]
1999 Sheida Nominated [39]
2001 Water and Fire Nominated [40]
2002 Low Heights Nominated [41]
2006 The Command Nominated [42]
2011 Penniless Nominated [43]
2014 The Last Step Nominated [44]
2016 Time to love Nominated [45]
2017 I Nominated [46]
2018 Subdued Won [47]
2019 Bomb: A Love Story Nominated [48]
2020 Best Actress – Television Series Drama Blue Whale Nominated [49]
2023 Best Actress– Motion Picture Imagine Nominated [50]
2024 Best Actress – Television Series Comedy Women's Secret Network Nominated [51]
Iran Cinema Celebration 2001 Best Actress Water and Fire Won [52]
2002 Low Heights Nominated [53]
2010 A Walk in the Fog Nominated [54]
2012 The Last Step Nominated [55]
2017 Subdued Won [56]
Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association 2001 Best Actress Water and Fire Won[a] [57]
2010 Penniless Won [58]
2010 A Walk in the Fog Nominated [59]
2012 The Last Step Nominated [60]
2013 The Sealed Secret Nominated [61]
2015 What's the Time in Your World? Nominated [62]
2016 I Won [63]
2017 Subdued Won [64]
2018 Bomb: A Love Story Nominated [65]

Notes

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  1. ^ Best Actress of the Year as chosen by Iranian film writers and critics

References

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  1. ^ "Leila Hatami Among 21st Century Best Actresses". FinancialTribune. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  2. ^ "اعطای نشان هنر و ادب فرانسه به لیلا حاتمی" (in Persian). BBC News. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Most Beautiful Middle-Eastern Women - Top 10 Beautiful Arab Women". www.wonderslist.com. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Iran Chamber Society: Iranian Cinema: Leila Hatami". www.iranchamber.com. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  5. ^ Tom Vick (2007). Asian cinema: a field guide. Collins.
  6. ^ "Iranian Women You Should Known: Leila Hatami". iranwire.com. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  7. ^ Terri Ginsberg; Chris Lippard (11 March 2010). Historical Dictionary of Middle Eastern Cinema. Scarecrow Press. pp. 175–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7364-3.
  8. ^ 15th Fajr Film Festival Awards Archived 29 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Fajr International Film Festival, Retrieved 25 June 2006.
  9. ^ Awards 2002[usurped]. World Film Festival, Retrieved 25 June 2006.
  10. ^ "Iran's Leila Hatami among Best Actresses of 21st Century". IFPNews. 24 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Gold and Silver Bears for Iranian film as Berlinale closes". dw.com. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Iran's Leila Hatami among Best Actresses of 21st Century". IFP News. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  13. ^ "10 Iranian Cineastes Among New Oscar Academy Members". Financial Tribune. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  14. ^ "The Jury of the 67th Festival de Cannes". Cannes. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  15. ^ a b Cannes 2014: Iran Criticises Leila Hatami for Kissing Film Festival President. Ibtimes.co.uk (19 May 2014). Retrieved on 16 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Iranian actress Leila Hatami apologises for kissing Cannes president on the cheek". The Telegraph. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  17. ^ "Leila Hatami: Student group calls for Iranian actress to be flogged following Cannes Film Festival kiss". Independent. 24 May 2013.
  18. ^ "Iranian stars who speak multiple languages". ifilm-آیفیلم. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  19. ^ Child, Ben (21 February 2011). "Iranian drama wins top prize at Berlin film festival". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  20. ^ Kiang, Jessica (14 July 2012). "Karlovy Vary Film Fest Review: Leila Hatami Shines In Wry, Tragicomic 'The Last Step'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  21. ^ "10th Annual Iranian Film Fest Starts". Washington Post. 6 January 2006. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  22. ^ Lee, Nathan (16 January 2012). "Palm Springs International Film Festival". FIPRESCI. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  23. ^ "Top Awards at the 2012 Palm Springs Film Festival Include 'Starbuck' and 'The House'". IndieWire. 15 January 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Asian Film Awards Nominations 2012 on Notebook". Mubi. 1 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  25. ^ Stevens, Beth (21 January 2012). "2012 ICS Award Nominees". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Leila Hatami wins Best Actress Award at Zimbabwe festival". Mehr News Agency. 13 September 2010. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  27. ^ "Fajr Film Festival 1997". MUBI. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  28. ^ "17th International Fajr Film Festival Winds Up". Tehran Times. 9 February 1999. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
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  36. ^ "نامزدهای "سودای سیمرغ" فجر 33 معرفی شدند". www.isna.ir. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  37. ^ "Political drama "Midday Event" named best at Fajr Film Festival". Tehran Times. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  38. ^ "1st Hafez Awards 1997 - Hafez Awards". 12 April 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  39. ^ "3rd Hafez Awards 1999 - Hafez Awards". 12 April 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  40. ^ "5th Hafez Awards 2001 - Hafez Awards". 11 April 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  41. ^ "6th Hafez Awards 2002 - Hafez Awards". 10 April 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  42. ^ "9th Hafez Awards 2006 - Hafez Awards". 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
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