{{Short description|British actress}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{EngvarB|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Leila Farzad | birth_name = Leila Effat Farzad | birth_date = | birth_place = Westminster, London, England | occupation = Actress | alma_mater = Worcester College, Oxford<br>Guildhall School of Music and Drama | years_active = 2006–present | spouse = James Maizels | | children = 1 }}
'''Leila Effat Farzad''' is a British actress. She is known for her role as Naomi Jones in the Sky Atlantic series ''I Hate Suzie'' (2020–2022), which earned her a British Academy Television Award nomination.
==Early life and education== Leila Effat Farzad{{cn|date=September 2024}} was born in London to Iranian parents. She was inspired to pursue acting by National Theatre productions her aunt took her to see; however, her parents insisted that she get a degree from Oxbridge first.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/i-hate-suzie-leila-farzad-interview|title=I Hate Suzie's Leila Farzad on Iranian Representation and Depicting a "Barbed" Female Friendship|journal=Vogue|first=Marley|last=Marius|date=1 December 2020|access-date=15 March 2021|archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125094954/https://www.vogue.com/article/i-hate-suzie-leila-farzad-interview|url-status=live}}</ref>
She first studied modern languages at Worcester College, Oxford,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/1/F119602.html|title=Leila Farzad|website=Spotlight|access-date=15 March 2021|archive-date=21 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721025704/https://www.spotlight.com/2254-6757-3144|url-status=live}}</ref> graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in French and Italian Literature.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1325647/billie-piper-i-hate-suzie-leila-farzad|title=Newcomer Leila Farzad talks acting alongside Billie Piper in Sky's new drama I Hate Suzie|journal=Daily Express|first=Chloe|last=Alexandrou|date=23 August 2020|access-date=15 March 2021|archive-date=16 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316201943/https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1325647/billie-piper-i-hate-suzie-leila-farzad|url-status=live}}</ref> She then went on to train at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://the-dots.com/events/wftv-q-a-panel-discussion-with-the-talent-behind-i-hate-suzie-sky-atlantic-3203|title=WFTV Q&A: Panel discussion with the talent behind I Hate Suzie, Sky Atlantic|website=The Dots|date=18 August 2020|access-date=15 March 2021|archive-date=21 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721025709/https://the-dots.com/events/wftv-q-a-panel-discussion-with-the-talent-behind-i-hate-suzie-sky-atlantic-3203|url-status=live}}</ref> which she said "felt like home".<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.you.co.uk/the-ones-to-watch-meet-the-next-generation-of-megastars/|title=The ones to watch: meet the next generation of megastars|journal=You|date=14 February 2021|access-date=14 February 2021|archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214003325/https://www.you.co.uk/the-ones-to-watch-meet-the-next-generation-of-megastars/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/who-is-leila-farzad-i-hate-suzie|title=Who Plays Suzie's Manager In I Hate Suzie?|journal=Bustle|first=Sophie|last=McEvoy|date=26 August 2020|access-date=15 March 2021|archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422152329/https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/who-is-leila-farzad-i-hate-suzie|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Career== Farzad began her career with a voice role in the third and fourth series of the Channel 5 animated children's series ''Peppa Pig''.{{when|date=September 2024}} She made her live action television debut in an episode of the ITV police procedural ''Law & Order: UK''{{cn|date=September 2024}} and her professional stage debut as the titular role in ''Miriam. Gonzalez. Durantez.'' at Theatre503.