Sahar Dolatshahi

Sahar Dolatshahi (; born in October 8, 1979) is an Iranian actress. She is best known for her roles in ''Ice Age'' (2015)'', Istanbul Junction'' (2018)'', The Frog'' (2020–2021), '' I Want to Live'' (2021), and ''Viper of Tehran'' (2024)''.'' She has received various accolades, including two Crystal Simorghs and an Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association Award.

Early life

Sahar Dolatshahi was born on October 8, 1979, in Tehran. From a young age, she held lifeguard and coaching certifications and often accompanied her mother to various competitions. She initially pursued studies in chemical engineering but later withdrew from the program. She is a graduate of Soore University with a degree in dramatic literature and holds a bachelor’s degree in French translation from Azad University.

Family

Her mother serves as the vice-president of the Swimming Federation and is a faculty member at the Teacher Training University, while her father is a mechanical engineer. She has a sister, Nasim, and a brother, Rouzbeh. Rouzbeh is a graduate of Shahid Beheshti University and holds a master’s degree in computational studies from Canada, while Nasim graduated from the University of Tehran and earned a PhD in archaeology in Berlin. The Dolatshahi family are descendants of the Qajar dynasty’s Dolatshahi lineage.

Career

Sahar Dolatshahi began her acting career at the age of 20 with experimental theater productions. A year later, she was invited by Marzieh Boroumand to star in the television series *Hodhod Bookstore*. She has collaborated with prominent theater directors such as Hamid Emjad, Atila Pesyani, and Amir Reza Kouhestani and performed in the play *Drought and Lies*. She was nominated for Best Actress in Theater for her roles in *Les Misérables* and *Tren*. For her performance in the film *Gold and Copper*, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Cinema Critics’ Celebration. The years 2014 and 2015 were the most prolific in Dolatshahi’s career, during which she appeared in a total of eight films.

Dolatshahi also hosted the television program *Gap* and served as an interviewer on *The Opinions of a Cinema Actor*. She narrated for the programs *Radio Seven* and *Da Book* and worked as a reporter in the documentary *Notes of a Crowded City*.

Cinema

In her first decade in cinema, Dolatshahi collaborated with many of Iran’s most distinguished directors, including Abbas Kiarostami, Bahram Beyzai, Bahman Farmanara, Asghar Farhadi, and Masoud Kimiai. Her portrayal of Niloufar in *Inversion* garnered significant attention from international critics, marking it as one of her finest performances to date. She attended the 69th Cannes Film Festival for this film. Another standout role was Asal in *Ice Age*, which earned her her first Crystal Simorgh for Best Supporting Actress. Asal, a beauty salon owner, was secretly involved in drug dealing and luring women to underground parties. Her roles as Mehraneh Nouri in *Cold Sweat* and Farangis, a pregnant woman with a Gilaki dialect in *Istanbul Junction*, further showcased her versatility. A scene featuring Mehraneh Nouri’s *moloudi* recitation in *Cold Sweat* was removed from the film.

2000s

Dolatshahi made her cinematic debut with a small role in Asghar Farhadi’s *Fireworks Wednesday*, his third feature film. Farhadi cast her for a brief role comprising three scenes, and the film became one of the most-watched releases of 2006.

In 2006, she appeared in her second film, *M for Mother*, directed by Rasoul Mollagholipour, alongside actors such as Golshifteh Farahani, Ali Shadman, Hossein Yari, and Jamshid Hashempour. She played Farzaneh, a journalist and friend of Sepideh (played by Golshifteh Farahani), who used her profession to help resolve her friend’s issues. The film was the second most-watched release of that year.

In 2008, she appeared in Abbas Kiarostami’s *Shirin* and Bahram Beyzai’s *When We Are All Asleep*. These films were released in spring 2009 and January 2012, respectively.

In *Gold and Copper*, directed by Homayoun Assadian, Dolatshahi was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 14th House of Cinema Celebration. She played a head nurse in a hospital where a cleric’s wife is admitted due to multiple sclerosis. The film received nominations in six categories at the 28th Fajr Film Festival, including Best Film, Director, Screenplay, Editing, Music, and Makeup, with Negar Javaherian winning the Crystal Simorgh for Best Actress.

