Leila Farzad

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.

Leila Farzad
Born	Leila Effat Farzad Westminster, London, England
Alma mater	Worcester College, Oxford Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2006–present
Spouse	James Maizels ​ (date missing)​
Children	1

Early life and education

Leila Effat Farzad^{[citation needed]} 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.^[1]

She first studied modern languages at Worcester College, Oxford,^[2] graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in French and Italian Literature.^[3] She then went on to train at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama,^[4] which she said "felt like home".^[5][6]

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?] She made her live action television debut in an episode of the ITV police procedural Law & Order: UK^{[citation needed]} and her professional stage debut as the titular role in Miriam. Gonzalez. Durantez. at Theatre503.^[7] This was followed by roles in Blue Remembered Hills at Chichester Festival Theatre,^[8] the all-female Julius Caesar at the Bridge Theatre in London,^[9] Richard II at Shakespeare's Globe.^[10] She also appeared in the ITV anthology Innocent.^{[when?][citation needed]}

Farzad landed her first main role in I Hate Suzie as Naomi Jones, Suzie's (Billie Piper) manager and friend.^[11] 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.^[12]British Academy Television Award nomination.^[13]

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.^{[citation needed]}

In 2023, she starred in the BBC crime drama Better.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Farzad has a daughter (b. 2014) with James Maizels.^[14] In early 2023 it was reported that she was in a relationship with actor Andrew Buchan.^[15][16]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2006–2011	Peppa Pig	Mrs. Cat / Mrs. Pony	Voice role; 10 episodes (series 3–4)
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	Episode: "Drastic Action"
2017	Count Arthur Strong	Reporter	Episode: "Untrue Detective"
2018	Innocent	Janice Parker	2 episodes
2020–2022	I Hate Suzie	Naomi Jones	Main role
2021	Landscapers	Barrister	Episode #1.4
	This Time with Alan Partridge	Clarissa Hoskin	Episode #2.1
2022	The Fear Index	Gabrielle Hoffman	4 episodes[17][18]
	Avenue 5	Elena	Season 2
2023	Better	DI Lou Slack	Main role[19]
	Black Mirror	Mona Javadi	Episode: "Joan Is Awful"
	The Marvels	Talia	Film
2024	The Decameron	Stratilia	8 episodes
	Kaos	Ari (Ariadne)	6 episodes
2025	Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy	Nicolette	Film; Post-production
TBA	Turn Up The Sun!	Dolly	Post-production

Stage

Year	Title	Role	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

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2021	British Academy Television Awards	Best Supporting Actress	I Hate Suzie	Nominated	[20]