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Roxana Zal (born November 8, 1969) is an American former actress and fashion designer. In 1984, at the age of 14, she became the youngest Primetime Emmy Award winner for her title role in the television film Something About Amelia.[1]
Roxana Zal | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 8, 1969 Malibu, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, Fashion designer |
| Years active | 1981–2006 |
Zal was born and raised in Malibu, California, the daughter of Maureen and Hossein Zal, an Iranian-born Los Angeles investor.[2] Zal was keen to take up acting when aged 8, however her parents resisted, until her aunt persuaded them to allow her several years later.[3]
She began acting aged 11[3] and secured her first acting role as a guest spot on Hart to Hart towards the end of 1981.
In 1983, Zal appeared in the films Table for Five starring Jon Voight and Testament opposite Jane Alexander. In 1984 she won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the television film Something About Amelia. She also received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film nomination for her performance.[4] Zal later starred in the 1986 independent crime film River's Edge and in 1989 starred in the teen romantic drama film Under the Boardwalk.[5] In 1989, she appeared as young mother Cissy McClure in Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure, the real life story about the rescue of Jessica McClure two years prior. At the time, she was a second-year student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and filmed the role while studying world arts and cultures.[3]
In 1990, Zal appeared in a number of made-for-television and independent films playing supporting roles. She also guest starred in a number of television series, including Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Pretender and NCIS. In 2006, she was a regular cast member on the MyNetworkTV telenovela Watch Over Me.
Zal left acting and became a fashion designer in the 2000s.[6]
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Table for Five | Tilde | Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film |
| 1983 | Testament | Mary Liz Wetherly | Nominated — Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical, Comedy, Adventure or Drama |
| 1986 | River's Edge | Maggie | |
| 1988 | Goodbye, Miss 4th of July | ||
| 1989 | Under the Boardwalk | Gitch | |
| 1995 | Red Line | Gem | |
| 1996 | Kiss & Tell | Sissy | |
| 1996 | The First Man | Nan | |
| 1996 | Daddy's Girl | Karen Conners | Direct-to-video |
| 1997 | Firestorm | Lara | |
| 1998 | The Waterfront | Cristina | |
| 1998 | Broken Vessels | Elizabeth | Also producer Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Award for Best Feature Film |
| 2000 | Her Married Lover | Katie Griffin | Alternate Title: A Clean Cut |
| 2000 | Ground Zero | Victoria Heflin | |
| 2001 | Blind Obsession | Bedelia Rose | |
| 2004 | Three Way | Janice Brookbank |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Hart to Hart | Riley | Episode: "The Hartbreak Kid" Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress, Guest on a Series |
| 1982 | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | Marilee | Episode: "The Adventures of Pollyanna" |
| 1984 | Something About Amelia | Amelia Bennet | Television movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1986 | Shattered Spirits | Lesley Mollencamp | Television movie |
| 1986 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Allie Newton | Episode: "God, the Universe & Hot Fudge Sundaes" Young Artist Award for Exceptional Young Actress Starring in a Television Special or Movie of the Week |
| 1989 | Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure | Cissy McClure | Television movie |
| 1990 | Daughter of the Streets | Charley | Television movie |
| 1992 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Michael's sister | Episode: "Please, God, I'm Only Seventeen" |
| 1992 | Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story | Tracy | Television movie |
| 1993 | Deadly Relations | Marty | Television movie |
| 1993 | The Hidden Room | Marion | Episode: "Marion & Jean" |
| 1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Lucy Lane | Episode: "Metallo" |
| 1998 | Fame L.A. | Tina | Episode: "Haunting Refrains" |
| 1998 | The Pretender | Carla Parks | Episode: "Silence" |
| 1998 | Mixed Blessings | Laura | |
| 1999 | Primal Force | Tara Matthews | Television movie |
| 2003 | Crossing Jordan | Mrs. Strahan | Episode: "John Doe" |
| 2004 | NCIS | Marie Foley | Episode: "UnSEALED" |
| 2006 | Watch Over Me | Natalie Weller | 64 episodes |
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