Bahar Soomekh
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Bahar Soomekh (Farsi) بهار سومخ | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 March 1975 |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse | Clayton Frech (2001–present) |
Bahar Soomekh (Persian: بهار سومخ, born 30 March 1975) is an Iranian-born American actress and environmental activist. She is best known for her roles in the films Crash and Saw III.
Early life
Bahar was born in Tehran, Iran, to a devout Persian Jewish family. She moved with her parents and sister, Saba Soomekh, to Los Angeles, California, United States in 1979, to escape the Iranian Revolution.[1] Bahar speaks fluent English, Persian, Spanish, and some Hebrew.[2] She attended Sinai Akiba Academy and Beverly Hills High School,[3] where she played the violin in the school orchestra. Bahar earned a B.A. in environmental studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1997. Bahar began working at a corporate job in sales while taking acting classes at night before quitting her job to pursue acting as a career.[1]
Career
In the beginning of her career, Bahar guest starred on several television shows, including JAG and 24. Bahar later appeared in a few films, including the Academy Award-winning movies Crash as Dorri and Syriana. In 2006, Bahar was noted for playing Davian's Translator in Mission: Impossible III and for a leading role, as Dr. Lynn Denlon, in the horror film Saw III. That same year, People's magazine listed Soomekh as one of 100 Most beautiful people in the world. In the next five years, she mostly worked in television, most notably as Margo on the television series Day Break from 2006-2007. Bahar also appeared in the pilots of two television shows, The Oaks (2008) and Lost & Found (2009), which were not picked up, and had guest roles in Ghost Whisperer, Miami Medical, and Castle. Her latest movie, Just Like a Woman will be released in the United States on July 5, 2013. She was also cast in the A&E pilot Those Who Kill, which was picked up by the network and will begin shooting in August 2013.
Personal life
Family
Bahar married Clayton Frech, a business manager,[4] who converted to Judaism[5] in order to marry her, in 2001. The couple now has three children.[6][7][8]
Activism
The teaching of tikkun olam, to heal the world, guides Bahar's life. She works on environmental and children's causes. Bahar also uses her name to be involved with organizations such as the Green Cross and Rainforest Action Network.[9] With her husband, she launced the T.O. Productions to make movies about environmental and social issues.[8]
Filmography
| Year | Titel | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Without a Trace | Lemese Salman | |
| JAG | Jasmine (2002) and Amira Sattar (2004) | (2002–2004) | |
| 2003 | Naked Hotel | Bhurka Woman | |
| 2004 | Intermission | Hair Wearer | |
| Crash | Dorri | ||
| A Lousy Ten Grand | Najah | ||
| 2005 | 24 | Habib Marwan's Wife | (deleted scenes) |
| Bones | Sahar Masruk | ||
| Syriana | Yassi | (Director's Uncut Version) | |
| 2006 | In Justice | Neena Oponi | |
| Mission: Impossible III | Davian's Translator | ||
| The Unit | Firefly | ||
| Day Break | Margo | (2006–2007) | |
| Saw III | Lynn Denlon | ||
| 2007 | Saw IV | Lynn Denlon | (flashbacks from Saw III) |
| 2008 | Saw V | Lynn Denlon | (flashbacks from Saw III) |
| The Oaks | Hollis | ||
| Ghost Whisperer | Tricia | Episode 4.06 "Imaginary Friends and Enemies" | |
| 2009 | Saw VI | Lynn Denlon | (flashbacks from Saw III) |
| Lost & Found | Abigail | ||
| 2010 | Saw 3D | Lynn Denlon | (flashbacks from Saw III) |
| Miami Medical | Vanessa | Episode 1.08 "An Arm and a Leg" (2010) | |
| 2011 | Castle | Nazihah Alhabi | Episode 3.16 "Setup" (2011) |
| 2012 | Just Like a Woman | Soha | (completed) |
References
- ^ a b Melamed, Karmel (2006-04-28). "Tom Cruise's Persian Princess". Forward. Retrieved 2006-05-10.
- ^ "Bahar Soomekh: Mission Possible". BabagaNewz. Retrieved 2009-05-17. [dead link]
- ^ Wilson, Kathryn (2006-03-17). "So, Did You Hear The One About The Iranian Deadhead In Hollywood?". MTV.com. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
With ceaseless support from her family, Bahar graduated from Beverly Hills High School to pursue a degree in environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
- ^ http://alumni.anderson.ucla.edu/class/bioitem.aspx?p=frech
- ^ http://www.zimbio.com/Bahar+Soomekh/articles/hFX0Ng5pyVT/Bahar+Soomekh
- ^ http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t457799.html
- ^ "Steal her look: Bahar Soomekh". She Knows' Pregnancy Fashion. 2008-11-15. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ a b "Bahar Soomekh Is Radiant In Red". Celebrity Baby Scoop. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ Kantor, Robert (2006-06-16). "From Tehran to Tinseltown". World Jewish Digest. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)
External links
- Bahar Soomekh at IMDb
- Sanchez, Robert (2006-10-24). "Exclusive Interview: Bahar Soomekh Plays Doctor with Jigsaw". IESB. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
- Stax (2006-10-27). "Bahar Soomekh and Angus Macfadyen: IGN chats with two of the stars of Saw III". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 17 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Melamed, Karmel (2006-04-28). "Tom Cruise's Persian Princess". Forward. Retrieved 2006-05-10.
- Melamed, Karmel. "Bahar Soomekh: Our Very Own Hollywood Superstar Actress". Iranian Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
- "Bahar Soomekh". The Star Scoop.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Menschen | |
- 1975 births
- Living people
- American film actresses
- American Jews
- American television actresses
- Iranian emigrants to the United States
- Iranian actresses
- American people of Iranian descent
- Jewish American actresses
- Mizrahi Jews
- People from Tehran
- People from Los Angeles, California
- Iranian Jews
- Iranian film actresses
- University of California, Santa Barbara alumni