{{short description|British actress, model, and media personality (born 1988)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Use British English|date=November 2013}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Afshan Azad | image = afshan azad 2020 1.jpg | caption = Azad in 2020 | birth_name = Afshan Noor Azad | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|02|12|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Longsight]], [[Manchester]], England | other_names = | alma_mater = [[University of Salford]] | occupation = [[Actress]], [[model (person)|model]] | years_active = 2005–present | known_for = [[Padma Patil]] in the [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' film series]] | spouse = {{marriage|Nabil Kazi|2018}} | children = 2 | website = }} '''Afshan Noor Azad-Kazi ''' ([[née]] '''Azad'''; born 12 February 1988) is a <!--Please see MOS:Ethnicity.--> British actress, model, and [[celebrity|media personality]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://people.com/parents/harry-potter-actress-afshan-azad-pregnant-expecting-first-child-baby/ |title=Harry Potter Actress Afshan Azad Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby with Husband Nabil Kazi |magazine=People |first=Gabrielle |last=Chung |date=12 April 2021 |access-date=29 May 2021}}</ref> She is best known for playing the role of [[Padma Patil]] in the [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' film series]], beginning in 2005 with ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''.
==Early life== Azad was born in [[Longsight]], [[Manchester]], to [[Bangladeshi]] parents from [[Chittagong]].<ref>{{cite tweet|user=afshan_azad|number=947025199836393472|title=Neither. I'm from Chittagong.}}</ref> She attended [[Whalley Range High School]], and took [[GCE Advanced Level (United Kingdom)|AS-levels]] in [[chemistry]], [[biology]], [[English language|English]] and [[business studies]] at [[Xaverian College]] in [[Rusholme]]. She went on to graduate with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[Journalism]] and [[Design]] from the [[University of Salford]].<ref name="manchestereveningnews">{{cite news |last=Halle |first=Deborah |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/204/204248_student_off_to_hogwarts__again.html |title=Student off to Hogwarts – again |location=Manchester |publisher=[[Manchester Evening News]] |date=13 February 2006 |access-date=24 June 2009}}</ref>
==Career== Azad is known for playing [[Padma Patil]] in five of the [[Harry Potter (film series)|''Harry Potter'' films]], starting with 2005's ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''. She acquired the role when casting agents visited her school and, after having attended several auditions, chose her for the part. Azad had stated that she had auditioned "just for the fun of it" and surprisingly got the part.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4440000/newsid_4447400/4447406.stm |title=NR chats to GOF's Patil twins |work=[[Newsround]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=17 November 2005 |access-date=11 February 2007}}</ref>
In 2017, Azad guest presented an episode of the [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] series ''[[Marrying Mum & Dad]]'' with [[Ed Petrie]] whilst [[Naomi Wilkinson]] was away.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=afshan_azad |author=Afshan Azad |number=850766674374664192 |date=8 April 2017 |title=I can now proudly say I'm guest presenting alongside @edpetrie for an episode of Marrying Mum & Dad for the CBBC ch…}}</ref>
==Advocacy== In October 2023, Azad signed an open letter by [[Artists4Ceasefire]] to [[Joe Biden]], [[President of the United States]], of artists calling for a ceasefire of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Artists4Ceasefire |url=https://www.artists4ceasefire.org/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=Artists4Ceasefire |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Personal life== Azad married Nabil Kazi on 19 August 2018. They are based in [[Worcester, England|Worcester]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2018 |title='Best wedding ever' Afshan shares wedding day snap |url=https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/16418190.best-wedding-ever-afshan-shares-wedding-day-snap/ |url-status=live |website=Asian Image |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814195111/http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/16418190.best-wedding-ever-afshan-shares-wedding-day-snap/ |archive-date=14 August 2018}}</ref> They have two daughters.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Harry Potter Star Afshan Azad-Kazi Welcomes Baby No. 2 with Husband Nabil Kazi: 'Beyond Blessed' |url=https://people.com/harry-potter-star-afshan-azad-kazi-welcomes-baby-no-2-with-husband-nabil-kazi-8684629 |magazine=People |date=28 August 2024}}</ref>
On 29 June 2010, Azad’s father and brother appeared in Manchester [[Magistrates' court (England and Wales)|Magistrates' Court]], charged with threatening to kill her after discovering she was dating a non-Muslim man.<ref name="ninemsn">{{cite news |title=Harry Potter girl's family arrested over threats |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/1079596/harry-potter-stars-family-threatens-to-kill-her |url-status=dead |work=ninemsn |date=13 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704102941/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/1079596/harry-potter-stars-family-threatens-to-kill-her |archive-date=4 July 2010 |access-date=3 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-12-20 |title=Harry Potter actress's brother admits attacking her |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-12042864 |access-date=2025-07-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> They were released on bail. Azad's brother was charged with "assault occasioning actual bodily harm", while Azad stayed with friends in London.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/02/england.harry.potter.attack/index.html?hpt=C2 |title=Afshan Azad Allegedly Threatened and Assaulted by Family, Say Reports |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=2 July 2010 |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705111031/http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/02/england.harry.potter.attack/index.html?hpt=C2 |archive-date=5 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 December 2010, Azad did not attend court when the prosecution accepted her brother's guilty plea to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a judge ruled both men were not guilty of threatening to kill Azad.<ref name="bbc2">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12042864 |title=Harry Potter actress's brother admits attacking her |work=BBC News |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=20 December 2010}}</ref> On 21 January 2011, Azad's brother was imprisoned for six months.<ref name="bbc3">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12248091 |title=Harry Potter actress's brother jailed for attacking her |work=BBC News |date=2 July 2010 |access-date=3 July 2010}}</ref>
==Filmography== '''Film''' {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | rowspan="1"| 2005 |''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' | rowspan="5"| Padma Patil | |- | rowspan="1"| 2007 |''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' | |- | rowspan="1"| 2009 |''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' | |- | rowspan="1"| 2010 |''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1]]'' | |- | rowspan="1"| 2011 |''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2]]'' | |} '''Video games''' {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2007 |''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' |Padma Patil (voice) | |} '''Music videos''' {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Performer(s) |- | 2021 | ''U'' | The Friend | Nissu |}
==See also== * [[British Bangladeshi]] * [[List of British Bangladeshis]] * [[List of Harry Potter cast members]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=1715136|name=Afshan Azad}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Azad, Afshan}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1989 births]] [[Category:21st-century English actresses]] [[Category:Actresses from Manchester]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Salford]] [[Category:British Internet celebrities]] [[Category:British child actresses]] [[Category:English female models]] [[Category:English film actresses]] [[Category:English Muslims]] [[Category:English people of Bangladeshi descent]] [[Category:People from Longsight]] [[Category:People from Chittagong]] [[Category:Models from Manchester]]