Shohreh Aghdashloo

Born: Tehran, Iran

The actress is probably best known for her Oscar-nominated portrayal of an immigrant wife in The House of Sand and Fog.

After acting in theatre workshops in Tehran, she made her feature debut in the family drama The Report, directed by Abbas Kia-Rostami, who went on to make the acclaimed Through the Olive Tree.

Aghdashloo then appeared in Broken Hearts by legendary Iranian writer/director Ali Hatami whose memorable Period Piece movies included Soltan-e Saheb Gheran and Hezar Dastaan.

After leaving Iran at the time of the Revolution, she moved to Britain where she took up acting again and toured a play which was so successful in Los Angeles she chose to stay.

In the United States she has appeared in many plays with her husband Hooshang Toozie, whose Sweet Smell of Love about immigrant life was a major success.

On the big screen, she starred in the Guests of the Hotel Astoria and the comedy Twenty Bucks, which followed the journey of a $20 during a day.

In 2000, she starred in the drama about immigrant life in New Jersey Maryam and followed a similar theme - except in Los Angeles - with Surviving Paradise.

The following year she starred in America So Beautiful and in 2004 was Oscar-nominated for her role as Ben Kingsley's wife in the drama House of Sand and Fog.