Tala Ashe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tala Ashe
Ashe in 2022
Born	Talayeh Ashrafi Tehran, Iran
Education	Boston University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2008–present
Spouse(s)	Raffi Barsoumian
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Talayeh Ashrafi (Persian: طلایه اشرفی), known as Tala Ashe, is an actress from Iran and America. She is famous for her roles in TV shows like Smash, American Odyssey, and As the World Turns. She also played Zari Tomaz and Zari Tarazi in the superhero series Legends of Tomorrow.

Tala Ashe has acted in many plays and musicals. She was in the original Broadway show The Who & the What. She also starred in English, which earned her nominations for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play and a Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Ohio

Tala Ashe was born in Tehran, Iran. She moved to the United States when she was only nine months old. She grew up in Powell, Ohio, which is a town near Columbus. In high school, she was very active in theater. She both acted in and directed school plays.

Learning to Act

Ashe studied acting at Boston University's School of Theatre. She earned a BFA degree there. She also trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London. In New York City, she learned comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles in TV and Film

Tala Ashe has performed in many plays both regionally and Off-Broadway. Her first movie role was in 2008, playing Nadia in Waiting in Beijing. Back then, she was credited as Tala Ashrafi. For all her roles after that, she has been known as Tala Ashe. She has appeared as a guest star in popular TV shows like Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, 30 Rock, and Covert Affairs. She also had ongoing roles in Smash and American Odyssey. She was also a cast member on the soap opera As the World Turns.

Starring in Legends of Tomorrow

In 2017, Tala Ashe joined the main cast of Legends of Tomorrow. She played the character Zari Tomaz. She was the main focus of a special episode called "Here I Go Again". Her performance in this episode was highly praised by both critics and fans.

Broadway and Award Nominations

In 2022, Ashe was chosen for the main role of Elham in the Off-Broadway musical English. She performed this role in several theaters across the U.S. The musical then opened on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre Company's Todd Haimes Theatre in January 2025. Her performance earned her a Tony Award nomination and a Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance.

Personal Life and Interests

Tala Ashe is Iranian-American and has citizenship in both countries. Her first name, Talayeh, means "pioneer" in Persian. This name comes from a famous Persian poem called the Shahnameh. Besides English, she can speak Persian fluently. She is also a founder of Shethority. This project works to inspire and support women, and she started it with other actresses from the Arrowverse shows.

Film and Television Roles

Stage Performances

Tala Ashe has also performed in plays like Love's Labour's Lost and Twelfth Night.

Broadway Shows

Off-Broadway Shows

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Tala Ashe para niños