Yara Shahidi

Yara Shahidi
Born Yara Sayeh Shahidi
(2000-02-10) February 10, 2000
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation
  • actress
  • model
  • activist
Years active 2007–present
Relatives Sayeed Shahidi (brother)
Website yarashahidi.com

Yara Sayeh Shahidi (Persian pronunciation: [jɒːɾɒː sɒːje ʃæhiːdiː];یارا سایه شهیدی born February 10, 2000)[1] is an American actress,[2] model and activist. She gained recognition for her starring role as Zoey Johnson on the sitcom Black-ish (2014–present) and its spin-off series Grown-ish (2018–present).[3] Her film credits include Imagine That (2009) and Smallfoot (2018). A student at Harvard University, Shahidi has been noted for her activism advocating for female and racial equality and political awareness.

Early life

Shahidi was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to mother, Keri Salter Shahidi, who is African American and Choctaw heritage[4][5] and Iranian American father, Afshin Shahidi,[6][7] a photographer.[3][8] The family moved to California for Afshin's work when Yara was 4. She is the older sister of child actor and model Sayeed Shahidi and they have a younger brother, Ehsan.[6] The rapper Nas is their cousin.[9] Keri Shahidi said the name Yara translates to "someone who is capable to do something or someone is so strong and clever to do something hard" in the Persian language.[6]

Career

She began her career when she was 6 years old,[10] appearing in television and print advertisements for companies such as McDonald's, Ralph Lauren, Target, GapKids, Disney, Guess Kids and The Children's Place. She frequently worked with her mother and younger brother in various print and broadcast campaigns.

Shahidi made her cinematic debut in 2009, starring opposite Eddie Murphy in Paramount Pictures' Imagine That,[3] for which she received a Young Artist Award nomination for the best performance in a feature film category.[11] She also appeared in the Angelina Jolie action film Salt in 2010 as a next door neighbor. In 2012, she played Chloe Johnson, the daughter of President William Johnson, in the TV series The First Family.

In September 2014, Shahidi starred in ABC's prime-time comedy Black-ish as 14-year-old Zoey Johnson.[12] In December 2014 she won an NAACP Image Award in the category of 'Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy'.[13]

In 2016, she signed to model with New York's Women Management modeling agency, in hopes of providing a platform to see more women of color in diverse roles.[12]

ABC announced in 2017 that Shahidi would be headlining a Black-ish spinoff, titled Grown-ish, on its sister network Freeform. The series premiered on January 3, 2018.[14]

Activism

Shahidi is an actor and activist. She founded Eighteen x 18 with social news publisher NowThis,[15] “which will be a platform to encourage my peers to vote for the very first time in our upcoming midterm elections”. Her other organizations include Yara’s Club a partnership with Young Women's Leadership Network (YWLN) of New York, which provides online mentorship in hopes to end poverty through education.[16][17]

Shahidi’s activism has led her to many accomplishments. She had been noticed by former first lady Michelle Obama, who wrote her a letter of recommendation to Harvard University.[18] She was also given the opportunity by Teen Vogue to interview Hillary Clinton in 2017.[19][20]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Imagine ThatOlivia Danielson
2010SaltSalt's Young Neighbor
UnthinkableKatie
2011ButterDestiny
2012Alex CrossJanelle Cross
2018SmallfootBrenda (voice)
2019The Sun Is Also a StarNatasha Kingsley

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007EntourageKandace WestEpisode: "No Cannes Do"
2009In the MotherhoodEsther5 episodes
Cold CaseMeesha Sullivan '91Episode: "Read Between the Lines"
Wizards of Waverly PlaceOliveEpisode: "Doll House"
2010Lie to MeOliviaEpisode: "Teacher and Pupils"
$h*! My Dad SaysGirl ScoutEpisode: "Pilot"
2011The CapeLaylaEpisode: "Endgame"
Family GuyLittle Girl (voice)Episode: "Episode VI: It's a Trap"
Rip CityMontanaTelevision movie
2012The FinderAdinaEpisode: "The Conversation"
2012–2013The First FamilyChloe Johnson23 episodes
2013ScandalYoung Olivia Pope2 episodes
2014Bad TeacherJalissaEpisode: "Pilot"
The FostersMaddie2 episodes
2014–presentBlack-ishZoey JohnsonMain role (seasons 1–3), Recurring role (season 4–present); 79 episodes
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2015)
BET Award for YoungStar (2017)
Nominated – BET Award for YoungStar (2016)
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Comedy TV Actress (2017)
2016–2017TrollhuntersDarcy (voice)10 episodes
2018–presentGrown-ishZoey JohnsonLead role; 13 episodes

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Yara Shahidi". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Yara Shahidi | U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran". U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran. 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2018-09-23. Yara Sayeh Shahidi who was born on February 10, 2000 is an Iranian-American actress.
  3. 1 2 3 "All about Yara". June 1, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  4. ↑ Shams, Alex (2016-06-03). "Yara Shahidi, the Iranian-American Star of 'Black-ish,' Is Breaking Stereotypes On & Off Screen". Muftah.org. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved 2016-12-13. Zoey, the Johnson’s eldest daughter, is played by a sixteen-year-old, Iranian American actress. Born to Iranian father, Afshin Shahidi and mother of mixed African American and Native Choctaw heritage, Keri Salter, Yara Shahidi lived in Minneapolis before moving to California at a young age.
  5. ↑ Stern, Claire (2015-04-23). "7 Things You May Not Know About Black-ish Star Yara Shahidi". InDesign Magazine. Time Inc. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  6. 1 2 3 "C.J.: Mother of Minneapolis-born "Black-ish" star is having a good day when there's no eye twitch". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
  7. ↑ "Yara Shahidi, [Prominent Iranian-Americans]". Virtual embassy of the United States, Tehran.Iran (in Farsi). U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  8. ↑ Brother Troy R. Gibson II "Yara Shahidi: A Star On The Rise". Drfunkenberry.com. October 22, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ Shahidi on the Fuse TV series White Guy Talk Show, transcribed by "Yara Shahidi Gives the Inside Story on Her Life as Nas' Cousin". BCKOnline.com (Black Celebrity Kids, Inc.). April 10, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Yara Shahidi". Young Black Stars. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  11. ↑ "Nominations and Special Awards". 31st Annual Young Artist Awards. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  12. 1 2 Okwodu, Janelle (2016-04-19). "Black-ish's Yara Shahidi Is a Model With a Cause". Vogue Magazine. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  13. ↑ "Blackish Nominated for Six NAACP Image Awards". Blackish Fans. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  14. ↑ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (May 19, 2017). "'Black-ish' Spinoff Starring Yara Shahidi Greenlit at Freeform". Variety.
  15. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2018-04-18). "'Black-ish' Star Yara Shahidi Kicks Off Political-Engagement Campaign With NowThis". Variety. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  16. ↑ Seligson, Hannah (2015-11-27). "'Black-ish' Star Yara Shahidi Is a Role Model Off-Screen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  17. ↑ Berg, Madeline. "Meet Yara Shahidi: The 17-Year-Old Actress And Activist". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  18. ↑ Rogo, Paula (2017-03-11). "Star Pupil: Michelle Obama Wrote Yara Shahidi ACollege Recommendation!". Essence.com. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  19. ↑ "Yara Shahidi Just Asked Hillary Clinton About That Very Uncomfortable Trump Debate". Harper's BAZAAR. 2017-12-03. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  20. ↑ Smith, Krista. "Yara Shahidi on Being a Role Model, Attending Harvard, and Continuing Her Activism". Vanities. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
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