In 2010, she appeared in two films: *Earth Runner* by Kamal Tabrizi and *Sorrow* by Morteza Farshbaf. Both films, delayed by censorship, were released in 2016 and 2017 to lukewarm reception. In *Sorrow*, Dolatshahi provided voice acting alongside Peyman Maadi. The film won four awards at the Busan, Deauville, and Tallinn Black Nights international festivals.

2010s

In 2012, Dolatshahi starred alongside Taraneh Alidoosti, Saber Abar, and Hamidreza Azarang in *Shallow Yellow Sky*, which won the Crystal Simorgh for Best Editing at the 31st Fajr Film Festival and was critically acclaimed. In 2013, she had a small role in Masoud Kimiai’s *Metropol*. Her first leading role was in *Mastaneh*, directed by Hossein Farahbakhsh, alongside Milad Keymaram, Baran Kosari, Atila Pesyani, and Farhad Aslani, released on November 19, 2014.

In 2014, two films featuring Dolatshahi, *Ice Age* by Mostafa Kiayi and *Fissure* by Kiarash Asadizadeh, were released. Her performance in *Ice Age* earned her the Crystal Simorgh for Best Supporting Actress. The film, released on July 3, 2014, featured actors such as Bahram Radan, Mahtab Keramati, Farhad Aslani, Zhaleh Sameti, Mohsen Kiayi, and Anna Nemati and received seven nominations at the Fajr Film Festival. Upon receiving her award, Dolatshahi said:

"I hope this festival becomes a true celebration for the cinema family, where we reunite, enjoy watching films, and harbor fewer grievances toward one another."

In 2016, five films featuring Dolatshahi were released. *Barcode*, directed by Mostafa Kiayi and released on June 8, 2016, was among the year’s most-watched films, starring Bahram Radan, Mohsen Kiayi, Bahareh Kianafshar, Reza Kianian, and Pejman Bazeghi. Other releases included ''Profiles'' by Iraj Karimi, ''Inversion'' by Behnam Behzadi, ''Death of a Fish'' by Rouhollah Hejazi, and ''Earth Runner'' by Kamal Tabrizi. For ''Inversion'', Dolatshahi was nominated for Best Actress at the 36th Fajr Film Festival.The film’s first public screening, attended by its cast and crew, took place on January 28, 2016, at Mellat Cineplex. ''Inversion'' won Best Film at Italy’s Med Film Festival and was showcased in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, as well as festivals in Vancouver, Hamburg, Cambridge, Kerala, Canada’s Iranian Film Festival, Paris Iranian Film Week, and Dubai, earning widespread acclaim.
In 2018, three films featuring Dolatshahi were released: ''I Wanna Dance'' by Bahman Farmanara, ''Istanbul Junction'' by Mostafa Kiayi, and ''Cold Sweat'' by Soheil Biraghi.She won her second Best Supporting Actress award at the 36th Fajr Film Festival for her roles in ''Istanbul Junction'' and ''Cold Sweat''. Regarding a censored scene in ''Cold Sweat'', the filmmakers stated: “The team accepted the censorship, believing it would secure the film’s release, as initial reactions suggested no hope for public screening. After agreeing to remove the ''moloudi'' scene, preparations for release proceeded, but just one day before the premiere, the Art Bureau boycotted the film, causing the loss of nearly 100 out of 120 screening venues. Neither the film nor its release was saved.” In ''Cold Sweat'', Dolatshahi portrayed a strict female government official, donning a chador to present a distinct image.

In 2019, two films, ''Reza'' by Alireza Motamedi and ''Amir'' by Nima Eghlima, were released at the 36th Fajr Film Festival. For her role as Rima, a woman with psychological struggles in ''Amir'', Dolatshahi received a Special Mention for Best Actress at the 8th Australian Iranian Film Festival. At the 36th Fajr Film Festival, her roles in ''Cold Sweat'', ''Amir'', and ''Istanbul Junction'' made her one of the most prominent actors of the event.

