{{short description|Indian-born actor and writer (born 1966)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Firdous Bamji | image = Firdous Bamji (1997).jpg | caption = Bamji in 1997 | birth_name = Firdous Esadvaster Bamji | birth_date = May 3, 1966 | birth_place = Bombay, India | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = {{marriage|Erin Thigpen<br />|1990|1995|end=divorced}} | partner = Hayley Mills<br />(1997–present) | occupation = Actor, writer | education = St. Christopher's School, Bahrain, Kodaikanal International School, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, University of South Carolina}}
'''Firdous Bamji''' (born May 3, 1966) is an Indian-born actor and writer.
==Early life and education == Firdous Bamji was born in Bombay, India, to a Zoroastrian Parsi family that was residing in Bahrain.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1zwvAAAAYAAJ&q=firdous+bamji|title=Parsiana|date=1996|publisher=P. Warden|language=en}}</ref><ref name="ref01">{{cite web|url=http://blog.roundabouttheatre.org/2014/09/02/interview-with-actor-firdous-bamji/|accessdate=7 July 2016|title=Interview with Actor Firdous Bamji - Roundabout Theatre Company Official Blog|archive-date=1 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501170256/http://blog.roundabouttheatre.org/2014/09/02/interview-with-actor-firdous-bamji/|url-status=dead}}</ref> His father, Esadvaster, was the regional representative for Norwich Union Life Insurance Society. His mother, Roshan, was a homemaker, and both his parents were active in various civic organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Celebrating+a+glorious+past.-a0440697725 |title=Celebrating a glorious past. - Free Online Library |website=Thefreelibrary.com |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.gdnonline.com/NewsDetails.aspx?date=04/07/2015&storyid=202658 |title=Gulf Daily News » Local News » Sneha marks 20 years in style |website=Archives.gdnonline.com |date=2007-12-12 |accessdate=2016-07-07 |archive-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816065715/http://archives.gdnonline.com/NewsDetails.aspx?date=04/07/2015&storyid=202658 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dilmun-times.com/?p=30149 |title=Sneha marks silver jubilee | |website=Dilmun-times.com |accessdate=2016-07-07 |archive-date=25 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825181601/http://www.dilmun-times.com/?p=30149 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Bamji attended St. Christopher's School, Bahrain, a British private school, until the age of ten. In 1977, he and his two brothers were sent to Kodaikanal International School, an American boarding school in the mountains of South India.<ref name="ref01" />
He later attended the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and the University of South Carolina, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism and a Master of Fine Arts.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
==Career== During his last years in undergraduate school Bamji began acting at Trustus, the first professional theatre in Columbia, South Carolina, where the iconoclastic artistic director, Jim Thigpen,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyBZk9H_fA0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/WyBZk9H_fA0 |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=A Final Season: Jim and Kay Thigpen |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-04-28 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://jaspercolumbia.net/jim-and-kay-thigpen-and-the-trustus-legacy/ |title=Jim and Kay Thigpen and the Trustus Legacy : Jasper |website=Jaspercolumbia.net |date=2012-07-24 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> took him under his wing. At Trustus he played a variety of roles, including Pale in ''Burn This'', Torch in ''Beirut'', Danny in ''Danny and the Deep Blue Sea'', Peter Patrone in ''The Heidi Chronicles'' and all the parts in Eric Bogosian's solo play, ''Drinking in America''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/Indian-Ink/Indian-Ink-Cast-and-Creative.aspx | title=Past Shows Alphabetical Listing }}</ref>
After studying for an MFA in Theatre at USC, Bamji moved to Washington, D.C., to finish his degree as an apprentice at The Shakespeare Theatre. In 1994 he was cast in Eric Bogosian's ''SubUrbia'' at Lincoln Center's Mitzi Newhouse Theater, and he and his then wife, Erin Thigpen, sold the car and moved to New York City.<ref name=Variety1994>{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/1994/legit/reviews/suburbia-1200437041/ | title=Review: 'Suburbia' | first=Greg | last=Evans | date=23 May 1994 | work=Variety | accessdate=6 July 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lct.org/shows/suburbia/whos-who/ |title=subUrbia - Who's Who: Shows | Lincoln Center Theater |website=Lct.org |date=1994-08-28 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref>
