Azita Ghanizada facts for kids

Azita Ghanizada (born October 5) is an American actress. She acts in TV shows, movies, and on stage. You might know her from the TV series Alphas. She also performed in the Broadway musical The Kite Runner. Besides acting, Azita started and leads the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition. This group helps people from the Middle East and North Africa in the arts.

Azita Ghanizada's Story

Early Life and Acting Journey

Azita Ghanizada came to America as a baby. Her family left Afghanistan because her father worked at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. This helped them get a chance to move to the United States.

She learned English by watching American TV shows. Her family also loved going to a local cinema. They watched many Bollywood movies there. Her mother loved Indian and American film stars. All of this inspired Azita to become an actress.

She moved to Los Angeles, California to start her acting career. She began by appearing in TV commercials. Then, she got guest roles on popular TV shows. Some of these shows include How I Met Your Mother and Entourage. She also appeared in Veronica Mars and The Mentalist. In 2016, she was called "One of The 7 Sundance Break-out Actresses You Need to Know." This was for her work in the movie "Complete Unknown."

Becoming a TV Star

In 2008, Azita got her first main TV role. She joined General Hospital: Night Shift as Dr. Saira Batra. This character was a specialist in holistic medicine. The next year, she worked on a TV pilot called Tough Trade.

In 2010, she joined the Syfy Channel series Alphas. She played Rachel Pirzad, a woman with special sensory abilities. Alphas ran for two seasons. In 2016, Azita appeared in the movie Complete Unknown. She also started filming KillRoy Was Here in 2017. Later, in 2019, she had recurring roles on Ballers and Good Trouble.

In 2022, Azita made her Broadway debut. She acted in the stage version of The Kite Runner. In 2024, it was announced she would join "Suits: L.A." as Roslyn Noori.

Helping Others: Advocacy Work

Azita Ghanizada is also a strong supporter of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). She works for performers from the Middle Eastern North African (MENA) and South West Asian North African (SWANA) regions in Hollywood. She also helps women in Afghanistan.

In 2016, she started the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition (MAAC). In 2017, her group helped make a big change. They convinced SAG-AFTRA to add MENA as its own diverse category. This was the first new hiring category in a labor contract in 37 years. Azita also works as a global Ambassador for "Women for Women International." Her focus is on helping women in Afghanistan get back to work and receive education.

Movies and TV Shows

Film Roles

Television Roles