Leila Hatami

Leila Hatami (Persian: لیلا حاتمی) is an Iranian actress. Regarded as one of the best actresses of Iranian Cinema, she is considered one of the most prominent performers in the 21st century. She is recognized for her realistic acting in drama films and she rose to international fame for her role as Simin in Academy Award-winning film A Separation (2011), for which she received the Silver Bear for Best Actress. Hatami made her film debut portraying Kamal-ol-molk in the drama Kamalolmolk (1984) and received critical acclaim for playing a sterile young woman in the drama Leila (1997). She received her first Crystal Simorgh for Best Actress from the 27th Fajr Film Festival for playing a housewife in Penniless (2009) and received her first international award from the 26th Montreal World Film Festival for her performance in The Deserted Station (2002). In 2012, the French government made her a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters. She received the Best Actress award from the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for her performance in The Last Step (2012).