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
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	TBA	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]

References

1. Marius, Marley (1 December 2020). "I Hate Suzie's Leila Farzad on Iranian Representation and Depicting a "Barbed" Female Friendship". Vogue. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
2. "Leila Farzad". Spotlight. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
3. Alexandrou, Chloe (23 August 2020). "Newcomer Leila Farzad talks acting alongside Billie Piper in Sky's new drama I Hate Suzie". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
4. "WFTV Q&A: Panel discussion with the talent behind I Hate Suzie, Sky Atlantic". The Dots. 18 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
5. "The ones to watch: meet the next generation of megastars". You. 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
6. McEvoy, Sophie (26 August 2020). "Who Plays Suzie's Manager In I Hate Suzie?". Bustle. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
7. Salisbury, Corinne. "Coalition (Blue Group)". British Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
8. "Cast List, Blue Remembered Hills (2012)". Chichester Festival Theatre. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
9. "Julius Caesar". Bridge Theatre. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
10. "What's On: Richard II 2019". Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
11. Griffiths, George (27 August 2020). "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'". Metro. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
12. Gordon, Naomi (21 February 2021). "Billie Piper's hit series I Hate Suzie returning for a second season, Sky confirms". Harper's BAZAAR. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
13. Green, Alex (7 June 2021). "Rakie Ayola on 'overwhelming' Bafta TV award win". www.standard.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
14. Palmer, Katie (20 February 2023). "Leila Farzad husband: Is the Better star married?". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
15. Nozari, Aisha (28 February 2023). "Broadchurch star Andrew Buchan 'rips up' marriage to wife Amy Nuttall and 'moves in' with BBC co-star Leila Farzad". Metro. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
16. Stagg, Holly (1 March 2023). "Amy Nuttall spotted 'tell-tale signs' Andrew Buchan was cheating and found lingerie bought for Leila Farzad". Manchester World. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
17. Kanter, Jake (26 April 2021). "'The Fear Index': Josh Hartnett Stars in Sky's Robert Harris' Financial Thriller". Deadline. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
18. Dan Einav (11 February 2022). "The Fear Index — Sky's new financial thriller is a dizzying rush". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
19. "Better cast and creatives tease 'very dark thriller' about a corrupt police officer and a gangster that's 'full of high stakes'". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 7 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
20. "Television - 2020". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2021.

External links

• Leila Farzad at IMDb