Her final works of the 2010s were ''Atabai'' by Niki Karimi and ''Imaginary Line'' by Farnoush Samadi. ''Atabai'', a Turkish-language romantic drama, featured Hadi Hejazifar and Javad Ezzati. ''Imaginary Line'', produced by Ali Mosaffa, premiered at the 39th Fajr Film Festival and screened at over 25 international festivals. By the end of the decade, several films, including ''Lobby'', ''Ardent; Nazanin, Bahareh, Tina'' by Abdolreza Kahani, ''Imaginary Line'', and ''Son of the Morning'' by Behrouz Afkhami, remained unreleased.

In 2023, Dolatshahi was nominated for a Crystal Simorgh for Best Actress for her leading role in ''Your Absence''.

Television

Sahar Dolatshahi’s television debut was in the series *Hodhod Bookstore*, directed by Marzieh Boroumand. Other notable television projects in her career include *Travelers*, *Unrewarded Suffering*, *Family Conspiracy*, and *Abpariya*. Her role as Nahid in *Travelers*, directed by Rambod Javan, stands out as a significant television performance. In this series, Nahid is an extraterrestrial agent who struggles to understand human relationships and interactions on Earth.

Home Entertainment (Streaming)*

Dolatshahi’s first appearance in the home entertainment industry was as Samiyeh in the third season of *Ice Heart*, where she portrayed a chaotic gang leader with a distinctive appearance. In December 2017, she played Zhân in the series *His Excellency*. Her role as Bita Niakan in the second season of *Made in Iran* was less successful.

In 2020, she portrayed Faranak Bahrami in Hoomayoun Seyyedi’s *Frog*, one of the most-watched and distinctive streaming productions. The series featured actors such as Navid Mohammadzadeh, Saber Abar, Fereshteh Hosseini, Anahita Afshar, and Mehran Ghafourian. Dolatshahi was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series at the Hafez Awards for her performance.

*I Want to Stay Alive*, directed by Shahram Shah-Hosseini, was released in March 2021 and was well-received by audiences. Dolatshahi played Homa Haghi, a captivating character defined by love, sincerity, and determination. She successfully embodied Homa, distinct from her own persona, captivating viewers. The series, set in the 1980s, also starred Hamed Behdad, Pedram Sharifi, Ali Shadman, and Anahita Dargahi, with its title track performed by Homayoun Shajarian.

In 2024, Dolatshahi appeared in the series *Dariush*. In the seventh episode, she performed dance-like movements alongside co-star Atash Taghipour. The judiciary announced legal action against Dolatshahi and the series’ creators for actions deemed contrary to Islamic principles.

Sahar Dolatshahi began her theater career in the late 1990s with student productions. Her professional theater journey started in 2000–2001. Over 17 years, she performed in 30 plays and co-directed ''Stronger'' with Ayat Najafi. A seasoned theater artist, she was a key member of Atila Pesyani’s theater group, alongside Fatemeh Naghavi, Setareh Pesyani, and Khosrow Pesyani.

She appeared in ''The Long Winding Road'', directed by Reza Guran, with Amin Zendegani at Chaharsoo Hall. In ''Tren'', a controversial production at Tehran City Theater’s main stage, she replaced Reema Raminfar, earning a nomination for Best Actress at the 31st Fajr International Theater Festival. She performed in ''Tintin and the Secret of Moundas Castle'' by Arvind Dasht-Aray on February 24, 2013, at Iranshahr Theater, and in ''A Woman from the Past'', directed by Mohammad Aghabati. She also starred in ''Lead House'', written and directed by Ali Nargesnejad, at Tehran City Theater’s main hall.