Bamji has appeared on stages in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles and major regional theaters around the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.frugalfun.com/moor-of-venice.html|title=The Moor of Venice }}</ref> He has played leading roles in world and American premieres of plays by playwrights such as Tom Stoppard,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/firdous-bamji-s-character-the-soul-of-indian-ink/article_c2f5f966-a295-11e4-8dfb-0b7591f6bfdb.html |title=Firdous Bamji's Character the Soul of 'Indian Ink' | Global |website=Indiawest.com |date=2015-01-22 |accessdate=2016-07-07 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817123916/http://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/firdous-bamji-s-character-the-soul-of-indian-ink/article_c2f5f966-a295-11e4-8dfb-0b7591f6bfdb.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2014/09/30/off-broadway-review-indian-ink/16434235/ |title=Stoppard's 'Indian Ink' leaves indelible mark |website=Usatoday.com |date=2014-09-30 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> Tony Kushner,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-07-21-0307210109-story.html|website=Chicago Tribune|title=Great portrayals help 'Homebody' navigate some uneven terrain |date=21 July 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Simon |first=John |url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/theater/reviews/9173/ |title=Homebody/Kabul - New York Magazine Theater Review |website=Nymag.com |date=2004-05-31 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> Naomi Wallace, Rebecca Gilman and Eric Bogosian.<ref name=Variety1994 />
In 2007, he was invited by director Simon McBurney to co-write and perform in a new play with the British company Complicité. The piece was to revolve around the relationship between two pure mathematicians who lived at the turn of the 20th century, the self-taught genius, Srinivasa Ramanujan and Cambridge University don, G. H. Hardy. Bamji had been interested in this story for a few years and was working on a film script when he was approached by McBurney.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.michigandaily.com/content/metaphysical-theatrics-hits-ums-stage | title=Metaphysical theatrics hits the UMS stage | date=9 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/09/13/contemplations-on-infinity-in-disappearing-number/ |title=Contemplations on infinity in 'Disappearing Number' - tribunedigital-chicagotribune |website=Chicago Tribune |date=13 September 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817031838/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-09-13/features/0809120520_1_infinity-high-tech-show-big-deal |archive-date=2016-08-17}}</ref> The result was ''A Disappearing Number'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Calvi |first=Nuala |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2008/a-disappearing-number-review-at-barbican-theatre-london/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814202255/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2008/a-disappearing-number-review-at-barbican-theatre-london/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 August 2016 |title=A Disappearing Number review at Barbican Theatre London | Review | Theatre |newspaper=The Stage |date=2008-10-16 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/17/theater/reviews/17disappear.html?_r=0 | title=Human (and Mathematical) Equations | newspaper=The New York Times| date=16 July 2010 | first=Charles | last=Isherwood | accessdate=6 July 2016 }}</ref> which won the Laurence Olivier Award and the Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play and the Evening Standard Award for Best Play.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/latest-news/article/item71336/A-Disappearing-Number-wins-Best-New-Play/ |title=A Disappearing Number wins Best New Play |publisher=Official London Theatre |date=2008-03-09 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> Over the next four years, ''A Disappearing Number'' toured Europe, Australia, India and the United States<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blog.mlive.com/encorea2/2008/09/review_a_disappearing_number.html | title=REVIEW: "A Disappearing Number" | date=11 September 2008 }}</ref> and finished its universally acclaimed run at the Novello Theatre in London's West End.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carpenter |first=Julie |url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/199999/Review-A-Disappearing-Number-Novello-Theatre-London |title=Review: A Disappearing Number, Novello Theatre, London | Theatre | Entertainment | Daily Express |website=Express.co.uk |date=17 September 2010 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref>
Bamji's television credits include ''Law & Order'' and ''Law & Order SVU'' and his film credits include ''The Sixth Sense'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.listal.com/viewimage/9623586 |title=Picture of The Sixth Sense |website=Listal.com |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> ''Unbreakable'', ''Analyze That'', ''Ashes'', ''Justice'' and ''The War Within'', for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-nov-30-et-spirit30-story.html |title=Getting into the Spirit of awards season |website=Articles.latimes.com |date=2005-11-30 |access-date=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Robinson |first=Tasha |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/the-war-within-4283 |title=The War Within · Film Review The War Within · Movie Review · The A.V. Club |website=Avclub.com |date=2005-10-05 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-war-within/review/194390/ |title=The War Within - Movie Reviews and Movie Ratings |publisher=TV Guide|accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Atkinson |first=Michael |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/film/dv-suicide-bombing-drama-lacks-narrative-urgency-6402166 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422105229/http://www.villagevoice.com/film/dv-suicide-bombing-drama-lacks-narrative-urgency-6402166 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 April 2016 |title=DV Suicide-Bombing Drama Lacks Narrative Urgency |publisher=Village Voice |date=2005-09-20 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> In 2015 he received an Obie Award for his performance in Roundabout Theatre's production of Tom Stoppard's ''Indian Ink''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/theater/theaterspecial/the-tony-award-nominations-should-be.html?