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/coalitionblue-rev|title=Coalition (Blue Group) |website=British Theatre Guide|first=Corinne|last=Salisbury|access-date=16 March 2021|archive-date=25 May 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220525004432/https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/coalitionblue-rev|url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by roles in ''Blue Remembered Hills'' at Chichester Festival Theatre,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://passiton.cft.org.uk/archive/cast-list-blue-remembered-hills-2012/|title=Cast List, Blue Remembered Hills (2012)|website=Chichester Festival Theatre|access-date=16 March 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122102102/http://passiton.cft.org.uk/archive/cast-list-blue-remembered-hills-2012/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Julius Caesar'' at the Bridge Theatre in London,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bridgetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/julius-caesar/|title=Julius Caesar|website=Bridge Theatre|access-date=16 March 2021|archive-date=3 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303205509/https://bridgetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/julius-caesar/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Richard II'' at Shakespeare's Globe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/richard-ii-2019/|title=What's On: Richard II 2019|access-date=16 March 2021|archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228100625/https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/richard-ii-2019/|url-status=live}}</ref> She also appeared in the ITV anthology ''Innocent''.{{when|date=September 2024}}{{cn|date=September 2024}}
Farzad landed her first main role in ''I Hate Suzie'' as Naomi Jones, Suzie's (Billie Piper) manager and friend.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/27/hate-suzies-leila-farzad-working-billie-piper-power-women-telling-womens-stories-13145367/|title=I Hate Suzie's Leila Farzad on working with Billie Piper and the importance of female friendship: 'A lot of TV just stops looking at women in their mid-30s'|journal=Metro|first=George|last=Griffiths|date=27 August 2020|access-date=16 March 2021|archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203205603/https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/27/hate-suzies-leila-farzad-working-billie-piper-power-women-telling-womens-stories-13145367/|url-status=live}}</ref> The series was released in 2020 on Sky Atlantic and HBO Max to critical acclaim, and Farzad was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress. Farzad reprised her role in ''I Hate Suzie'''s second instalment titled ''I Hate Suzie Too'' in 2022.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Gordon|first=Naomi|date=21 February 2021|title=Billie Piper's hit series I Hate Suzie returning for a second season, Sky confirms |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/entertainment/a35576384/i-hate-suzie-season-two/|access-date=23 November 2021|magazine=Harper's BAZAAR|language=en-GB|archive-date=23 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123052114/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/entertainment/a35576384/i-hate-suzie-season-two/|url-status=live}}</ref>British Academy Television Award nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Green|first=Alex|date=7 June 2021|title=Rakie Ayola on 'overwhelming' Bafta TV award win|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/rakie-ayola-bafta-michaela-coel-bbc-helena-bonham-carter-b939241.html|access-date=23 November 2021|website=www.standard.co.uk|language=en|archive-date=23 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123052118/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/rakie-ayola-bafta-michaela-coel-bbc-helena-bonham-carter-b939241.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Also in 2022, Farzad joined the cast of ''Avenue 5'' for its second season and appeared alongside Josh Hartnett in ''The Fear Index'', also on Sky.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
In 2023, she starred in the BBC crime drama ''Better''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nicholson |first=Rebecca |date=2023-02-14 |title=This corrupt cop has an oddly innocent view of the world |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-this-corrupt-cop-has-an-odd/175302051/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |work=The Guardian |pages=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Personal life== Farzad has a daughter, born in 2014, with James Maizels.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1736825/Leila-Farzad-husband|title=Leila Farzad husband: Is the Better star married?