In the ''See'' concert-play, Dolatshahi portrayed Rudabeh, Rostam’s mother. She later joined the musical ''Les Misérables'', staged in autumn 2018 at the Royal Hall of Espinas Palace Hotel, earning a Best Actress nomination. Her role in ''See'', which attracted over 120,000 spectators at Saadabad Palace, was particularly impactful. In July 2022, she was preparing for ''The Maids'' by Jean Genet, directed by Morteza Mir-Montazemi, alongside Saber Abar and Elham Korda, set for Vahdat Hall.Dolatshahi and Atila Pesyani collaborated in seven plays as director and actor:

* ''Crow and Bicycle'' (2004)
* ''Bitter Like Honey'' (2004), staged at Theater City’s Saya Hall
* ''Blade and Moon'' (2005), performed at Chaharsoo Hall, the third part of a trilogy following ''Dreamlike Sleep'' (2000) and ''Bitter Like Honey'' (2003), focusing on music and lighting in a 50-minute performance
* ''Stroke on Sand'' (2005), depicting 28 love stories through abstract, fragmented scenes
* ''Anato Blade'' (2005)
* ''A Discordant Symphony'' (2006), adapted from Mikhail Bulgakov’s ''The Master and Margarita'' by the Bazi Theater Group
* ''The Devil’s Ship'' (2007), exploring the lives of four women on an island disrupted by a mysterious ship

Voice Acting

At the 12th Iranian Cinema Critics’ Celebration

Dolatshahi has lent her voice to the audiobook of ''My Lucky Gazelle'' by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi, ''Lady Deer'' by Maryam Hosseinian, and Asghar Farhadi’s film ''The Past''. She also performed a live reading of ''Casablanca''.

Documentaries

Dolatshahi appeared in two documentaries: ''Notes of a Crowded City'' and ''Ibrahim in Fire''. The 40-minute ''Notes of a Crowded City'' examines Tehran’s urban society, observing diverse individuals from Railway Square to Tajrish, featuring Dolatshahi alongside Afshin Hashemi.

In ''Ibrahim in Fire'', directed by Omid Bankdar and Keyvan Alimohammadi and produced by Nahid Delagah, she narrated the story of Ibrahim Asgharzadeh, a victim of Iran Airtour Flight 956. This 43-minute documentary, part of the ''One Film, One Truth'' series, won the Portrait Award at the Avini Festival.

Jury Member

In 2017, Dolatshahi was invited as a juror for the Dubai International Film Festival and served as a judge at the closing ceremony of the Australian Iranian Film Festival, an independent cultural event organized by Daricheh Cinema Institute.

In 2024, she was a main juror at Russia’s Kinobravo Festival.

Other Activities

In November 2015, Sahar Dolatshahi attended a seminar on the role of psychological factors in diabetes management at the Ministry of Interior’s Hall, receiving blue bracelets from the Iran Diabetes Association to serve as an ambassador for raising awareness about diabetes. She joined other actors in a campaign to promote diabetes education. On her Instagram, Dolatshahi shared a photo, writing: “Valeh Boys’ Primary School. Hoping for a day when fewer people suffer from diabetes.”

In 2016, during a meeting with the Deputy for Women and Family Affairs of the Presidency, she was appointed as an ambassador for the *Armaghan* campaign, aimed at raising awareness and supporting families of women imprisoned for non-intentional crimes. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, she published a statement addressing violence against women.

Personal Life

On March 17, 2009, Dolatshahi married Rambod Javan, whom she met through theater, but the couple divorced in 2014.On October 8, 2022, news of the temporary seizure of passports belonging to Ali Daei, Homayoun Shajarian, and Dolatshahi upon their return to Iran at Imam Khomeini International Airport garnered significant media attention. In October 2023, Homayoun Shajarian confirmed in an interview with Adel Ferdosipour that he and Dolatshahi are in a romantic relationship.

Filmography

Film

Web

Television

Other works

Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dolatshahi, Sahar
1979 births
Living people
Audiobook narrators
Actresses from Tehran
Iranian film actresses
Soore University alumni
Iranian stage actresses
Iranian television actresses
Islamic Azad University alumni
20th-century Iranian women artists
21st-century Iranian women artists
Crystal Simorgh for Best Supporting Actress winners