_r=0|title=Ben Brantley: The Tony Award Nominations Should Be ...|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 May 2015 |accessdate=2016-07-07|last1=Brantley |first1=Ben }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_27364700/review-indian-ink-at-act-is-tom-stoppard |title=Review: 'Indian Ink' at ACT is Tom Stoppard mostly at his best |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/indian-ink |title=Indian Ink | Theater in New York |website=Timeout.com |date=2014-09-30 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/indian-ink-tom-stoppard-premieres-new-york-article-1.1957166 |title='Indian Ink' by Tom Stoppard premieres in New York |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=2014-09-30 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Robert Feldberg |url=http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/theater/a-trip-to-india-leads-to-ties-that-span-generations-1.1099730?page=all |title=Theater review: 'Indian Ink' - Theater |website=NorthJersey.com |date=2014-10-01 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Gordon Cox |url=https://variety.com/2015/legit/news/2015-obie-awards-full-list-1201499595/ |title=2015 Obie Awards (FULL LIST): 'Hamilton,' Henderson Win Awards |publisher=Variety |date=2015-05-18 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.obieawards.com/2015/05/2015-obie-award-winners-announced/ |title=2015 Obie Award Winners Announced |date=18 May 2015 |publisher=Obie Awards |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> He has narrated more than twenty audio books, including ''The Gambler'' by Fyodor Dostoevsky,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Gambler/dp/B005GVRHBI |title=The Gambler (Audio Download): Amazon.co.uk: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Firdous Bamji, Recorded Books: Books |website=Amazon.co.uk |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> ''Siddhartha'' by Hermann Hesse, ''Camille'' by Alexandre Dumas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/89025/camille-the-lady-of-the-camellias-by-alexandre-dumas/ |title=CAMILLE THE LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS by Alexandre Dumas Read by Alyssa Bresnahan John McDonough Firdous Bamji | Audiobook Review |publisher=AudioFile Magazine |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> ''The Hungry Tide'' by Amitav Ghosh,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4193-3694-2 |title=Audio Book Review: The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh|website=Publishersweekly.com |date=2005-06-06 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/23138/the-hungry-tide-by-amitav-ghosh/ |title=THE HUNGRY TIDE by Amitav Ghosh Read by Firdous Bamji | Audiobook Review |publisher=AudioFile Magazine |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hong |first=Terry |url=http://smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/the-hungry-tide-by-amitav-ghosh-2/ |title=The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh | BookDragon |website=Smithsonianapa.org |date=23 December 2011 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> ''Six Graves to Munich'' by Mario Puzo, and ''The Enchantress of Florence'' by Salman Rushdie, for which he received an Audie Award nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1279 |title=THE Voice of the Independent Publishing Industry |publisher=Independent Publisher |date=2009-05-29 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=6sua0ca5 |title=Voice Over Xtra |publisher=Voice Over Xtra |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref>
==Personal life== Bamji lives in London with his partner, British actress Hayley Mills, whom he met when they toured America playing the lead roles of ''The King and I''  in 1997.<ref>{{cite web | title=Child star Hayley Mills: her partner, sons and films | first =Ellen |last =Kinsey |date =23 January 2023 |website=Yours | url=https://www.yours.co.uk/leisure/celebrity-tv/hayley-mills/ | access-date=11 September 2024}}</ref>
==Awards== {{BLP unreferenced section|date=September 2024}} * Obie Award (2015) * Independent Spirit Award (2005) * Audie Award (2009)
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{IMDb name|0051479}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bamji, Firdous}} Category:Kodaikanal International School alumni Category:Indian emigrants to the United States Category:Living people Category:Parsi people from Mumbai Category:American male actors of Indian descent Category:21st-century American male actors Category:21st-century Indian male actors Category:Indian male stage actors Category:American male stage actors Category:Indian male television actors Category:American male television actors Category:University of South Carolina alumni Category:Audiobook narrators Category:1966 births Category:Male actors from Mumbai Category:American people of Parsi descent Category:Male actors from New York City