|journal=Daily Express|first=Katie|last=Palmer|date=20 February 2023|access-date=28 February 2023|archive-date=1 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301013151/https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1736825/Leila-Farzad-husband|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2023 | ''The Marvels'' | Talia | |- | rowspan="5" | 2025 | ''Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger'' | Margot | |- | ''Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'' | Perfect Nicolette | |- | ''Good Luck Fuck Face'' | Zara | Short film |- | ''Pose'' | Dolly | Original title: ''Turn Up the Sun!'' |- | ''Jay Kelly'' | 1st AD | |- | 2026 | ''Overtones'' | Nicky | Short film |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2004–2015 | ''Peppa Pig'' | Mummy Pony / Mummy Cat (voices) | Recurring roles; 15 episodes |- | 2009 | ''Law & Order: UK'' | Leyla Bilgin | Episode: "Paradise" |- | 2010 | ''Married Single Other'' | Student Doctor | Episode: "Chink" |- | 2011 | ''Twenty Twelve'' | Journalist | Episode: "Countdown" |- | 2013 | ''Man Down'' | Eyebrow Lady | Episode: "Desperate Dan" |- | 2015 | ''Cuffs'' | Amika Khan | Mini-series; episode: "Drastic Action" |- | 2017 | ''Count Arthur Strong'' | Reporter | Episode: "Untrue Detective" |- | 2018 | ''Innocent'' | Janice Parker | Episodes #1.1 and #1.2 |- | 2020–2022 | ''I Hate Suzie'' | Naomi Jones | Main role; series 1 and 2; 11 episodes |- | rowspan="2" | 2021 | ''This Time with Alan Partridge'' | Clarissa Hoskin | Episode #2.1 |- | ''Landscapers'' | Barrister | Mini-series; episode 4 |- | rowspan="2" | 2022 | ''The Fear Index'' | Gabrielle Hoffman | 4 episodes<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/the-fear-index-josh-hartnett-robert-harris-left-bank-1234744087/|title='The Fear Index': Josh Hartnett Stars in Sky's Robert Harris' Financial Thriller|journal=Deadline|first=Jake|last=Kanter|date=26 April 2021|access-date=28 April 2021|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427160815/https://deadline.com/2021/04/the-fear-index-josh-hartnett-robert-harris-left-bank-1234744087/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f5afc707-c1b3-4845-ac40-ce18b8879b94|title=The Fear Index — Sky's new financial thriller is a dizzying rush|author=Dan Einav|date=11 February 2022|access-date=11 February 2022|archive-date=11 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211083008/https://www.ft.com/content/f5afc707-c1b3-4845-ac40-ce18b8879b94|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | ''Avenue 5'' | Elena | Season 2; 7 episodes |- | rowspan="2" | 2023 | ''Better'' | DI Lou Slack | Main role; 5 episodes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/better-meet-the-cast-and-creators|title=Better cast and creatives tease 'very dark thriller' about a corrupt police officer and a gangster that's 'full of high stakes'|website=bbc.co.uk/mediacentre|date=7 February 2023|access-date=12 February 2023|archive-date=9 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209182417/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/better-meet-the-cast-and-creators|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | ''Black Mirror'' | Mona Javadi | Episode: "Joan Is Awful" |- | rowspan="2" | 2024 | ''The Decameron'' | Stratilia | Mini-series; 8 episodes |- | ''Kaos'' | Ari (Ariadne) | 6 episodes |- | rowspan="2" | 2026 | ''How to Get to Heaven from Belfast'' | Marnie | 4 episodes |- | ''Two Weeks in August'' | Nat | Main cast; mini-series; 8 episodes |}
==Stage== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2010 | ''Miriam. Gonzalez. Durantez.'' | Miriam Gonzalez | Theatre503, London |- | 2012 | ''Blue Remembered Hills'' | Angela | Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester |- | 2018 | ''Julius Caesar'' | Decius Brutus | Bridge Theatre, London |- | 2019 | ''Richard II'' | Queen | Globe Theatre, London |- |}
==Awards and nominations== {| width="80%" class="wikitable" |- ! width="10" | Year ! width="300" | Award ! width="300" | Category ! width="220" | Nominated work ! width="30" | Result ! width="10" | Ref. |- | 2021 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress | ''I Hate Suzie'' | {{Nominated}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2020/television|title=Television - 2020|publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)|access-date=26 February 2021|archive-date=22 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722050738/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2020/television|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|3355536}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farzad, Leila}} Category:Living people Category:1981 births Category:Actresses from London Category:People from Westminster Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Category:Alumni of Worcester College, Oxford Category:21st-century British actresses Category:English people of Iranian descent Category:English television actresses Category:English voice actresses Category:Actors from the City of Westminster